Smooth like a pebble, soft as mounded moss. With low rounded curves, Adell fits easily into almost all conceivable spaces: hotels, restaurants, airport lounges or offices, both indoor and outdoor.
"Lounge areas have changed a lot in the last fifty years", Says Lievore + Altherr Désile Park, "from the formal living rooms and salons of yesteryear where you would host visitors to today’s almost-private spaces designed for relaxation – and increasingly to work in. Today, we are seeing lounge spaces not only at home but also in offices and in-between spaces. We felt that there was something we could add to Arper’s catalog, something that would meet the demands of these new lounge spaces – something more lightweight and comfortable.” "We wanted to create a system that was completely customizable so it could adapt to different uses, expressions, and also price points. Adell’s singular, friendly shape suggests an effortless use in all sectors, but is especially well suited to relaxed lounge areas. We created different upholstery and base options to respond to various settings. For example, we imagine the fully upholstered version in hotels, restaurants, airport lounges or offices, while the extra soft, fluffy frontal cover would look great in co-working offices or homes with a more relaxed mood. And, finally, the soft seat cushion option is ideal for outdoor use, in the garden or on terraces. The cushions is are removable for easier storage. The different finishes, together with the different metal and wood bases, allow the pieces to adapt to many different uses, while the materials and color allow for different expressions.” Adell is made from 80% recycled polypropylene. Says Lievore + Altherr Désile Park: "Plastic seemed like the obvious material choice for a few reasons: the curves of Adell are best created in plastic, it is a robust and durable material that is great for outdoor use, it is a perfect base for upholstery, and, compared to wood, it is the more affordable option. The slight flex in the plastic makes the overall effect also more comfortable. It simply hasn’t the rigidity of wood. Arper’s expertise in plastic fabrication was also a criterion. However, plastic can also be a challenging material to work with, especially from a sustainability perspective.
At first, for environmental reasons, we had the idea to work with a bio-plastic. But the more we learned about it, the less we were convinced about this choice. Bio-plastic actually creates an entirely different set of concerns, from the impact on agriculture, like deforestation, water consumption to fertilizers and pesticides use, to not having the infrastructure in place to recycle it. Also the EU is promoting recycling as a more valuable business. To sum it up, recycling the existing plastic might be the better strategy. We realized that most problems with plastic that we have today were created by thinking of it as a single-use or cheap disposable material. This idea goes back to in the 1970s. Now we are beginning to see an institutional infrastructure that supports recycling. But what do we do with all the raw material? We decided that the most sustainable way forward would be to use 100% recycled plastic.” Plastic also inspired the finishes: "After all, we were inspired by the idea that plastic is based on petroleum which actually originates from organic sources. To push development into this direction, we created an organic texture that brings to mind the concentric rings of a tree trunk. Without being a representation, the texture evokes natural materials. It accepts and embraces irregularity and imperfection. Scratches to the surface dissolve in the texture, acting like a patina, not wear.”
And the colors options? "We developed a palette of very nuanced tones inspired by organic materials, such as wood and leaves. Even the basic black and white are not simply graphic tones. We decided for softer graphite and ivory.”
Room to think, space to dream. With Aston Club Jean-Marie Massaud evolves the Aston design towards sumptuous comfort contained within a striking and elegant gesture. "The original Aston, with its unique and iconic silhouette, is the result of the quest for essential, smart, and enveloping architecture", says Massaud. "Aston Club is part of this quest, but with the ambition of more mature comfort, refined ergonomics and a timeless allure. Like the classic design of the Porsche 911 that evolves over time, Aston Club is the embodiment of the Arper lounge in 2020.” Comfort, ergonomics and sustainability. The internal components of this superior lounge chair are made from recycled plastic from industrial waste, without the use of glue. "With the Arper team, we paid special attention to sustainability. The result may seem effortless. But that is the core of the product. Each piece has been designed as to be easily dismantled and is recyclable." With its clean, pure lines and softly supportive structure, each component piece has been carefully crafted to provide both visual and physical comfort – be it in office, hospitality, or residential contexts. A matching footrest continues this aesthetic and creates a moment of complete repose and relaxation. Each Aston Club chair and footrest can be customized by choosing between a myriad of upholstery options, from classic fibers to contemporary patterns. And, again, all pieces are recyclable.
Great attention to sustainability
The two products can be disassembled for a responsible disposal. All materials used can be recycled or up-cycled and incorporated into the life cycle of other products, thereby reducing the overall amount of waste. Paints use incorporate environmental protections. Adell and Aston Club are made without glue to eliminate emissions and ensure all component parts can be recycled or repurposed. Adell wood base version is certified by the Forest Stewardship Council®. Aston Club uses powder-based coat that is free of VOC* emissions.
Sustainability has been an integral part of Arper’s business model for a long time. Fifteen years ago, the company established the Arper Environmental Department, a tentative first step as sustainability was emerging as the critical issue of our generation.
'We design to improve relationships, including the most important one of all: humanity and our natural world. We design durable, timeless furnishings, intended to transcend trend and serve diverse purposes over their extended lifetime. We value lightness and simplicity, aiming to reduce materials to a minimum. Our modular approach to construction reduces production complexity and creates opportunities for disassembly and component recycling. Finally, we weave soft technology, the subtle integration of intuitive ergonomic features, into every design, emphasizing natural interaction and improved functionality. Each of these is evocative in their own right of the minimal impact and intelligent design strategies essential to sustainability'.
In the upcoming weeks Arper will also present Arper Spaces, an interactive online platform, accessible from the Arper website, which will allow users to see the new collections in different contexts and destinations of use. In fact, new and existing Arper products will be included into different types of environments and situations: Corporate Lounge, Hospitality Lounge, Outdoor and Residential.
