Lievore Altherr Molina: Saya

Arper's renowned designers Alberto Lievore, Jeannette Altherr and Manel Molina have worked with the firm for more than ten years and their new Saya chair is being presented in the via Pantano 30 showroom. Alberto Lievore, the "elder" of the Barcelona practice, describes it as an archetypal chair that "revives the classical language of the chair, which is feminine and welcoming. We were asked for a friendly, close and familiar product, which steered us in the direction of the archetype."

Ergonomics are crucial in a chair and resolved here with a low back that stops just beneath the shoulders to allow freedom of movement. The back is also a distinctive formal and graphic feature of the chair.
"I see ergonomics more as an ideology than a science. As a Japanese master said, the ideal chair is one that does not condition you", adds Lievore.

The design was also based on the need to make sure it would be affordable. "Design is a constant give and take between what you want and what is realistically possible", explains Lievore. This problem was solved by using sophisticated plywood worked with traditional methods in a single folded sheet.
The colour selection is linked to the earth and conveys a certain reference to tradition, matter and nature. Wood is the only material used, except for the legs which also come in metal.

Designed for both residential and contract use, Saya is available in oak, with a teak or natural finish, and in white, black, ochre and three shades of red, stained on the open grain, to create a variable but cohesive combination. The four-leg base comes in wood or chrome-finish steel. The four-leg chrome-finish steel version is stackable for large-scale use and storage.

Lievore Altherr Molina was founded by Alberto Lievore, Jeannette Altherr and Manuel Molina in 1991 and they have designed some of Arper's most influential collections including Catifa, Duna and Leaf.

17-21 April 2012, h. 10 – 21
Cocktail: 18 April 2012, h. 18.30 – 22 Showroom Arper
via Pantano 30, Milano