The third collaboration between LAYER and Andreu World; Calma.
The Calma collection is a family of home-work chairs that blends the functionality of a task chair with the desirability and approachability of the home.
The signature of the collection is a die-cast aluminum frame that wraps around the backrest to create a framing element that flows seamlessly into the loop armrests.
Keeping Calm
Benjamin Hubert’s experience design agency LAYER has designed Calma for Spanish furniture brand Andreu World,a family of home-work chairs that blends the functionality of a task chair with the desirability and approachability ofthe home. The signature of the collection is a die-cast aluminum frame that wraps around the backrest to create a framing element that flows seamlessly into the loop armrests. This simplified form and the crafted material palette help to create a calm, soothing work environment. Calma is the first dedicated work chair by Andreu World and was in development for 18 months.
At Home at Work
The brief for Calma was to create a family of work chairs that is as functional and beautiful in a traditional work setting as it is in the home – a particularly relevant concern in a pandemic and post-pandemic era. As people move back into the physical workplace, it’s essential that these settings are inspiring and calm to replicate the benefits many found in working from home. Calma draws inspiration from the comforts of home in its crafted material palette and simplified form to create a welcoming work chair that is a calming presence in the often stressful environment of the workplace.
The plump seating is balanced by a super-slim backrest that gives the chair a refined, elegant and lightweight appearance. When the chair is specified in volume, this slimline form allows it to be less visually demanding and to work seamlessly with the architecture of any interior space.
In the Loop
The Calma collection is defined by the continuous die-cast aluminum frame that wraps around the body of the chair, fluidly connecting the seat to the backrest and flowing into the signature loop armrest. This cocoons the user to encourage comfort and calmness, and maintains a visually lightweight appearance. It also adds a robust metallic element that balances the soft and welcoming language of the seat.
Engineering Serenity
The details of Calma have been considerately designed to deliver a sense of calm. Every touchpoint is crafted from premium materials, including Kvadrat upholstery and a precision die-cast aluminum frame. The mechanisms for adjusting the seat – which control height and the recline of the backrest – are concealed in the smooth plastic underside of the seat, allowing the focus to be on the comfort afforded by the chair rather than the engineering to enable it.
Simple Choices
The Calma collection is designed to allow for a high degree of personalization. The lightweight framing element facilitates 5 different backrest types – a fully upholstered backrest, an upholstered front cradled in a timber backrest; and a breathable mesh backrest. The upholstered material expressions are available as either mid-height or full-height, and the full-height backrest features an add-on pillow element to deliver additional neck and head comfort while visually celebrating the elongated form.
The simple, reduced form of Calma is reflected in a tonal colour palette that carefully harmonizes the soft and hard elements; and the collection is available with a 5 or 4-star base and with and without castors, meaning it can be utilized for both desk and conference/meeting scenarios.
