BoConcept ottawa sofa by karim rashid offers countless combinations

first launched in 2012, the BoConcept ottawa collection – designed by karim rashid – epitomises comfort with its organic, welcoming aesthetic and flexible personality. from chairs to tables and even cabinets, the range has been expanded over the years to further cater for and benefit the many different scenarios of daily life. their latest piece sees the US-based designer create a modular sofa system adept to residences as well as workplaces.

the BoConcept ottawa sofa system responds to the increasing demands for freedom and flexibility in our interiors, especially in offices. described as the ‘age of casualism’ by karim rashid, people are now more free to move away from the desk, but the non-stop connectivity of the digital era is causing social and human behaviors to blur. in response, the sofa’s concept focuses on key aspects of well-being – comfort and ease – to create more suitable seating options for offices and public spaces.

‘I’ve always been inspired by the way humans interact,‘ says the designer. ‘the goal has been to create a sofa that both works beautifully in a smaller room and can also bear to be customized to sit a lot of people.’

the sofa system comprises 10 various modules that can be configured into countless combinations. these include a moveable table, ottoman with a laptop tray, and USB outlets for charging mobile devices. these moveable tools help create a workspace for conversation, collaboration and informal meetings as well as a place for employees to relax, recharge and contemplate. its suitable for any scenario and blends seamlessly into these environments.

beauty and comfort still partners this high flexibility, though. rashid began the design by focusing on these two elements, only then adding the much needed modularity to the organic form that has defined the whole ottawa collection so far. its soft sculptures appear minimal but they are natural and intuitively welcoming.

‘the organic, flowing forms provide a pleasant feeling of nature, where you rarely find perfectly straight lines. this soft expression invites people to sit down. this allows the sofa to transmit a clear message: welcome,’ confirms the designer.

the BoConept ottawa sofa system is the latest addition to the collection, which encompasses their LIVE.WORK.PLAY concept. it first started with the leaf-shaped dining chair, which pairs the sloping lines of its body with twig-like legs. these unique legs match those of the dining table. above, its sensual wooden surface is framed by smooth, round edges. another addition was the sideboard which embraced organic curves to not only add fluid decoration but also function to the object. the undulating sections of the body slide open to reveal ample amounts of storage space. the collection also includes a lounge chair, coffee table and more.