This sofa sets the scene for moments to remember

It was Thomas Trad’s Japanese-inspired, minimalist aesthetic for Downtown Design’s The Forum, which took place during Dubai Design Week’s 10th edition, that set the tone for Heilig Objects’s curved three-seater modular sofa. Threading the needle between feverish futurism and grounding serenity, the piece was created in partnership with B&T Design and harmoniously blends with and accentuates the idea of open-mindedness that Trad’s design concept revolves around.

Downtown Design’s The Forum is the key event of Dubai Design Week. It hosts inspiring discussions and keynotes with leading international figures and trailblazing creatives contributing to the design world. In November of this year, India Mahdavi, Lina Ghotmeh, Karim Rashid, and Eames Demetrios were among the attendees. Beirut-born, Dubai-based, AD100 interior designer Thomas Trad’s mastery relies on combining organic with abstract shapes and his relentless experimentation with materials, textures, and finishes.

Against the backdrop of a large circular opening made of amber-textured glass that allows natural light to filter through–simultaneously reminiscent of the warmth of the sun and a time-traveling portal–Heilig Objects’s vibrant orange seating ensemble completes a mood of dialogues and discovery. 

Budapest-born Daniel Heilig is an effortlessly cultured individual, an aesthete by nature. The Soviets and poverty marked his childhood. Even though he spent the latter part of his formative years in renewed, modern Germany–a period granting him a clean slate–Heilig couldn’t escape feeling anchorless. The idea of self-invention, refusal to look back, and being guided by his intuition have all been foundational in the interdisciplinary artist’s practice.

The centerpiece Heilig made for The Forum is inspired by the codes of Brutalism as a continuation of the designer’s exploration and deep love of monumental architecture. In teaming up with the Instantul-based brand B&T Design, they sought to create both a practical and philosophical contribution evocative of a spirit of conviviality. 

A shared passion for embracing the natural beauty of materials and responsible, functional design made the synergy between Trad and Heilig seamless. Taking cues from mid-century modern and Japanese decorum, Trad’s welcoming environment featured bespoke floor and wall coverings and tailored lighting fixtures. The auditorium-like space was covered with green fabric from head to toe, and the striking red seating served as a well-balanced contrast. Both the construction and the silhouette of Heilig’s seating arrangement echo the notion of fostering fresh perspectives, the nucleus of the get-together, and the region’s dynamic design scene.

The three-seater is also a natural extension and addition to Heilig Objects’s ever-expanding portfolio as a contemporary design studio seeking to incorporate innovative, intercultural, and nonconformist techniques and approaches to craftsmanship. From creating interior collections for Compagnons de Vie and Monuments to one-off furniture pieces and limited-edition collectible design series, each object is handcrafted by autodidact Heilig himself in his studio workshop in Darmstadt. The tangerine sofa is another piece that mirrors Heilig’s skillfulness in creating emotion-imbued constructs characterized by a tender liaison between art and design. 

But it is about more than ambiance. Above all else, the sofa’s ambiguity enables it to highlight the mood of any gathering or atmosphere. Heilig’s boundary-pushing piece is emblematic of the artist’s inexhaustible search for the unexpected and beautiful in contemporary design.