Catifa 53 | 0201

Catifa 53 is the original: the inspiration that extends to Arper itself. The graceful curved seat and sleek profile are the ultimate synthesis: conceptual purity is achieved through the reduction of the superfluous without loss of sensuality. In 2024, Catifa 53 enters a new era through a partnership in material innovation. The Catifa Carta version features a re-engineered shell made of PaperShell, a revolutionary new material made of 29 sheets of responsibly sourced paper bonded with a natural resin, which provides the strength and comfort essential to Catifa’s now iconic, bi-curved silhouette. The new Catifa Carta is as transformative in style and beauty as the original, now setting a new standard for sustainable design.

Created for both residential and contract use, Catifa 53 is available in a soft and enveloping fully upholstered version in either fabric, leather, or coated fabric, in three different stitching patterns – striped, star-shaped or plain. The hard leather version also features an optional removable cushion. The shell can be combined with wooden legs, trestle (with or without castors), or five-way bases. Catifa 53 uses no glue and is entirely disassemblable, to allow for its refurbishment, hence lengthening its life span, and its proper disposal and recycling at the end of its life cycle.

Catifa Carta is available with a shell in PaperShell, which comes in a coffee color, combinable with a four-leg steel base, steel sled base, aluminum trestle base (with and without castors). Cushions and removable cover options are available to add color and extra comfort. A first of its kind innovation, PaperShell dramatically reduces Catifa Carta’s impact on the environment by stocking carbon dioxide. At the end of its lifecycle, Catifa Carta can undergo pyrolysis, a burning process that happens in absence of oxygen and prevents CO2 release. Through this process, PaperShell is converted into biochar, a form of charcoal produced from plant matter, which locks CO2 effectively, avoiding its release into the atmosphere. Biochar is best used as soil enhancement, helping to restore the soil to its natural richness and hence supporting biodiversity. To further reduce its environmental impact and allow for a longer life cycle, Catifa Carta is fully disassemblable.