Overlap Sofa

Overlap Sofa

Overlap Sofa is an innovative furniture design that reimagines traditional seating through a distinctive architectural approach of overlapping components, created by Japanese designer Tomoki Doi. This contemporary piece challenges conventional sofa design by conceptualizing the furniture as two intersecting geometric blocks that create multiple functional surfaces while maintaining an object-like aesthetic quality. The design's distinguishing feature lies in its off-axis arrangement of the backrest and seat, which forms a continuous flat surface that transforms visually depending on the viewing angle. Crafted from wood, urethane, and fabric, with dimensions of W1955 D1063 H780 millimeters, the sofa demonstrates exceptional versatility in both residential and public spaces. Its modular nature allows for various configurations, enabling multiple units to be arranged in straight lines, zigzags, squares, or crosses, where the backrest and seating surfaces seamlessly merge into unified elements. The design philosophy stems from the concept of adding seating functionality to a simple rectangular object, deliberately moving away from traditional sofa components to explore new possibilities in furniture interaction. This innovative approach earned the design a Bronze A' Design Award in the Furniture Design category, recognizing its contribution to contemporary furniture design through its creative interpretation of seating functionality and spatial relationships. The sofa's unique construction also addresses practical considerations, as it can be disassembled into two parts for easier transportation without compromising its aesthetic integrity. The design draws inspiration from observational research of how people naturally adapt their environment for seating purposes, such as using stairs, resulting in a piece that encourages diverse sitting positions and interactions.

contemporary furniture design, modular seating system, geometric furniture, innovative sofa design, architectural seating, transformative furniture

— Adam Dawson

CITATION : "Adam Dawson. 'Overlap Sofa.' Design+Encyclopedia. https://design-encyclopedia.com/define/overlap-sofa?E=448827 (Accessed on October 14, 2026)"