Sofra
Kitchenware DesignThis project is part of my thesis project at Parsons School of Design
Sofra - Homeware Design
Sofra is a two-piece set consisting of a vertical table extension and a set of trivets, designed to make family lunches and dinners more enjoyable.
Its purpose isn’t to increase the table’s surface area, but to create a lighter, smoother dining experience, especially when the table becomes cluttered with multiple small dishes.
Community is key to the Lebanese food culture. Families host lunches/dinners by serving all types of foods that are shared at the table and not distributed in single portions. People remain seated for four-to-five-hours. Thus, I am creating a series of vertical table extensions designed to give the main table a breather so the people get an enhanced dining experience.
Key Elements
Key Elements
The melamine bowl and the chaffe were my main source of inspiration, as they are closely associated with Lebanese households and culture. I drew and developed my designs from them.
The melamine brown bowls has a yellow organic pattern on the inner surfaces. In the absence of any kind of traditional dishware or cutlery, these bowls come closest to symbolizing Lebanese cuisine. The botanical pattern was inspired by nature. Chaffe means quick sip. It’s a small coffee cup with no handles with a very specific pattern on. The flower (on it) is inspired by an Opium Poppy plant.
The melamine brown bowls has a yellow organic pattern on the inner surfaces. In the absence of any kind of traditional dishware or cutlery, these bowls come closest to symbolizing Lebanese cuisine. The botanical pattern was inspired by nature. Chaffe means quick sip. It’s a small coffee cup with no handles with a very specific pattern on. The flower (on it) is inspired by an Opium Poppy plant.
FINAL PRODUCT
THE BAALBAKI
THE BAALBAKI
The Baalbaki is the first piece in the collection, designed as a plate stand. Its name is inspired by the city of Baalbek, as the stand echoes the form of its iconic Roman temples.
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Made of two types of wood (Pine and Olive wood), I came up with a tessellation system, in which the tabletop forms come together to create a larger surface when the individual serving stands are placed next to one another. The shapes are like little islands that float individually or merge.
The base of the serving stands is terra cotta, a material that is solid enough to support the bowls but also easy to shape to create harmonious compositions when the stands are place together. After experimenting with many shapes I selected bases, that come in different heights and curves. All of them are ergonomic, easy to carry and hold. The curve suggests an organic flow and is thicker at the bottom to ensure stability. Plus, I developed three heights — 12cm - 15 cm and 18cm — to ensure that they don’t interfere with eye contact.
Made of two types of wood (Pine and Olive wood), I came up with a tessellation system, in which the tabletop forms come together to create a larger surface when the individual serving stands are placed next to one another. The shapes are like little islands that float individually or merge.The base of the serving stands is terra cotta, a material that is solid enough to support the bowls but also easy to shape to create harmonious compositions when the stands are place together. After experimenting with many shapes I selected bases, that come in different heights and curves. All of them are ergonomic, easy to carry and hold. The curve suggests an organic flow and is thicker at the bottom to ensure stability. Plus, I developed three heights — 12cm - 15 cm and 18cm — to ensure that they don’t interfere with eye contact.
THE BEIRUTI
The Beiruti, named after the capital Beirut, consisting of two trivets, draws inspiration from the Chaffe coffee cup. It is designed to accommodate Lebanon’s grilled plate.
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I designed a U shape by abstracting the top part of the flower. This particular shape is suitable for the slot plate, where pita bread is placed at the bottom and grilled meat skewers are on top. Thus, pine wood can support the heat generated from the plate.
I designed a U shape by abstracting the top part of the flower. This particular shape is suitable for the slot plate, where pita bread is placed at the bottom and grilled meat skewers are on top. Thus, pine wood can support the heat generated from the plate.
Each piece was CNC-cut or hand-cut by me, with all sanding and finishing done meticulously to highlight the fillet and wood grain. All the pictures were shot in the studio by my classmate & me.