Image source: Arper — Catifa
© Arper and the respective rights holders. Quoted to accompany INTEBEE's independent design commentary and research.
Collection Story
Origin
The Catifa family began with Catifa 53, designed by Lievore Altherr Molina and launched by Arper in 2001. Arper calls it the original — the design that shaped the company's identity, with an elegant curved seat and streamlined profile balancing purity and function. In 2004 the studio followed with Catifa 46, the little sister of Catifa 53 with the same sleek profile at a slightly smaller scale for contract use.
Design Language
One continuous shell is the constant. It is offered in single- or bi-colour polypropylene, 3D-curved wood and a range of upholstered versions, and combines with every base in the collection: four-leg and sled (stackable), wooden legs, trestle with or without casters and five-spoke on casters, plus stools. Catifa 53 was the first Arper collection to obtain an Environmental Product Declaration.
Key Pieces
- Catifa 53 (2001) and Catifa (RE) 53 (2025, 100% recycled plastic shell in its upholstered version)
- Catifa 46 (2004) chairs and stools, e.g. the four-leg chair #0251
- Catifa Carta (2024), with a PaperShell of 29 sheets of kraft paper
- Catifa 60 and Catifa 80
Pieces in this collection
Catifa 60
Catifa Up
Catifa Carta
Catifa Sensit
An upholstered task chair with a concealed synchronised self-weighting mechanism.
Catifa (RE) Bench
A modular two- to four-seat bench that updates Catifa with shells made from recycled plastic.
Catifa (RE) 53
The original Catifa shell, now in recycled polypropylene and hard leather on solid oak legs.
Catifa 46
Compact sister of Catifa 53: a slim polypropylene shell on a four-leg steel frame.
Catifa 80
A low, fully upholstered lounge chair with a broad shell and a choice of swivel or sled bases.
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