AKAR DE NISSIM, a renowned name in the world of luxury furniture, has recently unveiled its latest masterpiece: the DAYA Collection, developed in collaboration with Laabmilano. This collection embodies a perfect harmony between Italian design and ancient Eastern philosophies, resulting in furniture that transcends aesthetics to create spaces that breathe balance and calm. Every piece is carefully crafted to enhance energy flow, inspired by Feng Shui and Vastu principles, creating an atmosphere of peace and tranquillity.
The central theme is the concept of energy flow, or Chi, a key tenet in Feng Shui and Vastu. Each item in the collection is designed to foster this natural flow, allowing spaces to feel lighter, more open, and in harmony with their surroundings. The collection’s signature water droplet motif is a powerful symbol of fluidity and balance, representing the continuous movement and accumulation of Chi energy. Through this symbol, the collection emphasizes the importance of a seamless connection between the objects’ form, materials, and purpose, creating beautiful, calming, serene environments.
Designer Donatella Casiraghi, reflecting on the inspiration behind the DAYA Collection, highlights the importance of merging technological innovation with spiritual philosophy. Her vision for this collection was to unite the best elements of Eastern and Western design, creating visually striking furniture deeply connected to the natural world. The soft, flowing shapes seen throughout the collection, reminiscent of the natural movement of water and wind, reflect a design philosophy that values continuity and fluidity, ensuring that every piece integrates seamlessly into any space.
One of the collection’s standout pieces is the Anfratto Sofa, a design that encapsulates the pure essence. The sofa’s curves evoke the effortless movement of water, creating a sense of fluidity that invites relaxation. Its form is aesthetically pleasing and designed to encourage introspection and a sense of calm. Each sofa element has been meticulously crafted to foster a deep connection with the space it inhabits, offering comfort without overwhelming the environment.
In addition to its harmonious design, this collection strongly emphasises the tactile experience, with a wide variety of materials that add depth and texture to each piece. Luxurious natural and perforated leathers are a hallmark of the collection, giving each item a refined yet approachable feel. With its subtle ash-grey and beige veins, Marble adds a visual contrast that enhances the pieces’ sculptural quality while grounding them in timeless elegance.
A particularly unique feature of the collection is the use of straw marquetry, an age-old technique that has been masterfully revived for this collaboration. The hand-dyed natural straw creates vibrant, translucent hues meticulously arranged into intricate geometric patterns. This labor-intensive process, which involves splitting and flattening each stalk by hand, adds a distinctive and captivating texture to the furniture, creating a guilloché effect that catches the eye without overwhelming the senses.
This prestigious collection also reintroduces stingray leather, or galuchat, a material admired since ancient times for its luxurious feel and durability. Galuchat became a symbol of luxury during the Art Deco period, and it is used to evoke the same sense of timeless sophistication. This rare material and other carefully chosen elements like ivory, ebony, and precious metals contribute to the collection’s overall sense of exclusivity and craftsmanship, ensuring that each piece feels truly unique.
Another cornerstone of the collection is the exquisite lacquer work, a craft perfected in the lacquer villages of Vietnam. The smooth, glossy finish that adorns many of the pieces reflects a deep commitment to traditional craftsmanship while also enhancing the overall elegance and simplicity of the designs. This lacquer technique, developed over generations, adds a luminous quality to the furniture, catching and reflecting light in ways that enhance the collection’s fluid forms and organic shapes.
DAYA Collection is a significant step forward for AKAR DE NISSIM, a brand that has been reinvigorated under the leadership of Christian Duhain since 2018. This collection perfectly encapsulates the brand’s renewed commitment to excellence in design, blending tradition with innovation in a way that honours both the past and the present. Each piece reflects and embodies a modern approach to luxury that is understated and deeply meaningful. It expresses movement, energy, and the timeless interplay between Eastern and Western design philosophies. Each piece resonates with the flow of life, creating harmonious and balanced spaces by embracing traditional craftsmanship, modern luxury, and ancient wisdom.
AKAR DE NISSIM and Laabmilano have crafted a collection that offers a lifestyle that invites calm, introspection, and a deeper connection with our spaces.
Enjoy even more @ akardenissim.com/collections/daya
Article edited by Massimo Basile
Editor & Founder
