• Wooden sofa – the history

    NORRGAVEL_250206_BOK_34

    March, 2025

    The Wooden Sofa has been part of the Norrgavel range since the company’s founding in 1993. Many perceive the Wooden Sofa as a traditional piece of furniture with its Gustavian style influences. But above all, it is an innovative and progressive piece of furniture – something that remains true today, even though it is over 30 years old. And it is precisely this innovative quality that the designer Nirvan Richter wants to highlight now that the Wooden Sofa is finally being relaunched after several years of paused production.

    But let’s take a step back and look at how it all began. How was the idea for the Wooden Sofa born, and where did the inspiration for its iconic design come from? Norrgavel’s founder and designer, Nirvan Richter, explains:

    – The Wooden Sofa strongly shaped my vision for creating furniture. That type of sofa was simply missing from the market. When I moved out of my parents' home in the 70s, I tried to refurbish an old sofa with fixed upholstery. But I quickly realised that it was made of very poor materials. When I removed the upholstery, the entire sofa concept of the 20th century was revealed. It didn’t feel good to have such a sofa at home. That’s when my ambition to create something completely new began – a piece of furniture made entirely of sound natural materials. A sofa that was easy to care for and that would hold up both in terms of quality and style over time.

    “The Wooden Sofa strongly shaped my vision for creating furniture. That type of sofa was simply missing from the market.”

    And even though the Wooden Sofa draws stylistic influences from both 18th-century Gustavian furniture and Danish design icons, it is, above all, one of Norrgavel’s most progressive pieces. Consistent in its construction and completely innovative in terms of how a sofa is actually made. Partly thanks to its airy wooden frame, which gives the sofa its character and was also a way to break away from heavy, upholstered furniture. And partly because of the construction using pure natural materials that are separated from each other to allow for easy maintenance and repair when needed – something that was highly progressive at the time. During the second half of the 20th century, only poor materials were used in upholstered furniture, such as synthetics, chipboard, toxic glue, and flame-retardant chemicals. Nothing was built to be repaired; the idea was instead to buy a completely new sofa when the synthetic cushions became misshapen and saggy.

    – I was inspired by 18th-century Swedish design, with its Gustavian style that is very elegant and understated. The upholstery materials were there to provide comfort – not like the excesses of the 19th century. Having a wooden frame also means that everything you put in the sofa is separate. The idea for the moulded slat base came from beds. It sits freely and has a loose linen cover on top that absorbs the mechanical wear between the slat base and the cushions. This way, the cushions can function independently, allowing you to easily experiment with different style expressions, says Nirvan Richter.

    “The Chinese Pavilion at Drottningholm represents precisely the atmosphere found in the Wooden Sofa. It has become a style, but it is really an approach to interior design that lies deep within Norrgavel’s DNA. Everything feels light and simple, like a summer in Hagaparken. And yet it is comfortable, elegant, and dignified.”

    During the 1950s and 60s, there were sofas with wooden frames, but they were hard – more like daybeds – and lacked the comfort that the Wooden Sofa offers. Designer Nirvan Richter wanted a truly soft, upholstered sofa made from pure natural materials – materials that are part of the natural cycle: down feathers from waterfowl, natural latex, wool felt, and linen upholstery. The Wooden Sofa that was launched in 1993 was a four-seater, which also made it suitable as an extra bed. Now that the Wooden Sofa is being relaunched in 2025, it is available as a three-seater. A more compact version that is very easy to place. The fact that the Wooden Sofa blends so well into any setting can, to some extent, be explained by the widely varying design influences.

    – The Wooden Sofa is a combination of ascetic rustic style and bourgeois elegance – a tribute to my parents. My father came from a simple rural background, while my mother had a bourgeois upbringing. The Wooden Sofa hasn’t adopted the visual language of rustic design, but rather the idea of creating stripped-down, functional structures using natural materials. Unembellished and simple. The bourgeois aspect comes through in the sofa’s hedonistic comfort – something that was somewhat frowned upon in rustic culture. In short, it’s a twist between refined rustic style and Gustavian elegance, combined with a bourgeois approach to home life, says Nirvan Richter.

    Skiss-trasoffa

    “The original idea behind the Wooden Sofa was a family-friendly sofa. A durable and comfortable sofa that is easy to care for and easy to move around. In short, a forgiving piece of furniture.”

    The original idea behind the Wooden Sofa was a family-friendly sofa. A durable and comfortable sofa that is easy to care for and easy to move around – a flexible nomadic piece of furniture. If there are children in the family, they can take out the cushions from the sofa and build dens or cosy corners on the floor. If something gets spilled, you can simply wash the cover, and if something breaks, it's easy to replace that specific part. The fundamental idea and design language are based on creating a homely and lived-in feel – simply a forgiving piece of furniture. You can adjust or change the expression of the Wooden Sofa depending on whether you choose oak, beech, or a painted finish. The choice of upholstery fabric also has a strong influence on the sofa's character.

    – I have a Wooden Sofa at home that is 30 years old. It still looks just as good now as when it was new. In fact, the Wooden Sofa is at its very best and most comfortable when it’s been properly used. I open up the cushions and air everything out once a year, and afterwards, the sofa feels as good as new again, says Nirvan Richter.

    “I have a Wooden Sofa that is 30 years old. It still looks just as good now as when it was new.”

    The first time the Wooden Sofa was shown to the public was at Bo93 in Karlskrona. An entire apartment was furnished from floor to ceiling with Norrgavel furniture. The response was overwhelmingly positive, both from the press and the exhibition's visitors. The design language was familiar yet entirely new and innovative. The overall feel of the home radiated something modern but at the same time evoked the essence of what so many love about Carl and Karin Larsson's home – an everyday approach where furniture forms the backdrop to life. Interior design that doesn’t scream for attention but instead adapts and blends into widely varying environments.

    Did you know:

    According to designer Nirvan Richter, the Wooden Sofa is not really a "lounging sofa" for lying back and relaxing. It’s more of a comfortable seating piece where you can engage in intellectual conversations. You can sit softly and snugly while watching children's programmes or even lie down for a short siesta. One thing is certain – the Wooden Sofa is without a doubt the piece of furniture that has meant the most in realising the vision of Norrgavel.

    – If I could only have one sofa at home, it would definitely be the Wooden Sofa, says Nirvan Richter. ♥

    Sources of Inspiration – Wooden Sofa
    - The Gustavian furniture style from the 18th century – a style often summarised in three words: harmony, clarity, and moderation.
    - Simple rustic style – clear construction and function.
    - Carl Larsson – the wooden sofa that stands on the podium in Lilla Hyttnäs.
    - Lutyens bench – the garden bench known from Sissinghurst Castle Gardens.
    - French aristocracy – “a touch of Proust.”
    - Børge Mogensen – the Spoke-Back Sofa (in Danish, "Tremmesofa").
    - Carl Malmsten – the Visingsö sofa.
    - KF, Svensk Form – the Bas sofa.
    - The Chinese Pavilion at Drottningholm.
    - A sofa made from blueprint drawers in Nirvan's office.

    Innovative Wooden Sofa:
    - The Wooden Sofa has a unique construction; it is made entirely from natural materials that are part of the natural life cycle, and all components are separated from each other.
    - Flexible – a mobile "nomad sofa" that can easily be moved by one person.
    - Child-friendly – a durable construction that is easy to care for and keep clean. Encourages moving around the cushions and creating space for play and relaxation.
    - Easy to modify/adapt – the choice of wood type, colour, and upholstery fabric gives the sofa a completely different character.
    - Easy to repair and renovate when needed – designed to last for generations.
    - Often perceived as traditional despite being so progressive in its concept.

    “The Wooden Sofa is undoubtedly the piece of furniture that has meant the most in realising the vision of Norrgavel. I carried the dream of an unpretentious, Carl Larsson-inspired, relaxed yet truly comfortable sofa within me for ten years. The mix between ascetic and bourgeois is a tribute to my parents. The design is airy and transparent, inviting creative change with textiles and paint. Easy to live with and child-friendly. Easy to care for, free from hidden nooks and crannies. And easy to move – despite its 198 cm length, you can carry it alone!”

    Nirvan Richter, designer
    Designed in 1993. In production since 1994