Istanbul-based designer Sami Savatli has unveiled his latest collectible design series, a compelling two-piece release titled the LOVE collection. Comprising the LOVE Chair and the LOVE Side Table, the series exists precisely at the intersection of functional design and contemporary sculpture. By examining how fundamental elements like physical structure, industrial materials, and gestural movement can interact, Savatli has transformed universally recognized shapes into objects that possess an independent and commanding spatial presence. Rather than serving merely as utilitarian furniture, each piece in the collection challenges conventional boundaries, inviting observers to reconsider the relationship between everyday utility and artistic expression.
Conceived and produced in Istanbul, the collection marks a thoughtful exploration of form and feeling. Savatli has approached his subjects with a distinct artistic sensibility, rejecting superficial decoration in favor of structural integrity. The resulting objects function seamlessly as high-end collectible design while maintaining an autonomous, gallery-worthy aesthetic that interacts dynamically with any interior architecture. Through meticulous fabrication and a deep understanding of material properties, the designer has breathed new life into motifs that might otherwise risk appearing overly familiar or sentimental.
Deconstructing the Heart: The LOVE Chair
The cornerstone of the series, the LOVE Chair, takes the universally understood outline of the heart as its initial point of departure. However, designer Sami Savatli deliberately strips away conventional symmetry and sentimental symbolism, rescuing the motif from cliché and recontextualizing it within the realm of modern furniture design. Instead of appearing as a decorative or applied motif pasted onto a standard seating frame, the heart shape emerges organically and directly from the very structure of the chair itself.
The silhouette of the LOVE Chair is defined by an intricate interplay of lines that extend, divide, and ultimately reconnect across the frame. These structural elements serve a dual purpose, moving fluidly between defining the outer silhouette and providing essential physical support. As viewers walk around the piece, shifts in volume and perspective allow the chair to read differently from every conceivable viewpoint. What appears solid and closed from one angle can suddenly reveal open voids and dynamic linear rhythms from another. This careful manipulation of space ensures that the chair is never static, but instead engages in a continuous dialogue with the surrounding environment and the shifting perspectives of anyone in the room.
The Supporting Language: The LOVE Side Table
Accompanying the seating piece is the LOVE Side Table, an object that successfully translates the overarching structural language of the collection into a more compact and concentrated form. Rather than lazily repeating the heart motif in a literal or reductive manner, the side table reinterprets the design ethos through subtle formal echoes. Its branching structure mirrors the dynamic movement and linear complexity found in the LOVE Chair, establishing a cohesive dialogue between the two objects.
Rather than relying on visual repetition, Savatli connects the side table and the chair through shared principles of proportion, rhythm, and rigorous construction. The table stands as an independent sculptural entity while clearly belonging to the same family of ideas. Its compact footprint allows it to function harmoniously alongside the chair or stand entirely on its own, showcasing how a conceptual design language can be scaled and adapted without losing its core identity or artistic integrity.
Hand-Finished Cast Aluminum Shapes the Collection
Both the LOVE Chair and the LOVE Side Table are brought to life through the use of cast aluminum, a material chosen for its structural strength, versatility, and unique reflective properties. Once cast, each individual piece in the collection is meticulously finished by hand in Savatli’s Istanbul studio. This hands-on fabrication process ensures that no two objects are entirely identical, imbuing each creation with a distinct personality and tactile warmth that is rarely associated with industrial metals.
During the hand-finishing process, subtle irregularities in the surface texture, finish, and light reflection are consciously retained. These minute traces of the maker’s hand give each object a rich material character, ensuring that the metal feels alive rather than cold or sterile. As natural and artificial light moves across the cast aluminum surfaces, the collection undergoes a visual transformation. It shifts gracefully between an appearance of heavy solidity and surprising visual lightness, further reinforcing its dual identity as both functional furniture and autonomous sculpture.
Ultimately, the LOVE collection bridges the gap between the applied arts and fine sculpture. By retaining the core functionality required of everyday furniture while establishing a striking, independent presence within physical space, Sami Savatli’s latest work offers a fresh perspective on how emotional and conceptual narratives can be successfully translated into tangible, enduring design objects.
