A sofa that envelopes:
resign to comfort with Anderssen & Voll’s new Hi Lo
Challenging the proportions of conventional lounge seating, Anderssen & Voll’s two-piece Hi Lo sofa series intertwines unparalleled comfort with dynamic form.
A new modular design for &Tradition, Hi Lo’s generous proportions and prioritisation of cushioning with figure-hugging upholstery make for a sofa that envelopes users. Low to the ground, a high-back and upwardly curving seat form almost a C-shape, demonstrated in its side profile, inviting the sitter to sink into comfort while adopting a reclined, relaxed posture.
The name, Hi Lo, reflects a duality between high comfort and low form, structure and ease. It also carries connotations of Hi-Fi culture, recalling the immersive feeling of listening to the right soundtrack in the right space.
“A good sofa will explain itself to your body when you sit down,” explains Torbjørn Anderssen, of Anderssen & Voll. He continues, “Hi Lo has a very distinct side profile. The first sketches dealt with pairing this reclined form with ergonomics and deep comfort. However, as the idea developed and we expanded from 2D to 3D modelling, we found that approaching Hi Lo from the front was like arriving at a sloping, soft hill, which was an impactful and surprising discovery for us.”
Both casual and considered in its form, the upward curve found in the seat lightens the overall aesthetic of the sofa, as not to dominate the spaces it occupies, while also easing the task of cleaning – a feature particularly suited to busy professional environments.
“With Hi Lo, we wanted to make a sofa with fluidity, so that people have the option to create as much or as little of a lounging area as they pleased. Whether people they opt for a single seater or a configuration, Hi Lo is sofa that has been designed to sit in while savouring moments listening to music, enjoying a drink or for making memories with friends and family.” adds Espen Voll, of Anderssen & Voll.
Comprised of a one-seater and a corner sofa module, the Hi Lo series is designed for versatility. The single module stands as a compact yet substantial piece, making it ideal for introducing an element of grandeur in smaller home spaces, while also succeeding to hold its own in larger hotel lobbies or waiting rooms. A buildable design, Hi Lo modules easily combine to create larger configurations that are equally suited to unwinding at home, as they are injecting life into contract and hospitality locations. Attachable at either side of the single sofa piece, the corner module then allows for dynamic L-shape arrangements.
Impact
The inner structure of Hi Lo is made using FSC® certified wood and recycled materials, supporting responsible management of the world’s forests. The collection uses certified low-emission upholstery foam, ensuring it is tested against harmful chemicals that may pollute indoor air. It is available with EU Ecolabel certified top fabrics, ensuring more socially and environmentally positive fibre production and strict restrictions on hazardous substances. Produced in a factory powered by certified renewable energy, contributing to CO2e reductions.
Anderssen & Voll is an Oslo-based design studio founded by Torbjørn Anderssen and Espen Voll in 2009. Guided by their Scandinavian heritage and an affinity for the material at hand, Anderssen & Voll have established a profoundly intuitive practice informed by their artistic sensibilities.
Anderssen & Voll works across multiple creative disciplines, including furniture, lighting, home accessories and textile design. From the early sketches to the final product, every step in the creation of a new design is thoughtfully considered – resulting in a portfolio of work that embodies a sense of care and attention to detail that is synonymous with the design duo’s creative pursuits.
More designs by Anderssen & Voll:
Arcata is a sculptural lounge collection by Anderssen & Voll – Davis
Arcata Lounge Collection by Anderssen & Voll for Davis: Mid-Century Modern Meets Nordic Design Arcata …
Anderssen & Voll’s two-piece Hi Lo sofa series – &Tradition
A sofa that envelopes: resign to comfort with Anderssen & Voll’s new Hi Lo …
The Pavilion collection grows with Sled base by Anderssen & Voll – &Tradition
Despite its robust functionality, the side chair with the sled base retains the graceful, rhythmic …
The Pavilion collection grows with a pair of stools by Anderssen & Voll – &Tradition
Pavilion Stool Designed with the same meticulous attention to detail as the wider Pavilion collection, …
Lantern’s Latest Family Member Sets New Standards design by Anderssen & Voll – New Works
Lantern Portable Table Lamp The Lantern series now travels back to its origin, drawing upon …
Distinguished silhouette meets deep comfort in the new Meantime collection by Anderssen & Voll – &Tradition
Domesticating the public realm: distinguished silhouette meets deep comfort in the new Meantime collection by …
Zabu: Dynamic Comfort Inspired by Japanese Floor Cushions design by Anderssen & Voll
With the Zabu chair, Anderssen & Voll were seeking to create a comfortable lounge chair …
The Evolution of Elegance: KIPU Club design by Anderssen & Voll – lapalma
KIPU Club Anderssen & Voll, 2024 Growing means exactly this, reinventing a shape that already …
Time Well Spent: Introducing the 10:30 design by Anderssen & Voll – lapalma
10:30 Anderssen & Voll, 2024 Time tells the story of a day and a place …
Bruno Mathsson’s prize celebrates 40 years with extensive exhibition @ Vandalorum
26 October 2024–15 June 2025 In 2024, it will be 40 years since the Bruno …
Audo expands the Brasilia Collection with new designs by Anderssen & Voll
Scandinavian mid-century design aesthetics and Brazilian Modernism meet in the Brasilia Collection, originally imagined for …
Totemic silhouettes in compact forms, the new Massif bar and counter stools by Anderssen & Voll – &Tradition
A graphically striking design with an anchoring sense of stability, Anderssen & Voll’s new Massif …
A corner sofa and chaise longue module complete Anderssen & Voll’s Inland – &Tradition
A corner sofa and chaise longue module complete Anderssen & Voll’s Inland – a sofa …
Allwood made from a combination of solid wood, laminated parts and oak plywood by Anderssen & Voll – &Tradition
Allwood design by Anderssen & Voll, 2024 Rooted in their Norwegian design ethos and use …
Outdoor collection Ville, a celebration of nature and materiality by Anderssen & Voll – &Tradition
Ville design by Anderssen & Voll, 2024 A celebration of nature and materiality, Anderssen & …
Bruno + 35 Mathsson Prize Winners @ Sven-Harrys konstmuseum
26th January – 7th April 2024 For the first time, Bruno Mathsson’s timeless furniture is …
Spoke Sofa by Anderssen & Voll for Takt
Spoke Sofa is designed by Anderssen & Voll, combining sustainability with modern craft aesthetics. The …
Inland Sofa design by Anderssen & Voll for &Tradition
Clean lines and subtle curves meld in Inland, a sofa that delicately tows the line …
HÅG Tion by Anderssen & Voll, BIG-GAME and Hunting & Narud
The Agile Task Chair Compact yet comprehensive, Tion redefines the modern work chair. Its small …
HÅG Celi by Anderssen & Voll, BIG-GAME and Hunting & Narud
The Social Chair A stackable conference chair designed for dynamic spaces. Born from the collaboration …
Small and slender, the Pavilion desk provides an ideal home-working solution by Anderssen & Voll – &Tradition
When Anderssen & Voll created their Pavilion chair series, the award-winning duo drew their design …
Connect Soft Modular Sofa by Anderssen & Voll – muuto
“The Connect Soft Modular Sofa is a seating system, rooted in the idea of uncovering …
Doze Lounge Chair by Anderssen & Voll – muuto
“The visual references of the Doze Lounge Chair are derived from the modern and clear …
Exploring the In Situ Modular Sofa by Anderssen & Voll – muuto
Designed from the idea of creating a grand, modular design, the In Situ Modular Sofa …
Kumo Sofa by Anderssen & Voll – hem
Kumo – Japanese for cloud – is a ship-smart modular system by Norwegian designers and …
Doze Lounge Chair & Ottoman by Anderssen & Voll – muuto
Designed with extensive comfort and a modern expression through the vibrant lines and folds of …
Pavilion by Anderssen & Voll – &Tradition
At first glance, the Pavilion lounge chair appears almost like a rope that’s come undone. …
Novell by Anderssen&Voll – Swedese
Swedese launches a new design collaboration with Norwegian designer duo Anderssen&Voll. “The sofa Novell is …
Anderssen & Voll – the Design Bar 2019
The Norwegian design studio Anderssen & Voll has been given the assignment to create the …
Garden Works – Mjölk
Design Anderssen & Voll. For this project we chose to work with natural material finishings …
Bow Sofa by Anderssen & Voll – Erik Jørgensen
The sofa BOW is designed in cooperation between Erik Jørgensen Møbelfabrik and the 2 Norwegian …
Oslo series design by Anderssen & Voll – Muuto
ANDERSSEN & VOLL ON THE DESIGN “We wanted to make a sofa series with a …