El_Masnad: A Playful and Intuitive Lounge Carpet

Embracing the Middle Eastern Leisure Culture

El_Masnad was inspired by the observation that Saudis often end up sitting on the ground despite having typical seating devices in their living rooms. This curiosity led Sana Alabdulwahed to create a design that embraces the floor as a living space and caters to the intuitive needs of the Saudi demographic.

One of the key strengths of El_Masnad is its focus on armrests, which are traditionally significant in Saudi Arabia as they initiate nodes where the space is highly activated. By neglecting all other parts of a seating device and using armrests as the main component, El_Masnad creates a more playful and intuitive seating experience. Users can adapt to different sitting positions and configurations, allowing for a dynamic and personalized interaction with the design.

The manufacturing process of El_Masnad involves 5-axis hot wire milling for filling foam and CNC stitching on felt to create the generated pattern design. The upholstery is rolled up around the foam, similar to the traditional way of rolling a carpet. Felt, a contemporary alternative to traditional wool carpets, is used as the material for El_Masnad, ensuring a soft and comfortable seating experience without any hard obstacles in the space.

El_Masnad is available in two set options: a pair of two pieces or two pairs of two pieces, allowing for different seating configurations. The dimensions for one set are approximately 335cm in width, 180cm in depth, and 30cm in height. The weight of each set is around 12kg, making it easy to move and rearrange according to the users' preferences.

The design of El_Masnad is not oriented towards a specific direction, as the development of new technologies, like tablets, eliminates the need for seating units to face a TV wall. This allows for multiple users to engage in different activities while using El_Masnad. The low height of the design adds a playful element and makes the space feel higher, enhancing the overall experience.

El_Masnad was created as part of a thesis study at the Art Center College of Design in Pasadena, CA, USA. It was developed during the Master program in Environmental Design, specifically in the Furniture and Fixtures track. The design project started in the winter term of 2014 and concluded by the end of the spring term in 2015. The first prototype was presented at the graduate show on April 18th, 2014.

El_Masnad has received recognition for its outstanding design. It was awarded the Silver A' Design Award in the Furniture Design category in 2016. This prestigious award is given to designs that showcase exceptional expertise, innovation, and artistic skill. El_Masnad's unique concept and technical characteristics have impressed the design community and brought positive feelings of amazement and wonder.