The R sofa by Alejandro Castro is a light, airy furniture piece that uses 2 simple materials. The lattice structure is made from birch plywood that is sealed with a biodegradable finish which supports a cushion. Simple play with the spacing of the lattice structure creates a hierarchy that gives the back and sides of the sofa depth. The R sofa has a beachy outdoor feel that is perfect for the summer heat we are currently experiencing.

The R Sofa. Designed by Alejandro Castro. Manufactured by Pirwi.

“The R sofas were developed with intimate spaces in mind, such as a living room or a TV room, where a very comfortable seat for long periods of time is required. Inspiration came from the view of open shutters, with light filtering through the structural grid of the armchair. The exposed joinery emphasizes the openness of the design language.” Pirwi

Alejandro Castro’s use of birch plywood shows off the cleanness and strength of the wood. Evan Brooks and Simon Goetz, the designers of Simply Birch, chose to show off the manufactured grain of the wood with their line of birch plywood pieces. Its incredible to see the contrast in designs that one material can achieve. Both collections have a natural, sustainable feel, true to their goals, but where the R sofa succeeds in elegance, Simply Birch succeeds in promoting its manufacturing technology.

Pirwi is a pretty cool company who’s self declared goal is to use primarily renewable resources. They consider sustainable materials to be those materials that not only come from sources that mind their ecosystems, but also from companies that have respect for their employees working environments. Efficiency, ease of repair and recycling, and biodegradability are focal points of Pirwi’s internal research.

About the Designer: Alejandro Castro is an industrial designer Principally Who works in furniture and interior design. In 2007, together with Emiliano Godoy, he created Pirwi which now sells products in both Mexico and across Europe. Castro also runs a design studio where he explores everything from interior design, art direction, brand development and commercial projects. Castro is part of the Mexican design collective NEL has taught at the Center for Design, Film and Television.