Marka feels less like furniture and more like a cultural memory taking shape in the present. The idea comes from the Bedouin way of life, where movement, adaptability, and shared living shaped everything. In that world, objects had to be light, versatile, and deeply connected to how people lived together. Marka brings that spirit forward and places it into the context of contemporary living. At its core, Marka raises a simple question. Can furniture bring people closer together again?
The story begins in the desert. For Bedouin communities, mobility defined life. Objects were designed to move with people, to shift between uses, and to serve multiple roles. What was once a saddle support for camel riding slowly evolved into a low seating form when nomadic groups began to settle. That transition reflects something meaningful. It shows how design evolves when lifestyles shift, and how culture is carried through objects.
Designer: Adel Alserhani
Marka builds on that idea. It reinterprets a traditional object through the lens of modern needs. The design is a modular seating system that changes form without the need for tools. It invites the user to assemble and reassemble it with ease. One configuration supports two people sitting close, encouraging conversation and shared time. Another configuration transforms into a low personal chair designed for solitude, comfort, and reflection. These changes happen through simple interlocking joinery, which makes the object playful and intuitive to use.
The two structural panels and the padded cover come together to create a flexible and tactile experience. The triangular cushion allows different sitting postures, making it easy to shift between relaxation, conversation, and quiet personal moments. There is a subtle intention behind this flexibility. The design acknowledges the human need to connect, and the equally important need to be alone.
The choice of material adds another layer of meaning. The structure is made from recycled and recyclable polypropylene sourced from local manufacturing waste. This choice reflects a conscious approach to sustainability and an understanding of resourcefulness that aligns with the traditions that inspired the design.
Marka also responds to a larger social shift. Research conducted during the project explored how urban development and economic growth have changed social behaviors. Many people living in fast-growing cities experience loneliness and a weakening of community bonds. Digital tools keep people connected across distances, yet face-to-face interaction is becoming less frequent. This shift can create feelings of isolation and a loss of belonging.
Marka does not claim to fix these issues. Instead, it creates small opportunities for connection. Placed in a home or shared space, it invites people to sit, talk, and spend time together. It encourages presence without forcing interaction. It allows a quiet space for solitude when needed. In doing so, it gently brings back the idea of shared moments in a world that often moves too quickly.
Marka stands as a reminder that design can hold memory and respond to contemporary needs at the same time. It blends heritage, function, and social intention into one object. In a quiet and thoughtful way, it asks us to slow down, gather, and find moments of human connection again.
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