Arcus Sofa | Tim Vranken
For the Arcus Sofa by Belgian designer Tim Vranken, Bea Joppen created the upholstery in hemp fabric from Design of the Time. Presented by Objects With Narratives, the sofa combines a sculptural base in solid American walnut with generous upholstered seat and back cushions.
The design belongs to Vranken’s Arcus collection, which draws inspiration from architectural fragments of the past. Columns, arches and ornamental forms are reinterpreted through changes in scale and proportion. In the sofa, the repeated wooden supports create a distinct rhythm beneath the broad upholstered surfaces, giving the piece a strong architectural character.
The warm brown upholstery complements the walnut, bringing the two materials together through colour and texture. The fabric adds a tactile surface above the clearly defined wooden structure. Viewed as a whole, the sofa balances the substantial presence of its base with the softness of its cushions.
Our contribution focused on the upholstered elements, translating the sofa’s generous proportions into finished seat and back cushions. Their understated shapes give the textile room to express its texture, while keeping the overall composition clear. The meeting of upholstery and exposed wood is central to how the piece is experienced, both as an object and as a place to sit.
For our Antwerp atelier, Arcus represents the application of upholstery craftsmanship to a contemporary design. The finished piece brings Vranken’s woodwork and our upholstery together within one considered composition.
Designed in 2026 and handmade in Belgium, the Arcus Sofa is produced in a limited edition of eight.
Design: Tim Vranken
Upholstery: Bea Joppen
Materials: Solid American walnut and hemp fabric from Design of the Time
Presented by: Objects With Narratives