At the 2026 3daysofdesign Festival in Copenhagen, UNStudio, led by Ben van Berkel, unveiled a new collaboration with Spanish furniture brand Sancal. Named Gradas, the Spanish word for stepped seating commonly found in public squares, amphitheaters, and gathering spaces, the collection transforms an urban architectural typology into a versatile furniture system designed for contemporary interiors.
Gradas explores how furniture can encourage interaction, movement, and multiple ways of occupying space. By introducing different levels, depths, and seating positions, the collection blurs the line between furniture design and architecture, bringing the social dynamics of public spaces into homes, workplaces, hospitality environments, and educational settings.
Reimagining Public Space Through Furniture Design
The concept behind Gradas is rooted in the Spanish tradition of “bajar a la plaza,” the act of heading down to a public square to meet, converse, observe, and participate in community life. Translating this cultural ritual into an interior object, UNStudio has designed a seating landscape that encourages spontaneous interaction.
Its stepped configuration creates a series of platforms where users can sit, lean, lounge, work, or gather. The result is an adaptable piece that responds to changing needs throughout the day while maintaining a strong sculptural identity.
Ben van Berkel, Founder and Principal Architect of UNStudio, explains:
“With Gradas, we wanted to translate the architectural experience of the amphitheater into a flexible, tactile furniture system. The way we work and live has fundamentally changed. We no longer want to be confined to a desk or a standard sofa. Gradas provides a micro-architecture within a room, helping people find the posture and spatial relationship that suits their immediate needs.”
A Sofa Collection Designed for Contemporary Living and Working
One of Gradas’ defining characteristics is its openness. Instead of directing users toward a predetermined seating posture, the design allows individuals to engage with the furniture intuitively. Every level, angle, and surface offers a different experience, creating a flexible environment that can support both individual use and collective interaction.
The collection is available in three distinct sizes, each tailored to different spatial requirements:
Size S: Compact and Flexible
Designed as a dynamic single-user seat, Size S functions as an armchair that accommodates multiple postures. Whether used for focused work, reading, or relaxation, its stepped geometry encourages movement and adaptability.
Size M: Collaboration and Conversation
Suitable for two to three users, the medium-sized configuration creates opportunities for informal meetings, collaborative work, and social interaction. Its tiered surfaces make it particularly relevant for workplace lounges, educational settings, and communal interiors.
Size XL: An Indoor Amphitheater
The largest version extends up to 3.5 meters in width and can comfortably accommodate eight to ten people. With its auditorium-like presence, Size XL becomes both furniture and gathering space, making it suitable for hotel lobbies, cultural venues, public interiors, and large residential environments.
Across all three scales, the stepped form allows the collection to function simultaneously as seating, surface, and spatial divider, demonstrating how furniture can actively shape the experience of a room.
Material Contrast Creates a Tactile Architectural Experience
Beyond its form, Gradas is defined by a carefully considered material palette. Lacquered architectural surfaces are paired with premium upholstery, creating a dialogue between hard and soft elements.
The rigid outer shells establish the collection’s structural clarity and geometric expression, while the upholstered surfaces provide comfort and tactile warmth. This contrast reinforces the project’s architectural character, allowing the furniture to feel both sculptural and inviting.
The material composition also enhances the collection’s versatility, making it suitable for residential interiors as well as public and commercial environments where durability and comfort must coexist.
Bringing Social Architecture Indoors
For Sancal, the project reflects the brand’s longstanding interest in designing products that encourage social engagement. Gradas acts as a framework for interaction and shared experience.
Esther Castaño-López, CEO of Sancal, notes:
“Sancal is a highly sociable brand, which is why we are delighted to have developed a product that is so open to interaction. I love seeing people naturally gathering around it, but paradoxically, I also find it fascinating when no one is using it, as that allows me to fully appreciate its sculptural presence.”
By adapting the spatial language of plazas, amphitheaters, and stepped urban seating into a furniture collection, Gradas demonstrates how architecture can inform everyday objects. It becomes a micro-landscape that supports gathering, conversation, work, and relaxation, bringing the social energy of public space into the interior environment.
Gradas Project Details
Project Name: Gradas
Client: Sancal
Location: Spain
Architect: UNStudio
Program: Sofa Collection
Status: Completed (2024–2026)
Design Typology: Furniture Design, Product Design
Launch Venue: 3daysofdesign Festival, Copenhagen
Available Sizes: S, M, XL
Photography & Visualizations: Sancal and UNStudio
