THE SOUL OF THE SOFA

Open Studios official program - Hannabi

Időpontok

2022.10.12 17:00 - 19:00

Location

Hannabi, 1089 Budapest Orczy út 4.

Founded by Anikó Rácz, the furniture brand designs and manufactures sofas with understated shapes, tailored to individual needs. The high-quality handmade pieces can be arranged in almost infinite combinations. In addition to private homes, they are perfect for restaurants, offices, hotels and other public situations.

 

How would you describe the brand in a few sentences?

We have been designing and manufacturing small-series designer sofas since 2012. We work with a single basic “modern classic” design, which we tailor to our customers’ needs down to the centimetre, and we also offer a wide range of functional accessories to it. Based on a Japanese approach seeking restraint and reduction, we have been perfecting our BOX Hyperactive system for nine years, whose elements can be used to create virtually any type of sofa. Using a computer program, our customers can even design the desired combination from their own homes.

 

Who are the team members? 

Orsolya Takács works for us as a project manager, Benjámin Budai as a 3D visual designer, and we also work with several external creatives. Kitti Mayer helps with communication and Attila Zengőváry creates beautiful visuals.

 

Where can Hannabi pieces most often be found? 

Other than combinations made for private homes, we also design and manufacture systems for offices, hotels and various public spaces. Our furniture is made to measure and resembles a building toy, making it suitable for a wide range of situations.

 

What was your motivation to develop this concept? 

Before founding HBI, I had the opportunity to gain experience with the sofa market, being engaged in interior design, sales and manufacturing, so I have always been motivated to create furniture that meets the needs of users and the expectations of the market.

Buying sofas is usually a difficult task, so it is a great pleasure when weary builders and investors come to us and we can meet almost any challenge they have outlined to us. This is exactly why I am still involved in sales today, because the most important feedback always comes from our customers.

 

If you could describe your activities in five attributes, what would they be?

Designable, liveable, sustainable, interactive, sophisticated.

 

How important is corporate social and environmental responsibility to you? 

This is a fundamental aspect of our operations, as sofas are durable products. The climate crisis is not an ecological problem, but a social one. It is by changing our habits that we can do the most to leave a liveable planet to the next generation. That’s why we make high-quality products that will last for generations, and that’s why we involve our customers as early as in the design stage. The conscious buying process also creates a sense of attachment and responsibility. And if someone does have to part with their sofa, we can help them find a new owner on our ‘second chance’ website.

We seek to work with recycled materials. Of course, the transition is a long process, but there is a growing number of material banks that can help with this. 

 

You often work in collaborations. What are your experiences with doing so? 

The road from the first dirt mound to the first night in is a very long and bumpy one, as a lot of professionals work on the construction of a building. Architecture is one of the most complex professions, as it requires both artistic sensibility and realistic business thinking in a highly competitive market. It only works through humility and teamwork, and respect for all professional partners. We are working to be a meaningful part of this process.

 

What should your visitors expect during the Open Studios programme? 

Almost every day we encounter customers who don’t know how to choose a sofa and what expectations they can have for it. In the studio we show the entire process of sofa design and manufacturing, helping our customers leave with a piece that is perfect in every way.