Michael Hilal's First Furniture Collection is a "Love Letter to California"

San Francisco-based designer Michael Hilal is paying homage to his home state with his debut collection, Big Sur. Launching on April 6 at St Vincents gallery in Antwerp, Belgium, the five-piece furniture range includes two sofas, two stools, and a bar, with references ranging from Californian mountain ranges to the stripped-back aesthetic of Donald Judd.

When developing the collection, Hilal wanted to evoke the varied topography of San Francisco. Interpreting the shorelines and summits, he developed a series of shapes that eventually formed the four pieces. Importantly, though, he wanted to present an element of playfulness through his designs – avoiding formality at all costs. “Formality is another social barrier that we don’t need,” he says. I’m the person who wears my silver JW Anderson Loafers on a Wednesday to the grocery store.”

The focal point for the collection is a monolithic-looking sofa, which Hilal describes as being “a room’s center-of-gravity, rather than a wallflower”. The plush sections are modular and configurable, allowing it to fit in a number of different settings while being big enough to lounge and laze about. Similarly designed for lounging, with one featuring a small backrest and both combining wood and upholstery.

The collection is completed by the “Judd” bar and record player, which is named as an homage to Donald Judd. The metal cabinet opens on its top to reveal a record player, with concealed storage compartments below.

Big Sur will be presented to the public inside a dedicated space at St. Vincents, with an opening slated for April 6. Take a look at the collection above, and for more design news – check out the world’s first 3D-printed hotel, set to arrive in Marfa, Texas.