Gustaf Westman designs sculptural alternative to "ugly cat trees"
Swedish designer Gustaf Westman has applied his signature chunky forms to a playful cat tree that provides a design-forward perch for feline friends.
The Chunky Cat Tree is the latest addition to Westman's collection of Chunky designs, which includes cups, glasses and vases, as well as a coffee maker, stool and flower pot.
The cat tree is informed by the designer's Blob Sofa, which launched in 2023 and features stacked forms with rounded edges in a range of punchy primary and secondary colours.
Westman translated the sofa concept into a piece of padded furniture for cats that also functions as a sculptural object in the home.
"I like designing random things, and after seeing so many ugly cat trees, it felt like a fun challenge to work on something within that category," Westman told Dezeen.
"For me, everything is designed – or can be – and I wanted to create something that works for both humans and cats, where form and function are equally important."
The cat tree features a tripod base, with its three legs supporting platforms at different heights. Cats can rest on the three rounded feet, while the number of perches allows multiple animals to use it simultaneously.
The Chunky Cat Tree is made to order in Sweden and can be upholstered in red, yellow, purple, blue or cobalt blue wool.
Westman founded his studio in 2020 and has built a reputation for his playful made-to-order furniture, custom design pieces, ceramics and glassware.
A selection of Westman's objects featured in a New York City pop-up exhibition held in 2024, where the designer told Dezeen that he was "obsessed with trying to make different materials all look the same".
His work utilises wood, metal, ceramics and glass, often featuring glossy finishes that accentuate the objects' smooth, childlike forms.
Westman's previous product designs include a dual-function snack bowl shaped like a curling stone and a handbag-like baguette holder for carrying skinny loaves of bread.
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