Handcrafting 
the Future of Design 
at  Amorph in LA


Amorph founder and designer Amir Habibbadi meticulously hand-finishing a sinuous ‘Petra’ console.  All images courtesy of Amorph unless otherwise noted.



Amorph is a furniture design and manufacturing company based in Los Angeles since 2017. “We take pride in handcrafted designs connected to technology to create sophisticated, design-driven sculptural furniture,” says Amir Habibabadi, founder and lead designer. His designs are functional art objects made to be admired as well as serving a purpose. They can be customized by the clients selecting colors, finishes, and in some cases, modifying the design to meet custom interior requirements. Incollect spoke to Amir about his process and techniques, and about working with some of America’s most talented interior designers. 



The Iris Coffee Table in Whitewash finish installed in a contemporary lounge where curves and organic forms abound. Interior design by Nicole Hirsch Interiors. Photo: Sarah Winchester Studios.



Tell us how you became a furniture designer.

I’m an architect by training, having graduated from SCI University (Southern California Institute of Architecture in Los Angeles). After graduating, I realized that while I loved the field of architecture, what excited me most was creating unconventional, organic designs rather than following traditional styles. That’s when I discovered my passion for designing furniture. I became fascinated by organic, amorphous shapes, and bringing these forms to life in a tangible way was incredibly satisfying to me. I started working with wood, which proved to be perfectly suited for creating the warm, organic forms I envisioned. I have also cast pieces in bronze.



What is special about working with wood as a material?

Working with wood is full of surprises — some good and some challenging. We purchase very thick pieces of wood, and the exterior often doesn’t reveal what lies beneath. Occasionally, stunning patterns emerge as we work with the material, creating beautiful and unexpected results.




Left: Amorph’s sculptural lighting collection includes table lamps, sconces, a floor lamp, and a pendant light The Helen Table Lamp is shown here.  Right: The wall-mounted, cantilevered Frolic Console evokes a design conversation between balance and tension. 



What did your family think about your decision to be a designer?

My family has always supported me in this pursuit; it’s deeply rooted in our family history. My father was an obsessive art and antique collector, so I grew up, first in Tehran, Iran, and later in the US surrounded by unique and vintage furniture pieces. I often accompanied him to art and antique auctions, which I loved. You might notice that some of my designs carry the same qualities as antique furniture in terms of form, featuring delicate details, intricate ornaments, and a timeless aesthetic. 



That is interesting, how would you describe your aesthetic sensibility?

I feel like my pieces are rooted in the past but presented in contemporary shapes and forms. My aesthetic incorporates ornament in a different sense— expressed through organic shapes that are balanced yet asymmetrical, with a strong sense of composition.



The Nars Dining Table is crafted in solid walnut. Shown here in a rich brown ‘Montana’ finish, it can be customized with different woods, finishes, glass tabletop shapes, and thicknesses.



Do you design and make all your furniture yourself? 

Yes, all of the furniture pieces are designed and assembled by me. However, I’ve also had the pleasure of collaborating with well-known and successful interior designers on numerous commissions and customized projects. The process starts with me creating each design. A CNC machine cuts the parts that are then glued together to create the form. I also have a talented team in my Los Angeles studio that handles different aspects of the process, such as hand staining, polishing, grinding, and sanding to create the finished surface. I’m very fortunate to have such a skilled and dedicated team at Amorph.



What is the secret to your perfect finishes?
The secret lies in hard work, specifically, the time-consuming hand techniques we use for our finishes. Also, the materials, for example, we use auto body paint for our lacquers, which gives them a shiny and vibrant appearance.




Left: The graceful zoomorphic back view of the Gazelle Chair, shown in walnut with natural stain. Right: The Chimera stool is available as a counter-height stool or barstool, or customized to your specifications.



I love your Gazelle dining chair. Can you tell us about the genesis of this design? 

The idea behind the Gazelle chair was to create a very elegant three-legged design that embodied the grace and beauty of a gazelle. My focus was primarily on the back of the chair, as the front is often positioned against the table and isn’t as visible. 



What is your best-selling design and why do you think it is so popular?

The Gazelle chair has been very successful. Console tables tend to be the most popular items overall. Many of my pieces are customized by designers, who often ask me to repurpose the original design in unique ways — for instance, using the Nala bench design as a desk or the Astra desk design as a console. My pieces are usually versatile. 



Making waves — a carved wave motif swirls across the front and sides of the Xena cabinet, shown here in ebony stain on ash wood. The curves interact with the light around them, creating a different viewing experience with each perspective.



Can you tell us about some of the projects and commissions you have worked on recently with interior designers?

I work with many interior designers, but my favorite is Amy Lau. I am always working with her on custom pieces and she owns some of my work. She pushes me beyond my limits and always brings out the best in my work. She absolutely knows what she wants and is incredibly talented.




Using his home as a design laboratory, Amir Habibbadi is experimenting with site-specific architectural elements, including this spectacular organic form stair railing. Next up are a series of doors and other built-in pieces such as cabinetry.



What inspires you as a designer? Where do your ideas come from?

I draw inspiration from the shapes and forms around me. I’m highly skilled in 3D modeling, so I often spend time at the computer experimenting with different designs. The software I use allows me to work like a sculptor with a piece of clay, enabling me to create and shape various forms freely until I find exactly what I am looking for. I have, as I mentioned, a deep love for classic and antique furniture, especially from the Baroque period, which my father collected. You’ll often find me browsing antique shops here in Los Angeles or whenever I travel. While I enjoy looking at them, I don’t necessarily feel the need to own them like my father but I am pretty sure that they continue to shape my sensibility and thinking, even in an unconscious way. 



The undulating, textural form of the Zen Coffee Table gleams in a rich ebony stain.  



A new design, the tree-like Maple Bookcase in saddle oak and arrozal (left), and the lyrical Giv wall-mounted console in ebony stain on ash wood (right).



You have just unveiled a new series of works. What inspired this series?
Most of the newly released pieces are inspired by forms I envisioned in my mind. The series has no specific name but they are linked thematically. I am playing more with the forms. Some are based on the intent of designing pieces that present me as a designer and maker with technical challenges. What I mean by that is that they are extremely challenging for me to construct physically with a lot of different wooden pieces that need to be cut and fitted together. The work must be very precise to achieve a final desired form that is also functional. Two pieces in the series are the Maple Bookcase and Zen Coffee Table. For example, the Maple Bookcase has to stand up and be structurally strong which is difficult to achieve given the sinuous tree-like form. The bracing structural system underlying the piece has to be perfect. The Zen Coffee Table is loosely based on the sinew of a human muscle, with a lot of surface undulation and texture. Technically this is difficult to do, but I enjoy these challenges in the production process as they push me to create aesthetically beautiful yet balanced forms.




Left: The Amorph Door's fluid pivoting mechanism combined with its biomorphic aesthetic creates a serene and welcoming entrance experience. Right: The handle size and placement of the Amorph Door are custom-designed for each installation so it flows organically with the setting. 



Is there a piece you like best or pieces you consider special? 

It’s hard to choose just one piece because I put so much passion and love into every single design. Each piece has a part of me in it, and I cherish the process of creating every detail. However, if I were to highlight a few that are particularly special, I would mention the Frolic Console—keeping the form of the console cantilevered but balanced creates an alluring tension and beauty. I’m also fond of the Zen and Crux Tables and of course, the Amorph Door, one of which is currently installed in Amy Lau’s gallery at the New York Design Center. The Amorph Door is special because the door handles seem to grow naturally out of the door rather than being separate, and this integration creates a beguiling and organic visual effect. The Crux Tables are made of two identical forms fitted together but you cannot easily distinguish that in the final piece, which is for me the point. These pieces are like a secret visual puzzle, an intellectual game. 



The Crux Coffee Table with two mirror-image interconnecting base forms.



What do you live with in your home? 

I am currently exploring different aspects of site-specific design as a side project, focusing on building custom elements such as staircases, kitchens, and interior doors, which I will be testing in my own home. I recently completed a staircase for my house, and the result turned out quite interesting. We are planning a home renovation, and my next steps involve designing and building the kitchen, doors, bathrooms, and other interior elements. So, I will soon be completely surrounded by my designs and of course, art, I own a lot of art by contemporary Iranian and Middle Eastern artists, various world antiques, and also pieces by other designers I admire.  




Discover More From Amorph on Incollect