Some folks are happy with a model Porsche on a shelf. Others apparently need something they can sit in, keep drinks cold in, and play music through. For the latter, Arkadia-life has the P01 Classic sofa, a piece of automotive-inspired furniture with enough equipment to make getting up feel unnecessary. And if you prefer your classic-car obsession on the wall, there’s the P02 Max Wall Speaker, too. Your garage can have the actual car. Your living room gets these.
Arkadia-life P01 Classic Sofa
The P01 draws on the lines and cockpit feel of 1960s GT sports cars. It is technically a single-seat chair, despite the sofa name, and comes with a metal frame and cowhide upholstery. Automotive-grade paint, alternative upholstery materials, and a custom-engraved license-plate-style plaque let you make it your own. The options are plentiful. I got dizzy looking at them.
But the real surprise is what Arkadia-life has packed into it. Seven storage compartments accommodate features including a refrigerated compartment, wine storage, adjustable cup holders, and wireless charging. The refrigerator measures 220 × 340 × 140 mm (8.7 × 13.4 × 5.5 inches). Your phone and drinks can settle in alongside you.
A British SENSONUM audio system supplies a professional amplifier, subwoofer, and 13 speaker units. Bluetooth lets you play music from your smartphone, while a dedicated app lets you adjust the sound to your liking.
Front and rear lights, multicolor ambient lighting, and five knock-sensing control sensors complete the package. Apparently, knocking on your furniture can now accomplish something beyond checking whether it is solid wood.
This is substantial furniture, too. The P01 weighs 220 kilograms (485 pounds), with a listed electrical rating of 220 V, 50 Hz, and 500 W. Picking its spot in the living room deserves some thought.
The P01 Classic sofa is listed with a base price of US$30,000. At that price, I would be spending quite a lot of time in it. Also, most sofas feel right at home pushed against the wall. This one, though, wants to be right smack in the center of the room. Not just because you need to access the trunk, but also the rear is meant to be admired, too.
Arkadia-life P02 Max Wall Speaker
If floor space—or the sofa’s price—is giving you pause, the P02 Max Wall Speaker takes the automotive treatment to the wall.
The openable version combines classic-car-inspired styling with an audio system and a customizable storage compartment. You can configure the latter as wine storage, a perfume case, bookshelf, cigar humidor, jewelry box, model-car display, or even a flower cabinet. I would go with the model cars. It seems only appropriate.
Its outer shell uses high-strength modified ABS, with front lighting and ambient lighting included. Color customization is available here, too, so it need not clash with the rest of your automotive shrine.
Arkadia-life promises an immersive listening experience, although the supplied specifications do not identify the drivers, amplifier output, or connectivity. The P02 Max Wall Speaker’s openable version is listed at US$3,000.
One gives you somewhere to sit, chill your drinks, charge your phone, and listen to music. The other puts music and storage on the wall. Neither requires you to explain how an actual car ended up in your living room.
Images: Arkadia-life.
