{"id":607451,"date":"2026-07-21T13:25:36","date_gmt":"2026-07-21T17:25:36","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/design-milk.com\/?p=607451"},"modified":"2026-07-21T13:25:36","modified_gmt":"2026-07-21T17:25:36","slug":"armando-cabral-usm-nkyinkyim-a-casa","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/design-milk.com\/armando-cabral-usm-nkyinkyim-a-casa\/","title":{"rendered":"Armando Cabral Reimagines USM Through a Cross-Cultural Lens"},"content":{"rendered":"

Wrapped in elaborate, multi-directional striped fabrics, the cushions in Armando Cabral<\/a>\u2019s new USM<\/a>-assembled furnishings reinterpret the centuries\u2013old weaving traditions of Portugal’s Alentejo region in a new way. Featuring a daybed, love chair, bookshelf, side table, and valet wardrobe, the recently expanded NKYINKYIM A CASA\u00a0<\/a>collection<\/a> reflects<\/span> the value of cross-cultural exchange and demonstrates how furniture can serve as a means of personal and shared cultural expression. For Cabral, a former top-ranked model and now lifestyle entrepreneur, the fresh offering in the Haller System is a chance to reflect on his own multinational upbringing.<\/p>\n

\"Open

Photography by Ine\u0302s Silva Sa\u0301<\/p><\/div>\n

Born in Guinea-Bissau, raised in Portugal, educated in London, and now based in New York, Cabral’s reference points are diverse but also inherently interconnected. The first word of the eight-piece collection, “NKYINKYIM,” derives from the Adinkra symbol (a visual language developed by the Akan people of Ghana and C\u00f4te d\u2019Ivoire) that represents the intertwining paths of progress and overcoming challenges, both as an individual and as a collective. “A Casa” is the Portuguese phrase for “at home.”<\/p>\n

\"A

Photography by Ine\u0302s Silva Sa\u0301<\/p><\/div>\n

USM\u2019s iconic Haller System reflects a hyper-rationalist mindset, one that might seem devoid of clear cultural identity, echoing the ideals of post-World War I modernism. Ironically, the pared-back, form-follows-function philosophy embodied by the modular furniture solution is emphatically Swiss: hyper-efficient and neutral. Despite its near-endless interpretations through USM’s many collaborations over the past few years, the Haller System still carries that sophistication\u2014which serves as a canvas for Cabral\u2019s exploration.<\/p>\n

\"Modern

Photography by Ine\u0302s Silva Sa\u0301<\/p><\/div>\n

\u201cTo me, the modular nature of USM\u2019s designs symbolizes the way each component forms a cohesive, functional structure,\u201d he says.<\/p>\n

Through experimenting with color palettes and asymmetrical compositions, Cabral worked within the confines of the brand\u2019s signature system. The result is a collection that integrates seamlessly with other components of the Haller System. In doing so, he pushed the potential of its use and function even further. It\u2019s a sort of provocation for the viewer to reconsider what furniture, overall, can accomplish.<\/p>\n

\"A

Photography by Ine\u0302s Silva Sa\u0301<\/p><\/div>\n

For example, the Uno Bookcase takes on the unexpected shape of geometric symbolism through its steel tube-and-connector-ball structure, accented by colored insert panels. Meanwhile, the Bassarel Love Chair boldly reprises the age-old t\u00eate-\u00e0-t\u00eate typology. Two chairs are placed side by side while facing opposite directions to facilitate more intimate, gossipy exchanges. The collection balances both visual and practical attributes in a coherent, playful, yet refined fashion.<\/p>\n

\"A

Photography by Ine\u0302s Silva Sa\u0301<\/p><\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

The expanded NKYINKYIM A CASA collection pairs USM\u2019s modular Haller System with Portuguese textiles and West African symbolism<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":77,"featured_media":607452,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[3,195,1],"tags":[13677,19715,46507],"internal_flag":[],"class_list":["post-607451","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-home-furnishings","category-interior-design","category-main","tag-modular-furniture","tag-usm","tag-usm-haller-system"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"\nArmando Cabral Reimagines USM\u2019s Haller System<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Armando Cabral reimagines USM\u2019s Haller System with Portuguese textiles and Adinkra symbolism in the expanded NKYINKYIM A CASA collection.\" \/>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, 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