Which Design Will Win Singapore's Furniture Design Award 2017?
12 designers from eight countries will compete for the prime spot at the International Furniture Fair Singapore
With a Grand Award of S$20,000 in cash, plus a 12-square-metre exhibition booth to present his/her designs in at the following International Furniture Fair Singapore/ASEAN Furniture Show in 2018, the Furniture Design Award is a prize well worth winning.
These are the 12 finalists from amongst the international entries who submitted in August.
A panel of six jurors – Patrick Chia from Singapore, Professor Byungkil Kang from South Korea; Colin Seah from Singapore; Jurgen Bey from the Netherlands; Shin Azumi from Japan; and Tony K. M. Chang, from Taiwan – will be assessing these finalists, and the winner will be announced on March 8, 2017. The Furniture Design Award (FDA) showcase featuring all finalists will be on exhibit at the fair on March 9-12, as part of the celebrations for Singapore Design Week.
These are the 12 finalists from amongst the international entries who submitted in August.
A panel of six jurors – Patrick Chia from Singapore, Professor Byungkil Kang from South Korea; Colin Seah from Singapore; Jurgen Bey from the Netherlands; Shin Azumi from Japan; and Tony K. M. Chang, from Taiwan – will be assessing these finalists, and the winner will be announced on March 8, 2017. The Furniture Design Award (FDA) showcase featuring all finalists will be on exhibit at the fair on March 9-12, as part of the celebrations for Singapore Design Week.
Product name: Yokan Chair
Designer: Hiroki Sakamoto
Country: Japan
What it is:
Yokan is a traditional Japanese jellied confection made from azuki beans, sugar and agar-agar and comes in blocks or slices. However, it is more than just a dessert. The appearance of Yokan is mystic, it looks like coloured condensed air. That is the inspiration behind the Yokan Chair. Yokan Chair was designed by using the figurative background of Yokan, drawing on one of the oldest Japanese sweets from the 17th century as a motif.
Designer: Hiroki Sakamoto
Country: Japan
What it is:
Yokan is a traditional Japanese jellied confection made from azuki beans, sugar and agar-agar and comes in blocks or slices. However, it is more than just a dessert. The appearance of Yokan is mystic, it looks like coloured condensed air. That is the inspiration behind the Yokan Chair. Yokan Chair was designed by using the figurative background of Yokan, drawing on one of the oldest Japanese sweets from the 17th century as a motif.
Product name: Hollow Chair
Designer: Nils Ferber
Country: Switzerland
What it is:
Conventional upholstered furniture is composed of a solid structure, a foam core and a textile cover. The folded Hollow Chair dramatically simplifies this labour-intense construction with a single-layered felt shell that is cut by a Computer Numerical Control (CNC) milling machine in a single production step. The felt layer consists of recycled polyethylene terephthalate (PET) fibres and is reinforced by a modular steel frame and tool-free connectors. The Hollow Chair doesn’t make compromises on aesthetics or comfort, but unlike conventional upholstery it can be produced efficiently at low cost. It can be assembled easily by the user and even be rolled up for shipping and transporting.
Designer: Nils Ferber
Country: Switzerland
What it is:
Conventional upholstered furniture is composed of a solid structure, a foam core and a textile cover. The folded Hollow Chair dramatically simplifies this labour-intense construction with a single-layered felt shell that is cut by a Computer Numerical Control (CNC) milling machine in a single production step. The felt layer consists of recycled polyethylene terephthalate (PET) fibres and is reinforced by a modular steel frame and tool-free connectors. The Hollow Chair doesn’t make compromises on aesthetics or comfort, but unlike conventional upholstery it can be produced efficiently at low cost. It can be assembled easily by the user and even be rolled up for shipping and transporting.
Product name: Comma Stool/Chair
Designer: He Ren-Wei
Country: Taiwan
What it is:
A sentence needs a comma for a break; Comma Stool/Chair provides a break in our daily life. The designer was inspired by the study of people interaction in public spaces and saw that public sculptures can be functional and that functional objects can also have the soul of art. This public seating is visually attractive and the height and curves draw people to lean on it. Made of stone horn material, the heavyweight seats have little chance of being misplaced. The seat is made of moulded foam with easily removable replacements, which helps prolong the lifespan. Both materials require minimal maintenance, making them suited as public furniture.
Designer: He Ren-Wei
Country: Taiwan
What it is:
A sentence needs a comma for a break; Comma Stool/Chair provides a break in our daily life. The designer was inspired by the study of people interaction in public spaces and saw that public sculptures can be functional and that functional objects can also have the soul of art. This public seating is visually attractive and the height and curves draw people to lean on it. Made of stone horn material, the heavyweight seats have little chance of being misplaced. The seat is made of moulded foam with easily removable replacements, which helps prolong the lifespan. Both materials require minimal maintenance, making them suited as public furniture.
Product name: Stort
Designer: Mirko Daneluzzo
Country: Italy
What it is:
Stort plays with the contrast between mass and void. A continuous surface bends to give it a massive appearance from the back; but in fact, it is a hollow sculptural shape that wraps the inner void. The deformations of the surface generate the functional parts, such as the seat and the footrest. The twist and side aperture guarantees the stackability of many stools tighter. Stort can be manufactured through rotational moulding, using bio-plastics or in-resin transfer moulding using hemp fibres and natural resins.
Designer: Mirko Daneluzzo
Country: Italy
What it is:
Stort plays with the contrast between mass and void. A continuous surface bends to give it a massive appearance from the back; but in fact, it is a hollow sculptural shape that wraps the inner void. The deformations of the surface generate the functional parts, such as the seat and the footrest. The twist and side aperture guarantees the stackability of many stools tighter. Stort can be manufactured through rotational moulding, using bio-plastics or in-resin transfer moulding using hemp fibres and natural resins.
Product name: Spot coffee table
Designer: Jattamon Buddharee
Country: Thailand
What it is:
Besides the primary function of holding beverages, decorative objects and books are also commonly placed on a coffee table. Every item on the table has a role to play and there are connections between items, including the table itself. This has led to the idea of designing Spot which established a relationship between the furniture and its accessories. To become versatile and respond to the different functions, Spot features a movable wooden tray as part of the table top. The tray can be used for carrying drinks or keeping small items in place. Once the tray is removed, the void reveals the shelf beneath and the increased vertical space is used to secure taller items like bottles or vases.
Designer: Jattamon Buddharee
Country: Thailand
What it is:
Besides the primary function of holding beverages, decorative objects and books are also commonly placed on a coffee table. Every item on the table has a role to play and there are connections between items, including the table itself. This has led to the idea of designing Spot which established a relationship between the furniture and its accessories. To become versatile and respond to the different functions, Spot features a movable wooden tray as part of the table top. The tray can be used for carrying drinks or keeping small items in place. Once the tray is removed, the void reveals the shelf beneath and the increased vertical space is used to secure taller items like bottles or vases.
Product name: Aires Chair
Designer: Diego Lee
Country: Taiwan
What it is:
Martial expanding steel is a common material used in building and construction. It is economical, clean and durable and can be formed into different shapes with existing technology. The diamond shape grid gives the Aires Chair an interesting texture. Light and elegant, it is see-through and gives the user a whole view of the structure. Expanding steel material is made of stainless steel which is weather proof, easy to clean and suitable for outdoor use. The mesh and grid structure means rainwater does not collect or pool on the chair.
Designer: Diego Lee
Country: Taiwan
What it is:
Martial expanding steel is a common material used in building and construction. It is economical, clean and durable and can be formed into different shapes with existing technology. The diamond shape grid gives the Aires Chair an interesting texture. Light and elegant, it is see-through and gives the user a whole view of the structure. Expanding steel material is made of stainless steel which is weather proof, easy to clean and suitable for outdoor use. The mesh and grid structure means rainwater does not collect or pool on the chair.
Product name: 3 Easy Pieces
Designer: Charles O. Job
Country: Switzerland
What it is:
The new online furniture market demands new design solutions. Three Easy Pieces is a contemporary piece of furniture in three, lightweight components that are easily assembled by the user. Suitable for both domestic and contract markets, it re-thinks the way furniture is manufactured, sold, transported and assembled. The three simple parts, are covered with a three dimensionally knitted and extremely strong fabric stretched over the metal frame like a stocking. The fabric is pliable and offers ergonomic support. The parts are assembled by simply screwing them together at two strategic points. The knitted fabric, due to its translucent nature, renders the armchair virtually transparent in any interior.
Designer: Charles O. Job
Country: Switzerland
What it is:
The new online furniture market demands new design solutions. Three Easy Pieces is a contemporary piece of furniture in three, lightweight components that are easily assembled by the user. Suitable for both domestic and contract markets, it re-thinks the way furniture is manufactured, sold, transported and assembled. The three simple parts, are covered with a three dimensionally knitted and extremely strong fabric stretched over the metal frame like a stocking. The fabric is pliable and offers ergonomic support. The parts are assembled by simply screwing them together at two strategic points. The knitted fabric, due to its translucent nature, renders the armchair virtually transparent in any interior.
Product name: Bench Screen
Designer: Jun Paul F. Lasco
Country: Philippines
What it is:
Fusing and simplifying function, the Bench Screen reinvents the traditional bamboo screen and communal seating. With a 1.7 metres high backrest, the bench doubles as a partition and screen that creates a degree of privacy in public spaces. This therefore eliminates the need for two separate functional pieces.
Designer: Jun Paul F. Lasco
Country: Philippines
What it is:
Fusing and simplifying function, the Bench Screen reinvents the traditional bamboo screen and communal seating. With a 1.7 metres high backrest, the bench doubles as a partition and screen that creates a degree of privacy in public spaces. This therefore eliminates the need for two separate functional pieces.
Product name: Urbanscape
Designer: Ng Wing Yin
Country: Hong Kong
What it is:
Urbanscape is a modular shelving unit and room divider made from dyed black wooden rods and bent acrylic sheets. The design was inspired by the unique structure of bamboo scaffolding in Hong Kong. It brings the scenario of modern city view to the home in an abstract way. Scaffolding structure can always be found in Hong Kong as it is used in all kinds of building construction. The designer was intrigued by the contrast between the manual work of scaffolding and the high quality industrial mirrored finish of the buildings. It is a process that happens mutually. This merging led to Urbanscape, a representation of the modern architecture culture in Hong Kong.
Designer: Ng Wing Yin
Country: Hong Kong
What it is:
Urbanscape is a modular shelving unit and room divider made from dyed black wooden rods and bent acrylic sheets. The design was inspired by the unique structure of bamboo scaffolding in Hong Kong. It brings the scenario of modern city view to the home in an abstract way. Scaffolding structure can always be found in Hong Kong as it is used in all kinds of building construction. The designer was intrigued by the contrast between the manual work of scaffolding and the high quality industrial mirrored finish of the buildings. It is a process that happens mutually. This merging led to Urbanscape, a representation of the modern architecture culture in Hong Kong.
Product name: Kiri
Designer: Ath Supornchai
Country: Thailand
What it is:
Kiri means mountain and was inspired by the mountain landscape of the north-east part of Thailand, where the triangle pillow was first invented. It is a modular sofa system designed for the floor living lifestyle. The triangle pillows offer flexible usage and the sofa system can serve both the living and dining areas. Pillows come in two sizes with different angles for various postures of sitting. The cushions are upholstered with different density. The key to its comfort is in the ripple-like texture of the upholstery. An old upholstery technique called ‘kapok’ creates a cosy texture while keeping the cushions lightweight.
Designer: Ath Supornchai
Country: Thailand
What it is:
Kiri means mountain and was inspired by the mountain landscape of the north-east part of Thailand, where the triangle pillow was first invented. It is a modular sofa system designed for the floor living lifestyle. The triangle pillows offer flexible usage and the sofa system can serve both the living and dining areas. Pillows come in two sizes with different angles for various postures of sitting. The cushions are upholstered with different density. The key to its comfort is in the ripple-like texture of the upholstery. An old upholstery technique called ‘kapok’ creates a cosy texture while keeping the cushions lightweight.
Product name: The Workspace
Designer: Joey Rademakers
Country: Netherlands
What it is:
The Workspace is a collection of work furniture manufactured from Oriented Strand Board (OSB sheet) which is an engineered wood panel. Working environments are no longer static with most workspaces being dynamic and changed frequently. The location of the designer’s own workspace changes regularly and he designed this collection to suit those working conditions. The pieces are easy to construct and disassemble. Furthermore, no additional assembly components are needed. The design represents the material qualities of the OSB sheet at its optimum. The wooden sheet material is cheaper than plywood and during the production of The Workspace, there is almost no cutting waste, therefore the sustainable efficiency of the sheet material remains.
Designer: Joey Rademakers
Country: Netherlands
What it is:
The Workspace is a collection of work furniture manufactured from Oriented Strand Board (OSB sheet) which is an engineered wood panel. Working environments are no longer static with most workspaces being dynamic and changed frequently. The location of the designer’s own workspace changes regularly and he designed this collection to suit those working conditions. The pieces are easy to construct and disassemble. Furthermore, no additional assembly components are needed. The design represents the material qualities of the OSB sheet at its optimum. The wooden sheet material is cheaper than plywood and during the production of The Workspace, there is almost no cutting waste, therefore the sustainable efficiency of the sheet material remains.
Designer: Shen Yu-Hao
Country: Taiwan
What it is:
N-S Stool was inspired by research into laminated wood technology. This project involved experimenting different veneers and bent plywood. The result places magnets in between veneers, creating a new way of building up the structure. ‘N-S’ refers to ‘North-South’ or the magnetic force between two unlike poles of magnets. The N-S Stool is made up of three identical pieces of wood which connect to each other through magnetic force. The N-S Stool saves space and is easy to store, carry and assemble. It solves many issues in living in small spaces.