throne - 2023
1ST PLACE: LEONHARD PAULI, HARMONY, AUSTRIA
Harmony embodies the delicate balance between the splendor of nature's creations and the presence of human life. Nestled in the vastness of the Kočevski forest, a kingdom rich in natural appeal, inhabited by majestic firs and beeches, a stunning concept is being created. Using a segment of a fir tree trunk, which is often left over from forestry activities, serves as an excellent basis for the creation of an extraordinary chair. While the practice of using tree trunks as seating furniture is rooted in a millennia-old tradition, Harmony evolves with a modern twist – an elegant arched, black-stained beech plywood backrest that is securely clamped into the cut. Both elements are treated with linseed oil to preserve the properties of the material and simplify subsequent care. This permanent design not only ensures longevity, but also embraces the tree's lifelong carbon dioxide absorption.
2ND PLACE: GEORGE BOSNAS, FORLAND, GREECE
After the devastating fires in recent years in the world's forests and taking into account the circular economy and the life cycle of the product, I decided to create an object that uses wood as the main material, but only to create the object and not to cut trees to make another wood chair. Mycelium is a material that uses trees and living microorganisms and spreads with progress. Combined with agricultural waste or edging and waste from wood production, you can create a very durable result that is 100% biodegradable. The process requires low energy, so it is a suitable material for this scale of production. As the competition requires, bringing people closer to the forest is the main idea, awakening their awareness of environmental issues is a higher goal. Forland is a two-part chair that uses a tree as a backrest. For another use, it can be assembled as a stool, so the user can sit anywhere.
3RD PLACE: GOPALKRISHNA PAIKANE, SLICE CHAIR, INDIA
Introducing the "Slice Chair" - a stunning blend of functionality and artistic ingenuity, where simplicity meets innovation. The chair embodies a design philosophy that celebrates minimalism with clean lines and unencumbered form. The Slice Chair redefines the conventional concept of seating and displays a unique touch that sets it apart from the rest. The Slice chair is made entirely of solid wood, which ensures durability and timeless elegance. Each component, be it legs, side and cross supports, seat or backrest, is made of square cross-section profiles of uniform dimensions. This uniformity gives the design an understated elegance while allowing the material's properties to shine. The outstanding feature of the chair is its seat and backrest design. Instead of sticking to the traditional flex layer, the edges of the square profiles have been masterfully removed with a smooth, continuous curve. This ingenious approach increases the surface area of both the seat and backrest, increasing comfort without compromising aesthetics. Additionally, this elegant curvature adds a softness and overall look to the chair that enhances its visual appeal.
SPECIAL MENTION: FLORIAN KNOBL AND MARISA GAAB, ZWIESELCHAIR, GERMANY
When we were collecting wood for our work in the forest, we noticed a special type of trunk that seemed to be lagging behind in growth. This is a special shape of the tree trunk, which is colloquially called "Zwiesel". In this case, the tree no longer forms its trunk from one, but from two branches. The result is a fork with a special shape and wood grain, which is usually categorized as a useless piece of wood .In the winter and spring of 2023, we spent time in the woods looking for, selecting and collecting the individual trunks for their formal and optical peculiarities, and used them in the design of the Zwiesel chairs further ideas about the use of wood that remained in the first edition of Zwieselchairs, we reduced them to pieces that fit perfectly and each one had to be analyzed in a long process.