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Fast Furniture and Micro-Trends: How Consumer Culture Is Destroying Good Design

The Extended Entry Deadline for Architizer's 2025 A+Product Awards is Friday, February 21st. Get your brand in front of the AEC industry’s most renowned designers by submitting today.

A few years ago, it was all about marble accents and rose gold everything. Then came the reign of “cottagecore,” with its whimsical florals and vintage trinkets. And somewhere in between, minimalism got redefined at least five times. It’s not that trend cycles are anything new — different styles have always come and gone, only to resurface years (or decades) later.

But today, we’re living in a world of hyperspeed trends. Thanks to social media, what’s “in” one day might be “out” by the next (I’m sure that even Heidi Klum didn’t mean it that literally). This constant churn of aesthetics has created a relentless cycle of overconsumption, bleeding into every corner of our lives. In the architecture world, interior and furniture design, in particular, have become casualties of this trend-driven mindset.

The impact is stark. Back in the 1960s, Americans sent an average of 2.5 million tons of furniture to landfills annually. By 2018, that number had soared to 10 million tons, according to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). The pandemic only amplified the problem, with furniture sales surging by over $4 billion between 2019 and 2021. The problem isn’t just the amount sold, but the fact that these pieces are likely not going to make it to the end of this decade.

So how did we get here? On one hand, it’s a story of overconsumption fueled by constantly shifting trends. On the other, it’s about the furniture itself: mass-produced, cheaply made and designed to keep up with fast-moving consumer demands rather than being designed and built to last. This blog dives into the roots of fast furniture, its environmental and cultural costs and how embracing thoughtful, durable design can help break the cycle.

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The Rise of Fast Furniture: From Function to Fad

Historical Context: A Shift in Manufacturing

The rise of globalization, particularly the U.S.-China trade agreement in the late 1990s, reshaped industries across the U.S., with furniture manufacturing among the hardest hit. Job losses in labor-intensive sectors like furniture-making were stark, with competition from cheaper imports driving long-term unemployment in trade-exposed regions. The impact of these shifts was not just economic but structural, transforming the way furniture was produced and consumed.

 

The mass production of furniture is not a new phenomenon. Take mid-century modern pieces, for example. Yes, they were produced on a large scale, but they were crafted with materials and techniques that prioritized durability and timeless design. Solid wood, thoughtful joinery and metal accents made these pieces not only sturdy but also adaptable to changing tastes. The difference lies in the materials: back then, furniture was built to last, whereas today’s fast furniture is built to ship.

Overseas manufacturers prioritized cost efficiency, using lighter, cheaper materials like Medium-density fibreboard (MDF) and particleboard that were easy to ship and assemble. These flat-packed designs minimized transportation costs but came at the expense of durability, leading to furniture that couldn’t withstand years of use. Unlike solid wood, which can be repaired or refinished, MDF and particleboard degrade quickly, leaving consumers with disposable furniture that inevitably ends up in landfills.

This shift had a profound impact on local markets. Domestic manufacturers struggled to compete and furniture production became increasingly polarized: low-cost imports dominated everyday purchases, while high-quality local production shifted to a luxury niche. As a result, the gap widened between accessible, disposable furniture and heirloom-quality pieces, embedding short-term consumption into the industry’s core. Furniture, once a durable good passed down through generations, became nothing more than a fleeting commodity.

The Role of Social Media

If globalization paved the way for fast furniture, social media turned it into an unstoppable phenomenon. Platforms like TikTok, Instagram and Pinterest have unfortunately transformed our homes into stage sets, encouraging users to constantly refresh their spaces to align with the current aesthetic trend. Influencers, with their curated lifestyles, play a central role, promoting “hauls” and “must-have” items that normalize overconsumption and drive the relentless pursuit of perfection (which, we should probably know by now, is an illusion).

Algorithms amplify these trends, making them inescapable. The pressure to stay relevant online means consumers feel compelled to redecorate, even if their homes don’t need updating. For impressionable audiences, this cycle reinforces a mindset where furniture and décor are no longer viewed as investments but as disposable props for their social feeds. By glamorizing excessive consumption, social media turns even household essentials into transient status symbols, accelerating the churn of cheap, unsustainable design.

The Appeal of Cheap and Convenient

Retailers like Wayfair, IKEA and Amazon have mastered the art of convenience, offering fast shipping and low prices that cater to fast furniture’s primary demographic: young consumers seeking affordability and immediacy. Need a stylish desk delivered tomorrow? Or a trendy chair for under $200? These retailers deliver, but the hidden costs are steep.

Low prices are achieved by cutting corners — using thin veneers, lower-quality foam and flat-pack designs that are easier and cheaper to ship. While these products appear modern and functional, their lifespans are short and they often can’t be repaired or recycled. This disposability creates a vicious cycle: furniture breaks down quickly, prompting consumers to replace it with equally short-lived items.


Breaking the Cycle: The Case for Quality and Meaningful Design

Seyun Collection by Zaha Hadid Design, Jury Winner, 2024 A+Products Awards, Residential Furniture. Photo by Masaaki Inoue

All that said, it’s easy to see why fast furniture dominates today’s market. It’s affordable, readily available and aligns with our transient lifestyles — people move more often and homeownership feels out of reach for many. But while the convenience is undeniable, the trade-offs are significant: short lifespans, disposable designs and the environmental toll of endless replacements. It begs the question: Can we escape this cycle without sacrificing accessibility and affordability?

High-quality furniture may not always be accessible upfront, but its long-term value is hard to deny. A well-crafted chair or a solid wood table can stand the test of time, often becoming a fixture in a home for decades rather than years. These pieces prioritize timeless design over fleeting aesthetics, proving that durability and style aren’t mutually exclusive.

Facet Bathtub by Stone Forest, Popular Choice Winner, 2024 Architizer A+Product Awards, Fixtures & Fittings – Bath

As consumers, choosing quality over quantity is one of the most impactful ways to break free from this cycle. Investing in durable, repairable furniture doesn’t just mean fewer replacements — it also means developing a deeper connection to the spaces we inhabit. For those on tighter budgets, thrifting and vintage markets offer alternatives that combine character with sustainability. A secondhand table, restored or customized, can become a unique centerpiece that’s both practical and personal.

Approaching furniture not as disposable decor but as an integral part of our lives helps shift the narrative from trends to meaning. Supporting sustainable brands, opting for modular systems that adapt to changing needs or repurposing older pieces are ways we can align our choices with longevity and individuality. Collectively, these actions create a tendency of intentional living — one where the choices we make have a positive impact on both our lives and the environment (poetic, but true).


What Can Architects Do?

Fold occasional tables by Keilhauer, Finalist, 2024 Architizer A+Product Awards, Contract Furniture. Photo by Christopher Barrett

As architects, our influence extends beyond the walls we design. We have the power to guide clients toward more sustainable, enduring choices — not just in the materials we specify but in the furnishings we recommend. This means prioritizing high-quality pieces, whether they come from sustainable brands or vintage markets and educating clients about the long-term value of such investments.

Our role also involves advocating for thoughtful consumption. Featuring timeless designs, like those highlighted in Architizer’s A+Product Awards for example, allows us to demonstrate that style and substance can coexist beautifully.

Beam Lounge Collection by Nienkamper, Popular Choice Winner, 2024 A+Products Awards, Contract Seating

Ultimately, our responsibility as architects is to create environments that resonate beyond trends: spaces that reflect the values and significantly improve the lives of their inhabitants.

At the end of the day, by promoting quality over quantity and sustainability over disposability, we help bring meaningful design closer to people. And after all, isn’t that what the architectural profession is all about?

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The Extended Entry Deadline for Architizer's 2025 A+Product Awards is Friday, February 21st. Get your brand in front of the AEC industry’s most renowned designers by submitting today.

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Relaxing Retreat: 14 Soothing Products to Create the Perfect Home Sanctuary

The Extended Entry Deadline for Architizer's 2025 A+Product Awards is Friday, February 21st. Get your brand in front of the AEC industry’s most renowned designers by submitting today.

According to the Global Wellness Institute, the wellness economy surpassed $6.32 trillion in 2023. That figure covers everything from wearable meditation devices to herbal teas, and while personal care and beauty appear to lead the way, when combined, wellness tourism and spas take the top spot, with over $2 trillion dedicated to wellness spaces.

Architects and designers know it’s one thing to throw on a face mask and light a scented candle, but it’s quite another to engineer an environment that genuinely lowers cortisol levels and realigns circadian rhythms. Designing a sanctuary requires a lot more than pleasant paint colors and transportive aromas. For instance, adding a pocket door to a space might encourage fluid movement, but choose the wrong mechanism and, well, that thing will scrape along its runners like a factory gate if you’re not careful. Similarly, a sound bath can be an experience of utter transformation or just as easily a claustrophobic nightmare in an echo chamber. It all depends on the acoustic properties of the space it’s held in. For architects and designers being meticulous in decision-making is the key to success, and the correct choices help to ensure that the outside world, along with all its woes, stay politely at bay.

That’s why the Architizer A+Product Awards highlights exceptional products, those that have been chosen by a prestigious jury as being the best in what they do. The following 14 winners embody that precision. They offer solutions to everyday dilemmas like absorbing ambient noise without the sterile look of a recording booth or introducing natural daylight without turning a room into a greenhouse. None of it is decorative fluff. Each product addresses real-world design challenges by considering occupant well-being while never sacrificing aesthetic value.

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IRIS Luminous SkyCeiling

By Sky Factory

Popular Choice Winner,  Lighting, Recessed & Mounted Lighting, 2024 A+Product Awards

Some interiors don’t have the luxury of a true skylight, so Sky Factory’s IRIS Luminous SkyCeiling fakes it with an algorithmic light show calibrated to the sun’s daily arc. This system modulates color and intensity so convincingly that drifting clouds appear like real overhead, tricking the brain into syncing with natural daylight. Even NASA asked Foster + Partners and Branch Technology to test IRIS for off-world living concepts — showing how well it simulates Earth’s familiar sky.


Unfired Circular Tile

By Loqa

Jury Winner, Best of the Year, Sustainable Design, 2024 A+Product Awards

In a restful environment, materials shape perception, which is why Loqa’s Unfired Circular Tile, with its artisanal texture and a guilt-free footprint, is the perfect choice. Formed from 85% industrial waste — ceramics, glass and fly ash — and no high-temperature firing, each tile cuts carbon emissions while boasting 106% more strength than conventional choices. The result is a textured finish that evokes calm and supports a truly sustainable retreat.


Lido Freestanding Bathtub

By: Hydro Systems

Jury Winner, Fixtures & Fittings – Bath, 2024 A+Product Awards

Nodding to Morris Lapidus’s mid-century flair, Hydro Systems’ Lido Freestanding Bathtub goes beyond the average oval tub to become a sculptural focal point in any spa-inspired interior. The gently dipping 1.5-inch deck allows effortless entry, while a 31-degree back slope and HydroLuxeSS™ material deliver the kind of indulgent soak that can confidently be specified for daily restoration. Optional hydro therapies — Cold Plunge, Hydro Indulge or Thermal Air — push the experience further.


BuzziCee + BuzziPlanter

By BuzziSpace

Jury Winner, Contract Seating, 2024 A+Product Awards

BuzziCee is an acoustic seating concept that hushes the open-plan clamor with upcycled materials and soft geometry. Paired with BuzziPlanter — a lush, sustainable vessel for greenery — this duo turns shared spaces into zones for calm, connectivity and collaboration. BuzziSpace proves that well-being can be built right into the furniture with nature and noise control.


Facet Bathtub

By Stone Forest

Popular Choice Winner, Fixtures & Fittings – Bath, 2024 A+Product Awards

Stone Forest’s Facet Bathtub is made of natural stone to offer a soul-healing centerpiece. Hand-carved over three weeks from single blocks of Antique Gray Limestone or Noce Basalt each ovoid tub absorbs the ambient room temperature to turn a simple soak into an immersive, spa-like experience. Subtle planes and squared ends also provide both architectural flair and functional rest.


VetraSpan-L

By Sentech Architectural Systems

Jury Winner, Glass & Glazing, 2024 A+Product Awards

Architects looking to dissolve the line between indoors and out will find VetraSpan-L’s uninterrupted 50-foot expanse irresistible. Free of vertical joints or bulky frames, Sentech’s structural glass system amplifies openness to provide uninterrupted vistas. The result is an uncluttered façade that concentrates the focus on the view, not the hardware.


Pure + FreeForm Ceilings

By Pure + FreeForm

Popular Choice Winner, Ceilings, 2024 A+Product Awards

Ceilings can be an underutilized surface, but Pure + FreeForm’s ceiling products make them work harder with seamless, noncombustible panels. Made from at least 20% post-consumer content and free of off-gassing, these refined ceiling baffles help create a calm and health-conscious environment. By finishing to exacting tolerances, the system ensures architects can shape sanctuaries without sacrificing performance or sustainability.


Dekton® Pietra Kode

By Cosentino Group

Jury Winner, Hard Surfacing, Tiles & Stone, 2024 A+Product Awards

Cosentino’s Dekton® Pietra Kode is the epitome of timeless Italian stone, yet, it is ideal for modern wellness-focused interiors, without the upkeep or carbon footprint of its quarried cousins. Reinterpreted by Daniel Germani, each color retains the grounded serenity of Vicenza, Travertine or Ceppo di Gré yet stands up to everyday demands indoors or out. It is a product that is carbon-neutral, ultra-compact surface that provides quiet luxury with lasting peace of mind.


Wall Scapes

By Turf

Jury Winner, Walls & Wall Coverings, 2024 A+Product Awards

Turf’s new Wall Scapes turn noise control into an artful statement, layering a double panel system in carved motifs that evoke farmland, forest peaks and waves. Each pattern is cut and configured so the gaps become part of the design. With up to 0.4 NRC for acoustic relief, these large-scale panels bring a calming presence with a dash of visual intrigue. A simple yet effective solution.


Cono

By Luxxbox

Jury Winner,  Pendant Lighting, 2024 A+Product Awards

Luxxbox’s Cono pendant hushes background clamor while delivering warm, targeted illumination — exactly what’s needed in a lounge or private nook designed for peaceful conversation. Crafted from renewable wool on a PET shell, it is a multifunctional solution that merges acoustic performance with excellent lighting. Whether hung alone or in clusters, Cono is a brilliant all-rounder product.


Italica

By Gruppo Romani SpA Industrie Ceramiche

Popular Choice Winner, Tiles & Stone, 2024 A+Product Awards

Rustic terracotta rarely feels this contemporary. Italica takes an age-old aesthetic and elevates it for modern projects that demand both comfort and practicality. Five earthy tones — from volcanic reds to salty neutrals — let architects shift between large-format expanses or smaller, modular tiles. By harnessing the strength of porcelain stoneware, Italica enables a stress-free design that respects tradition while encouraging everyday calm.


690/695 Sliding Door System

By C.R. Laurence

Jury Winner, Doors & Hardware, 2024 A+Product Awards

Because nothing kills a quiet space faster than a door that scrapes or squeaks open, CRL’s 690/695 Sliding Door System glides with near-silent grace. A single advanced soft-brake mechanism hushes movement across broad glass spans while the minimal 2.5-inch header all but disappears, letting the architecture speak for itself. In any space aimed at genuine repose, this door helps keep the outside world firmly at bay.


Seyun Collection

By Zaha Hadid Design

Jury Winner, Residential Furniture, 2024 A+Product Awards

Carving serenity from natural timber, the Seyun Collection by Zaha Hadid Design brings calm curves into any environment. Commissioned by Karimoku, the sculptural chairs, stools and tables pair digital precision with hand-finished warmth that’s both visually fluid and physically ergonomically supportive. Sustainably sourced and assembled with minimal waste, each piece aligns with an architect’s pursuit of tranquil, earth-friendly design.


Bio-Acoustic Claypot Wall Panel

By CSI Creative

Popular Choice Winner, Finishes, Acoustics, 2024 A+Product Awards

As much as they might try plants, on their own, can’t do everything, but that’s where CSI Creative’s Bio-Acoustic Claypot Wall Panel comes in to help. Combining serious sound-dampening with botanic design, the recycled felt and terracotta wall planters referenced from African craft, integrate greenery in a modular recoverable system that architects and designers can install without the need for a horticulture degree. The result is a visually tactile surface that balances cultural authenticity and acoustic performance.

The Extended Entry Deadline for Architizer's 2025 A+Product Awards is Friday, February 21st. Get your brand in front of the AEC industry’s most renowned designers by submitting today.

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Winds of Change: Airivia’s New Spin on Renewable Energy

The Extended Entry Deadline for Architizer's 2025 A+Product Awards is Friday, February 21st. Get your brand in front of the AEC industry’s most renowned designers by submitting today.

For homeowners and designers looking to embrace renewable energy, solar panels have long been the go-to solution, but they often come with aesthetic compromises. Enter Airiva, an A+Product Award-winning wind energy system that combines striking design with cutting-edge functionality, redefining what it means to bring clean energy into private residences and architectural projects. Featuring an elegant array of vertical wind turbines housed within a contemporary frame, Airiva offers a modular, quiet and visually compelling alternative to traditional renewable energy systems, making it an appealing option for architects seeking to integrate sustainability into their designs.

Designed to complement both modern and traditional architecture, Airiva transforms renewable energy generation into a design feature rather than an afterthought. Its flexibility makes it suitable not just for private homes but also for larger residential or commercial projects, providing architects and designers with an adaptable, innovative solution. With the ability to generate power on-site, store it for later use, or feed it directly into the grid, this system offers energy independence while seamlessly enhancing the built environment. Manufactured with 90% recycled materials and compatible with other energy technologies, Airiva empowers architects, designers and homeowners to make sustainability both functional and beautiful.

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Hannah Feniak: What inspired the creation of the Airiva wind energy system; could you provide a bit of background behind its development?

We were researching small-scale renewable energy products and it became very clear that there was an outstanding opportunity to apply compelling contemporary design to the category in order to expand the market for distributed wind energy and to help inspire wider adoption. We designed an initial concept for a distributed wind energy system that was beautiful and provided a modular and scalable platform that could be adapted to individual installation requirements. Through the development process, we realized the concept could be integrated within urban and suburban landscapes, making it a unique product that greatly expands the market opportunities for distributed wind energy.

Airiva is a modular, scalable and smart wind energy system consisting of an array of vertical wind turbines within a contemporary frame. How does the design balance aesthetics with technical innovation and practical considerations?

Good design is frequently driven by creating elegant solutions to practical problems. Throughout the development process, we encountered many challenges and opportunities that required us to carefully consider and then reconcile technical and product performance elements against a commitment to maintaining a compelling form factor. For example, during testing, we identified an opportunity to redesign the frames into a more open spatial structure which provided additional performance and scalability benefits. Each problem that is uncovered in the development process provides a new opportunity to develop solutions in a way that will improve the entire product. Additionally, a well thought through, practical solution often provides the opportunity to further improve the aesthetics.

You’ve emphasized that the visually compelling nature of the design provides a powerful representation of renewable energy; why do you think this is important in the industry right now?

Airiva utilizes the principles of good design to help audiences expand the way they view onsite renewable energy resources. Aesthetics are not often a significant driver in the renewable energy sector but can play a valuable role in increasing receptivity and adoption.

Sustainability is a key aspect of this product, with its manufacturing targeted to use 90% recycled materials and its obvious goal of generating renewable energy in commercial and residential applications. Can you elaborate on the green aspects of the design?

We considered sustainability throughout the design process and continue to do so in each step, from how and what products are made from to the end of their life. Airiva has a manufacturing target to use a minimum of 80% recycled and post-consumer materials compared with the frequent high use of virgin materials seen across the renewable energy category. We are evaluating materials and manufacturing processes that will also optimize overall circularity.

Your product is competitive against other smaller-scale distributed energy resources across the globe. What are the biggest challenges and opportunities you’ve encountered when designing modular scalable energy systems that are adaptable to site-specific needs and compatible with other distributed energy technologies?

Designing and building an innovative wind energy product is a complex synthesis of numerous engineering disciplines. Balancing all these technical elements within a compelling design constantly created both challenges and opportunities to rethink our engineering, materials and designs. Future pilots and collaborations with strategic partners will help us identify additional design and optimization opportunities.

Home renewable energy systems are rapidly growing in popularity. What has been the response from clients and the design community to the Airiva wind energy system? How is the industry responding?

Airiva has won multiple design awards and received global press attention from both design and mainstream media outlets. As a result, we’ve received thousands of registrations of interest and inquiries from more than 50 countries including many large multinational corporations, global real estate development firms, municipal governments and public institutions.

Looking ahead, how do you see Airivia evolving, and what role do you aim to play in shaping the future of renewable energy?

Airiva will continue our design, innovation and engineering work to expand the way we think about renewable energy. Our goal is to create new and significant opportunities to utilize distributed wind energy on a global basis.

What does winning an A+Product Award mean to you and your team?

Winning the A+ Product Award is a wonderful and very appreciated recognition of the product’s design and value proposition, as well as the hard work that has gone into taking Airiva from an initial product concept to where we are today. The global design community’s acknowledgements and enthusiasm have been inspirational.

Enter A+Product Awards

The Extended Entry Deadline for Architizer's 2025 A+Product Awards is Friday, February 21st. Get your brand in front of the AEC industry’s most renowned designers by submitting today.

The post Winds of Change: Airivia’s New Spin on Renewable Energy appeared first on Journal.

Elevated Exteriors: 12 Award-Winning Products Transforming Outdoor Spaces

The Final Entry Deadline for Architizer's 2025 A+Product Awards is Friday, January 24. Get your brand in front of the AEC industry’s most renowned designers by submitting today.

From a young age, we’re told, “Never judge a book by its cover.” Solid advice when talking about the downstairs neighbor who notoriously never smiles, the local Dobermann everyone crosses the street to avoid, or that blackened banana that’s unexpectedly perfect when peeled. When it comes to architecture, however, not so much.

In architecture, the outside is just as important as the inside. A well-designed exterior can be so much more than a pretty face; it is a key component in realizing how a building interacts with its environment. Curb appeal is one of a building’s key selling points, attracting attention and driving interest. But a well-designed exterior can do so much more than just boost property value; it can improve energy efficiency, transform underused spaces and even enhance occupant well-being.

With that in mind, these twelve products, winners of this year’s A+Product Awards, are designed to elevate exteriors by reviving façades, illuminating lawns and increasing outdoor functionality. Whether through bold lighting designs, ingenious cladding systems or ingenious glazing solutions, each of these innovations demonstrates how considered choices can take an exterior from ok to outstanding.

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Obi

By Expormim USA LLC

Jury Winner, Outdoor Furniture, 2024 A+Product Awards

Inspired by Japanese tradition, Obi’s elastic band detail brings a bold, graphic edge to its elegant design. This seemingly simple feature adds a layer of sophistication, echoing the “obi” sash that adorns traditional kimonos. With an aluminum frame and indoor-level comfort, Obi is a modern outdoor seating collection that perfectly balances simplicity with style, making it ideal for terraces or garden spaces.


Outdoor Coral

By David Trubridge Lighting

Popular Choice Winner, Exterior Lighting, 2024 A+Product Awards

Marking 20 years of design excellence, Outdoor Coral combines geometric beauty with eco-conscious materials. Inspired by nature’s intricate forms, its Panelex construction ensures both visual and environmental longevity. Whether installed as a statement piece or in clusters, Outdoor Coral is perfect for outdoor spaces, casting intricate shadows that add texture and mood to any setting.


DesignRail Modern

By Feeney

Popular Choice Winner, Best of the Year, Residential Design, 2024 A+Product Awards

This cable railing system is engineered specifically for unobstructed views and contemporary appeal, with hidden fasteners and a minimalist aesthetic. Its modular design allows for long spans, reducing the need for additional posts and, in turn, opening up vistas. Optional features like LED-ready rails and DrinkRail enhance both practicality and evening ambiance, making it an exceptional choice for patios, balconies and other outdoor living areas.


COASTAL METAL SCULPTURE

By BELT Metal Art+Design Studio

Popular Choice Winner, Best of the Year, Architectural Design, 2024 A+Product Awards

Combining Art Deco aesthetics with cutting-edge craftsmanship, Coastal Metal Sculpture uses stainless steel and dynamic LED lighting to animate facades and railings. Each piece is meticulously designed using both traditional and innovative techniques. Its bold lines and striking mirror finish bring a sculptural element to exterior spaces, elevating them into visual landmarks.


Northport Lighting

By Landscape Forms

Jury Winner, Exterior Lighting, 2024 A+Product Awards

Northport reinvents traditional acorn street lamps with a refined, minimalist approach. Its subtle negative-space design evokes nostalgia while remaining contemporary, offering versatility for parks, promenades, and historic streetscapes. Combined with adjustable LED technology, Northport Lighting balances heritage and innovation, creating exteriors that feel timeless yet firmly rooted in the present.


CUPACLAD

By CUPA PIZARRAS S.A.

Popular Choice Winner, Building Envelopes, Cladding, & Roofing, 2024 A+Product Awards

CUPACLAD’s natural slate façade offers a durability that will last for over a century, with no maintenance required. The carbon-neutral production process reflects CUPA’s commitment to sustainability, while its versatility allows architects to experiment with both traditional and modern compositions. Whether used for residential or commercial projects, CUPACLAD exemplifies the strength and beauty of natural materials.


Redwood Timbers & Uppers

By HUMBOLDT SAWMILL COMPANY

Popular Choice Winner, Best of the Year,  Positive Impact, 2024 A+Product Awards

Harvested sustainably in FSC-certified forests, Humboldt’s redwood timbers bring natural strength and warmth to outdoor structures. Ideal for everything from exposed beams to elegant cladding, its rich tones and inherent durability make it a highly versatile choice for all exteriors. Redwood’s natural resistance to decay and pests further underscores its enduring appeal for both architects and homeowners.


VITAE

By THE CUT

Jury Winner, Cabinetry & Millwork, 2024 A+Product Awards

Outdoor kitchens seldom reach the craftsmanship of a product like Vitae, where natural stone and timber meet modular precision. Designed to adapt seamlessly to indoor or outdoor spaces, the kitchen embodies versatility with striking materials that turn a functional cooking area into a truly unique design statement.


Universal Series™ Window Wall

By Cascadia Windows & Doors

Popular Choice Winner, Glass & Glazing, 2024 A+Product Awards

Combining expansive glazing with top-tier thermal performance, the Universal Series™ Window Wall creates striking façades that improve energy efficiency. Its fiberglass frame, customizable to project specifications, offers a perfect balance of form and function.


Evo-Flex

By Evo-Doors by Renlita

Jury Winner, Best of the Year, Architectural Design, 2024 A+Product Awards

Evo-Flex transforms exterior spaces with its gas strut window system, which is ideal for pass-through bar tops and outdoor kitchens. Its sleek, self-lifting aluminum frame is designed for immense durability and ease of use, creating seamless transitions between indoor and outdoor living areas.


RE/8 Bio-circular Architectural Mesh

By Kaynemaile

Popular Choice Winner, Best of the Year, Sustainable Design, 2024 A+Product Awards
Jury Winner, Building Envelopes, Cladding, & Roofing, 2024 A+Product Awards

This 3D mesh offers an innovative approach to shading and façades, crafted from bio-based polymers that reduce carbon footprints by 80%. With its ability to provide solar reduction and airflow, RE/8 combines functionality with sustainability, making it an essential choice for environmentally conscious design.


VetraSpan-L

By Sentech Architectural Systems

Jury Winner, Glass & Glazing, 2024 A+Product Awards

VetraSpan-L delivers 50-foot spans of uninterrupted glass, creating exteriors with unparalleled transparency. Its advanced structural system eliminates vertical joints, providing a seamless connection to the surrounding landscape and elevating modern façade design to new heights.

The Final Entry Deadline for Architizer's 2025 A+Product Awards is Friday, January 24. Get your brand in front of the AEC industry’s most renowned designers by submitting today.

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The Quiet Revolution: Innovative Design Solutions for a Softer Urban Experience

The Final Entry Deadline for Architizer's 2025 A+Product Awards is Friday, January 24. Get your brand in front of the AEC industry’s most renowned designers by submitting today.

Living in a city has its perks — 24-hour dim sum, a café for every obscure occasion and, if you have a dog birthday party to organize, there’s a lovely little corner spot near the park for that. Don’t forget the smug satisfaction of a 15-minute commute or the insight that comes from access to historic neighborhoods that are brimming with unique characters and culture. But let’s be honest: urban life can be exhausting. Even without partying until 6 am or submitting to “the grind,” it can feel like a wind tunnel of noise, where double speed is the only acceptable pace and relentless engagement is non-negotiable.

Many scientists predict that by 2050, nearly 70% of the world’s population will live in urban areas, with cities becoming denser as they absorb millions of new inhabitants. Access to resources, housing and employment opportunities will concentrate in these areas, but so too will the challenges: rising noise levels, poor air quality and chronic stress are just a few of the daily realities of urban living. No wonder, then, that architects, designers and urban planners are rethinking the spaces we inhabit — be they homes, transit hubs, offices or outdoor promenades across all industries; those in the know are seeking to create and specify innovative products that address the physical and psychological toll of city life.

Sticking a few plants in the corner and calling it biophilia, this is not — although, sometimes, that might be the answer. The challenge is to transform urban density into something livable, even restorative. From noise-cancelling surfaces to heritage lighting, the tools to soften city life are evolving fast. This year’s Architizer A+Product Awards winners demonstrate how thoughtful design can create spaces that give back time, energy and calm for those of us whose “garden” is a fire escape and whose neighbors are nocturnal.

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Garden on the Wall® Story Telling Gardens

By Garden on the Wall

Popular Choice Winner, Furnishings, Accessories, 2024 A+Product Awards

The Garden on the Wall® Storytelling Gardens turns plants into stories and living artworks. At 105 feet long, Garden on the Wall’s most ambitious installation at Nashville International Airport connects travelers to the local landscape with layers of preserved greenery depicting rivers and bridges. Its maintenance-free design offers architects a no-compromise solution for bringing nature and culture into any urban environment, utilizing unused surfaces in a way that benefits in more than one way.


BuzziCee + BuzziPlanter

By BuzziSpace

Jury Winner, Contract Seating, 2024 A+Product Awards

The BuzziCee acoustic seating system curves into playful forms that help to quiet communal spaces, while the BuzziPlanter integrates greenery without demanding additional floor area. Together, they solve two urban challenges: too much noise and too little nature. Made from recycled materials, the modular seating solution proves sustainability doesn’t have to come at the expense of comfort or personality.


Universal Series™ Window Wall

By Cascadia

Popular Choice Winner, Glass & Glazing, 2024 A+Product Awards

The Universal Series™ Window Wall has a thermally superior fiberglass frame that supports expansive glazing without sacrificing energy efficiency. Its double and triple-glazing options, plus Passive House certification, make it ideal for architects seeking to balance light, insulation and serenity in the heart of the city.


IRIS Luminous SkyCeiling

By Sky Factory

Popular Choice Winner, Recessed & Mounted Lighting, 2024 A+Product Awards

Using advanced algorithms to mimic natural light and drifting clouds, the IRIS Luminous SkyCeiling can be used to turn even the darkest interiors into serene escapes. By aligning its daylight cycles with the body’s circadian rhythms, it offers a creative solution for spaces like hospitals, offices or retail environments where access to natural light is limited, but calm is critical.


Arborisa™

By Arktura

Jury Winner, Acoustics, 2024 A+Product Awards

The design of the Arborisa™ acoustic ceiling is inspired by nature and, more specifically, tree canopies. Its intersecting baffles soften sound while introducing organic forms into shared spaces. With a range of modular designs and customizable finishes, the sculptural product is a versatile tool for creating unique interiors where noise is an issue.


VanAir Door

By VanAir Design

Popular Choice Winner, Doors & Hardware, 2024 A+Product Awards.

The VanAir Door solves a modern urban dilemma: air circulation without compromise. Its staggered slots improve ventilation and balance humidity while maintaining acoustic privacy with an impressive STC rating of 26. For apartments, offices or multi-use spaces, it’s a quiet innovation that makes urban living healthier.


Northport Lighting

By Landscape Forms

Jury Winner, Exterior Lighting, 2024 A+Product Awards

The Northport Lighting collection is a reinterpretation of historical acorn street lamps, layering nostalgia with modern functionality. An optional LED flame creates a gentle flicker, softening streetscapes, parks, or promenades into places that invite pause and reintroduce some historical beauty to our urban environments.


Lido Freestanding Bathtub

ByHydro Systems

Jury Winner, Fixtures & Fittings – Bath, 2024 A+Product Awards

The Lido Freestanding Bathtub channels Miami modernism into a piece designed to be admired. Its ergonomic curves, crafted from HydroLuxeSS™, combine with hydrotherapy options like Cold Plunge to transform private bathrooms into personal retreats. Available in 15 colors, it is brimming with sculptural elegance while providing therapeutic calm.


Facet Bathtub

By Stone Forest

Popular Choice Winner, Fixtures & Fittings – Bath, 2024 A+Product Awards

Balancing precision and materiality, the Facet bathtub stone exterior plays with the surrounding light to become a visual delight while its smooth, ergonomic interior is perfectly designed. Carved from Antique Gray Limestone or Noce Basalt, the bath is a grounding focal point for bathrooms where form and function meet in equal measure.


Theory

By Landscape Forms

Popular Choice Winner, Outdoor Furniture, 2024 A+Product Awards

The Theory collection reshapes transitional zones into places of interaction and connection. Its modular system of beams, shelters and seating can be adapted to evolve with the surrounding cityscape by turning functional spaces into intentional environments that support well-being throughout everyday city life.


Moving Islands

By Furnify

Popular Choice Winner, Best of the Year, Flexible Design, 2024 A+Product Awards

Moving Islands is a perfectly practical and adaptable solution. Designed to create indoor gardens or flexible seating zones, its modular forms are crafted from repurposed materials. In nursing homes, atriums, or event venues, it introduces nature where it’s most needed.


Archi Folds 3D Textile Facade

By Studio Samira Boon.

Jury Winner, Best of the Year, Innovation, 2024 A+Product Awards

Originally designed for Hermes, the Archi Folds 3D Textile Façade is an elegant solution for softening interiors. Its origami-inspired folds balance daylight, privacy, and acoustics. Crafted from recycled yarns, it offers architects a way to create textured, layered environments while controlling privacy and light saturation.


VetraSky

By Sentech Architectural Systems.

Popular Choice Winner, Best of the Year, Flexible Design, 2024 A+Product Awards

Spanning up to 26 feet, the VetraSky skylight system floods dense spaces with natural light while meeting the rigorous structural demands of curved glass. A transformative tool for architects seeking to bring openness and airiness to the urban core.

The Final Entry Deadline for Architizer's 2025 A+Product Awards is Friday, January 24. Get your brand in front of the AEC industry’s most renowned designers by submitting today.

The post The Quiet Revolution: Innovative Design Solutions for a Softer Urban Experience appeared first on Journal.

Tomorrow’s Home, Today: 14 Award-Winning Innovations for the House of the Future

The Main Entry Deadline for Architizer's 2025 A+Product Awards is Friday, December 6. Get your brand in front of the AEC industry’s most renowned designers by submitting today.

The home of the future — it’s a place we’ve all seen in films, on TV, and even at exhibitions. If you were lucky, it might have been your rich friend’s parents’ house growing up. It’s usually an awe-inspiring, glazed hilltop palace where the fridge orders matcha before you run out, where lighting switches from meditation to movie night with a single word, and the dog has its own passcode for the alarm system.

Whether it was Star Trek’s replicators printing out meals, Marvel’s disembodied assistant JARVIS, or the Jetsons’ robotic pet cross-household appliance Lectronimo, not so long ago, it all felt like a fantasy. Yet today, in the midst of the biggest technological revolution ever, not only are these devices a reality — they are even better than we imagined.

While Alexa is part of everyday life, and many of us couldn’t live without our Roombas rolling around, it’s not only the big names that are driving our homes into the future. Thousands of amazing products hit the market each year, determined to make our lives easier and our homes more intuitive. At Architizer, we’re determined to celebrate these incredible feats of design. So, here are 14 futuristic products that won our coveted Architizer A+Product Awards prizes and will make any home fit for the future.

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CUPACLAD

By Cupa Pizarras

Popular Choice Winner, Building Envelopes, Cladding & Roofing, 2024 A+Product Awards

If the future of cladding means elegance, endurance and zero maintenance, CUPACLAD is on it. Crafted from 100% natural slate, CUPACLAD delivers a façade system that’s not only non-combustible and waterproof but actually gets better with age. This cladding is the real deal for sustainable design, requiring no upkeep or repainting while reducing water, energy and carbon impact during the construction phase. It’s easy to install, and in addition, CUPA PIZARRAS has its own internal design teams, ensuring the vision of every client is not only realized but elevated with unique design flair.


Airiva Wind Energy System

By Airiva

Jury Winner, Smart Design & Technology, 2024 A+Product Awards

The Airiva Wind Energy System is reshaping renewable energy in urban design. With its sleek, modular array of vertical turbines, Airiva is ideal for housing developments and urban landscapes, turning partition walls into on-site power generators. Scalable to meet the energy needs of anything from a single building to a sprawling development, it’s an adaptable solution for architects and developers. Made from 90% recycled materials and designed for ease of transport and installation, Airiva’s intelligent system offers not only efficiency but a striking visual statement — proof that renewable energy can be both functional and quite beautiful.


RE/8 Bio-circular Architectural Mesh

By Kaynemaile® Architectural Mesh

Popular Choice Winner, Sustainable Design | Jury Winner, Building Envelopes, Cladding & Roofing, 2024 A+Product Awards

The RE/8 Bio-circular Architectural Mesh is a game-changer for our drastically changing climate. Made from bio-based, sustainable polymers, RE/8 reduces the carbon footprint by up to 80% and can be used indoors as a striking interior feature or outdoors for shading and ventilation. The mesh, available in custom colors, works brilliantly as a decorative installation while also cutting solar exposure by up to 70% in exterior applications, creating cooler spaces with excellent airflow. ISCC PLUS-certified and 100% recyclable, RE/8 is a forward-thinking choice that merges aesthetics with impressive environmental performance.


PureBond®

By Columbia Forest Products

Popular Choice Winner, Cabinetry & Millwork, 2024 A+Product Awards.

PureBond® is an eco-friendly answer to high-quality cabinetry and built furniture. The North American-made hardwood plywood uses a soy-based, formaldehyde-free adhesive inspired by the way mussels naturally grip. It is an excellent material choice in the home for anyone wanting beautiful, durable interiors without risking air quality. Designed to be cost-competitive with traditional materials yet boasting superior water resistance, PureBond® panels support LEED and FSC certifications and ensure no off-gassing, adding peace of mind alongside stylish surfaces.


Bio-Acoustic Claypot Wall Panel

By CSI Creative

Popular Choice Winner, Acoustics, 2024 A+Product Awards

The Bio-Acoustic Claypot Wall Panel is nature, culture, and acoustic control all together in one striking design. Inspired by traditional handmade clay pots, the panels combine fire-safe replica greenery with high-performance acoustic PET felt backers for a tranquil, biophilic feature that also has great sound-absorbing qualities. It’s ideal for softening spaces both visually and acoustically. The Claypot Panel offers customizable foliage and colors, letting designers tailor each installation for maximum impact. With ThermaLeaf® fire-safe greenery and PoshFelt® wool felt finishes, this panel is a smart, nature-inspired solution for modern interiors.


IRIS Luminous SkyCeiling

By Sky Factory

Popular Choice Winner,  Recessed & Mounted Lighting, 2024 A+Product Awards

The IRIS Luminous SkyCeiling is what future homes will use to bring the outdoors, indoors—even when “outdoors” isn’t an option. Not simply a light fixture, SkyCeiling is a dynamic portal to a virtual sky that mirrors daylight’s natural rhythm, complete with shifting clouds and soft gradients from sunrise to sunset. Built with algorithms that adapt lighting intensity and hue to match the time of day, IRIS provides a stunningly realistic ambiance while supporting well-being by syncing with your circadian rhythm. It allows adopters to feel closer to the natural world.


Pure + FreeForm Ceilings

By Pure + FreeForm

Popular Choice Winner, Ceilings, 2024 A+Product Awards

At Pure + FreeForm, they believe metals can have a visceral and emotive influence on projects, often being as impactful as the form itself. Using Ultra High-Performance Aluminum (UHPA), their ceilings are crafted for both indoor and outdoor use so designers can seamlessly connect indoor and outdoor spaces. Their finishes are VOC-free, fully recyclable and fire-rated, ensuring safety and eco-friendliness alongside striking aesthetics. With industry-leading precision and stock readily available, Pure + FreeForm makes it easy to add a bold statement to any room in future-focused homes that don’t shy away from a touch of modern drama.


LHOV

By Elica

Jury Winner, Appliances, 2024 A+Product Awards

LHOV is a very impressive kitchen appliance that combines hob, hood, and oven into one streamlined unit, designed for the burgeoning adaptable home market. LHOV is great for maximizing space and bringing an immediate dose of style. The 3-in-1 system saves space and looks great. It has no protruding corners and no interruptions. The extraction system is cleverly hidden within the appliance, while the extra-wide oven, found under the hob, is at an ergonomic height while also leaving free space below for further storage. In the modern home, every inch counts, and LHOV is acutely aware of that, providing great design and clever functionality.


D|13 Sink System with XLERATORsync

By D | 13

Popular Choice Winner, Smart Design & Technology, 2024 A+Product Awards

For a future where hygiene is paramount, the D|13 Sink System is a game-changer in touchless handwashing. With its XLERATORsync hand dryer, complete with electrostatic HEPA filtration that removes 99.999% of viruses and 99.97% of bacteria, the system prioritizes cleanliness in every detail. Designed to keep water droplets contained, its slope and depth work with the dryer’s high-speed airflow to keep hands — and surroundings — dry. The D|13 also offers a customizable look, letting designers and specifiers choose from a range of finishes to create their ideal system.


Hidden Screen on Pella Lifestyle Series

By Pella Corporation

Jury Winner, Windows & Skylights, 2024 A+Product Awards

The Hidden Screen by Pella is the future of hassle-free, unobstructed views. Designed to disappear when not in use, it is an innovative screen that delivers 44% more natural light than traditional screens. It also allows seamless airflow and excellent bug protection when in use. The integrated screens are great for noise reduction and provide homeowners with exceptional energy efficiency when included. Tested for 25 years of daily use, the Hidden Screen is functional and elegant in a way that seems so simple yet so effective.


48-Inch French Door Refrigerator

By Dacor

Popular Choice Winner,  Appliances, 2024 A+Product Awards

Dacor’s 48-Inch French Door Refrigerator is kitchen convenience at its best. Beyond its flush-fit design, this refrigerator offers cutting-edge features like a sensor-activated auto-fill water pitcher (infusion-ready) and a Dual Icemaker producing both standard cubes and Whisky Ball Ice™. With customizable storage options, including the adaptable FreshZone™ and FreshZone Plus drawers, and WiFi-enabled SmartThings™ for remote control and energy management, this fridge is smart and stylish. Its stainless SteelCool™ interior maintains consistent cooling, ensuring groceries stay fresh longer, while integrated LEDs make every inch brilliantly visible.


iQ® Granit™

By Tarkett

Popular Choice Winner, Flooring, 2024 A+Product Awards

The iQ® Granit™ collection by Tarkett is simply put, flooring for the future, blending durability, Scandinavian-inspired design and health-forward features. Designed to withstand high-traffic areas with zero refinishing required, this vinyl flooring is engineered for spaces that need to look good and perform flawlessly. Ideal for creating hygienic, low-maintenance environments, iQ® Granit™ is certified asthma & allergy friendly®, slip-resistant, and easily cleaned with just a neutral cleaner. With organic patterns and soft tonal colors inspired by natural stone, it’s a flooring solution that feels and looks incredible — making it a smart choice for homes that are built to last.


Unfired Circular Tile

By Loqa

Jury Winner, Sustainable Design, 2024 A+Product Awards

Loqa’s Unfired Circular Tile is quite literally paving the way for sustainable design. Made from over 85% up-cycled industrial waste — including ceramics, glass and fly ash — these tiles not only prevent waste but also cut down on carbon emissions by eliminating traditional firing. Despite being unfired, they’re 106% stronger than standard tiles and available in a variety of colors and textures to suit any design vision. With the option for custom pictogram embossing, these tiles offer a truly sustainable and creative choice, perfect for the eco-conscious homeowner looking to make an impact without compromising on style.


Purist Suspend Mount Kitchen Faucet

By Kohler Co.

Jury Winner, Fixtures & Fittings – Kitchen, 2024 A+Product Awards.

Kohler’s Purist Suspend redefines the kitchen faucet with a ceiling-mounted design that’s unique and exciting. The faucet’s sleek hose descends from above with a pivoting arm that can be set to any preferred height and rotates 180 degrees, offering flexibility without cluttering the counter. Controlled by a wireless, water-resistant remote puck, Purist Suspend offers multiple spray modes, from Sweep Spray for prep to Boost Technology for extra flow. With its intuitive controls and minimalist design, this faucet is perfect for the kitchen of tomorrow, where form and function come together in one striking fixture.


Follow in the footsteps of these fourteen innovative brands by entering this year’s A+Product Awards and receive major industry recognition from architects and designers worldwide:

Enter A+Product Awards

The Main Entry Deadline for Architizer's 2025 A+Product Awards is Friday, December 6. Get your brand in front of the AEC industry’s most renowned designers by submitting today.

The post Tomorrow’s Home, Today: 14 Award-Winning Innovations for the House of the Future appeared first on Journal.

Sculptural Forms and Functional Elegance: Zaha Hadid Design and Karimoku’s Fusion Furniture

Architizer is thrilled to announce that the 2025 A+Product Awards is officially open for submissions! Get your products in front of the AEC industry’s most renowned designers by submitting today.

Zaha Hadid Design’s collaboration with Japanese furniture manufacturer Karimoku marks a beautiful fusion of craftsmanship, technology and bold design vision. In the Seyun Collection, Lead Designer Johanna Huang explains, that the partnership aimed to marry the fluid, signature aesthetics of Zaha Hadid with Karimoku’s expertise in wood and sustainable design. The Jury Winner for Residential Furniture in this year’s A+Product Awards, the project combines digital tools with centuries-old craftsmanship to create furniture that feels both timeless and progressive.

The Seyun Collection, characterized by its convergence of sculptural forms and functional elegance, represents more than just furniture. Huang emphasizes that the modularity of the tables, the fluidity of the chairs, and the seamlessness of the entire collection are results of thoughtful engineering, meticulous craftsmanship, and a commitment to precision. In this Q&A, Huang shares insights into the creative and technical journey behind Seyun, illustrating how Zaha Hadid Design and Karimoku pushed the boundaries of furniture design while maintaining a deep respect for craftsmanship.

A+Product Awards

Seyun Collection, Photography by Masaaki Inoue, Bouillon

How did the Seyun collection come about? How did the collaboration with the manufacturer start?

The relationship between our two companies started a long time ago with some of our colleagues who knew people from Karimoku, and they felt our values aligned. That’s how the collaboration began — our companies were introduced and things developed from there.

Could you talk about the design process between Zaha Hadid Design and Karimoku? What was that like during the pandemic?

The project took off at the beginning of the pandemic, so we were in lockdown and met frequently over a long period of time. That constant interaction built a strong connection between the two teams, and we became fond of both the collaboration and the collection itself. It was a very intimate collaboration. We developed the project together, agreed on who the collection was for, and decided to reflect Zaha Hadid’s formal language while making the pieces suitable for mass production.

One of the key challenges was maintaining structural integrity with separate pieces while achieving a seamless, elegant look. The craftsmanship and ingenuity of Karimoku were instrumental in overcoming those challenges and making the final pieces appear effortless.

Seyun Collection, Photography by Masaaki Inoue, Bouillon

Where did the initial inspiration for the Seyun collection come from, and the idea of multiple pieces coming together?

Initially, we approached it from a formal perspective, focusing on the convergence of different tectonics. We explored patterns and forms that would arise from those studies. Interestingly, Karimoku named the collection — they saw our explorations and felt they resembled the cosmos. For instance, Seiun is a play on a Japanese word meaning “nebula.” So, it became a blend of our design thinking with their cultural perspective.

Could you talk about the modular aspect, particularly with the tables?

The modularity of the tables is a detail that can be overlooked, but it’s an essential feature. At Zaha Hadid, we always look at modularity beyond just simple forms. For the tables, we wanted to create a design where rotating the table could result in various different table configurations. It’s about creating multiplicity using patterns and plan, which is part of a recursive theme in our work.

Seyun Collection, Photography by Masaaki Inoue, Bouillon

The material — wood — feels both solid and light in the collection. Could you elaborate on that contrast?

Wood is indeed solid, but lightness and fluidity are key elements in our designs. It ties back to our architectural background, where we often lift structures off the ground to create space and motion, making things appear as though they’re floating. For the Seyun collection, we worked closely with Karimoku to find the balance between maintaining the structural integrity of the wood while creating that sense of lightness.

The collection started with the chairs, which we knew would interact closely with the human body. So, roundness and softness were important. When we extended the collection, we took those distinctive elements — like the rounded corners — and applied them to other pieces, ensuring continuity across the design.

Karimoku values sustainability. Did that influence the Seyun collection?

Yes, sustainability is a shared value between our two brands. For us, sustainability also means longevity and durability. We’re focused on creating high-quality pieces that stand the test of time and can be passed down through generations. Karimoku, being a four-generation family-owned business, understands this mindset deeply. They’re also very careful about sourcing high-quality wood to ensure endurance.

The Seyun Collection Milan 2024, Photography by DSL Studio

How was the Seyun collection manufactured, and what role did digital tools play in the design?

At Zaha Hadid Design we use digital tools exclusively, from concept to fabrication. Karimoku’s ability to work with file-to-factory technology was crucial because we strive for precision. They also have a state-of-the-art digital program to analyze the structural integrity of our designs. They would test our 3D models in their program and then create prototypes to ensure everything was safe and met high standards.

How do you hope users will experience the Seyun collection? What are your aspirations for how people interact with the pieces?

We hope people find joy in using these beautiful pieces. Our aspiration is for the collection to be timeless, relevant for years to come, and something people would want to keep and use over time. And there’s more to come! Besides the table and chairs, we have a few more items coming to market by the end of this year and early next year. We’ve extended the concept to include bar stools and smaller accessories, like trays, to complement the collection.

Architizer is thrilled to announce that the 2025 A+Product Awards is officially open for submissions! Get your products in front of the AEC industry’s most renowned designers by submitting today.

The post Sculptural Forms and Functional Elegance: Zaha Hadid Design and Karimoku’s Fusion Furniture appeared first on Journal.

Sensuous, Modern and Always Handmade

Upcyling: the beams used for the “Barbarossa” table originate from old half-timbered houses. The steel frame goes well with the historic oak tabletop

“We’re effectively one big family that knows everything there is to know about beautiful, comfortable and sophisticated furniture. The fact that we enjoy creating things naturally makes it very much easier for us.” At KFF, every single employee subscribes to this statement by company founder and owner Karl-Friedrich Förster, whose initials gave the design forge […] Sigue leyendo

A Passion that Spans the Generations

"S07/40S": a wardrobe and closet with endless possibilities, design: Rolf Heide and Peter Kräling

The history of one of the German furniture sector’s top brands reads like a family saga. Today the company, which dates back to 1937, is under the direction of Leo Lübke, the third generation of his family to run the business: “We build the things that are important to us into our furniture: quality, uniqueness […] Sigue leyendo

Pocket-Sprung Comfort

The “Basis/Origins” collection also includes “Corner”, a bed with a striking, space-structuring headboard.

Whilst handcrafted production may mean different things to different people, it doesn’t necessarily trigger associations with recently constructed and impressively sized buildings such as those belonging to Schramm Werkstätten GmbH. Back in 1923, however, the firm started out on a much smaller scale – as an upholstery and saddlery workshop. Today, the handmade bed producer […] Sigue leyendo