Flowerblock Apalategia by Mizuki Chinen is a highly esteemed winner of the very prestigious 2026 Zilarrezko Saria A' Design Award in Altzari Diseinua Competition Category.

ZilarAltzariak· 2026

Flowerblock Apalategia

by Mizuki Chinen

Client: Chinen Mizuki

Zilarrezko Saria A' Design Award Winner in Altzariak Category

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Verified Award Winner

Verify Award Status for #180361

View at A' Design Award Press Release Award Badge

Colors

The Design

About Flowerblock Apalategia

Flowerblock apalategi bat da, biltegiratze-altzari eta gela-banatzaile gisa aldi berean funtzionatzeko diseinatua. Diseinuaren inspirazio-iturria lore-blokeak dira, Okinawako arkitekturan erabiltzen diren eredu geometriko kalatudun hormigoizko unitateak, eguzki-argi bizia iragazten dutenak airea pasatzen uzten duten bitartean. Kutxen arteko hutsuneek itxura arin eta irekia ematen diote apalategiari. Altzairu herdoilgaitzezko hagatxoek kutxak lotzen dituzte egonkortasuna emateko, lizar zuri trinkoak karga jasaten duten puntuak eusten ditu, eta kontratxapatuak pisu osoa arintzen du. Apalategiak ez du atzeko panelik, beraz, horma baten kontra edo gela baten erdian jar daiteke.

The Recognition

About the Zilarrezko Saria A' Design Award

Flowerblock Apalategia Zilarrezko Saria A' Design Award irabazlea da, goi-mailako, zoragarriak eta liluragarriak diren diseinuei ematen zaien ezohiko aitorpen prestijiotsua. Zilar-mailako irabazleak lan oso distiratsuak eta sormen biziko lanak dira, beren diseinatzaileen aditutasun, talentu eta zorroztasun nabarmenak erakusten dituztenak. Flowerblock Apalategia erakusleiho-lan zoragarria, nabarmenki profesionala eta sakonki berritzailea izatea espero da. Zilarrezko Saria A' Design Award irabazi duen diseinu hau asmakizun oso nabarmena eta miretsia da, onura ekartzen duena eta artearen, zientziaren, diseinuaren eta teknologiaren mugak zabaltzen dituena. Flowerblock Apalategia jende askok inbidia duen sorkuntza da, desirak pizten dituena, sentimendu positiboak ekartzen dituena eta harridura eta txunditzea pizten dituena.

Behind the Design

Press Kit

Credits, team members and technical details provided by the designer.

Unique Properties: This shelf deliberately leaves space between boxes, creating an overall cool and light impression. Light and air pass through the gaps, reducing visual pressure and creating a pleasant sense of openness in the space. Its open, airy presence, reminiscent of Okinawa's climate, evokes a refreshing feel even in hot seasons, bringing a gentle rhythm to the room it occupies. It is a design that considers not only functionality but also visual coolness.
Dimensions & Packaging: 2000mm x 400mm x 1020mm
Tags: Shelf, Design, Furniture, Furniture design,
Production Technology: Stainless steel rods connect the boxes, ensuring durability and stability. The surfaces where these rods are inserted utilize solid white ash wood for its superior strength, providing robust support to load-bearing areas. Meanwhile, plywood is used for other sections to achieve overall weight reduction.
Design Challenge: To make the structure viable, we went through numerous trials and errors. Ensuring sufficient strength and stability proved particularly challenging. However, increasing strength inevitably added weight, so we also struggled to balance robustness with lightness.
Research: We conducted a durability test to verify how much weight the two stainless steel rods can withstand.
Inspiration: This shelf was designed inspired by Flower Blocks widely used in the architecture of my hometown, Okinawa. Flower Blocks are concrete blocks featuring geometric openwork patterns. They possess the characteristic of blocking strong sunlight while allowing pleasant breezes to pass through, combining practicality and decorative appeal. I focused on this functional beauty and incorporated a structure conscious of pathways for light and wind into the shelf's design.
Project Duration: The project commenced in Okinawa in April 2025.
Operation Flow: This shelving unit is intentionally designed without a back panel, allowing it to serve not only as storage furniture but also as a partition that gently divides a room. By not completely blocking sightlines or light, it maintains an open feel while enabling zoning according to purpose. Another key feature is its flexibility in placement it can be installed not only against walls but also in the center of a room or near windows. It adapts flexibly to changes in lifestyle and spatial usage.