Forrest Banc by Giuliano Ricciardi is a highly esteemed winner of the very prestigious 2022 A' Design Award de Fer in Mobilier d'Extérieur Competition Category.

FerMobilier d'Extérieur· 2022

Forrest Banc

by Giuliano Ricciardi

Client: d-Lab studio

A' Design Award de Fer Winner in Mobilier d'Extérieur Category

36,701

Verified Award Winner

Verify Award Status for #138382

Visit Site View at A' Design Award Press Release Award Badge

Colors

The Design

About Forrest Banc

Forrest est un banc monolithique qui fonde son élégance sur la forme minimale et épurée et sur sa structure en saillie recouverte de grès cérame qui embellit les surfaces. Grâce à ces éléments, il est possible d'imiter parfaitement n'importe quelle pierre, bois ou métal tout en conservant les avantages techniques (durabilité, légèreté, résistance, etc.) que ces matériaux n'offrent généralement pas. La structure est complétée par le support allégé en corten rendu presque évanescent par des textures découpées au plasma et par la lumière LED placée sous la projection qui offre d'agréables jeux d'ombres.

The Recognition

About the A' Design Award de Fer

Forrest Banc est lauréat de l'A' Design Award de Fer, une reconnaissance prestigieuse décernée à de bons designs qui répondent aux exigences professionnelles et industrielles attendues de créations bien conçues. Les lauréats Fer démontrent la grande compétence, la haute spécialisation, la compréhension experte et la capacité créative de leurs créateurs. Forrest Banc est censé être une création très estimée, admirée et chérie, pratique et innovante. Ce design lauréat de l'A' Design Award de Fer intègre les meilleures pratiques de l'industrie et présente des caractéristiques techniques compétentes associées à un savoir-faire et à du talent. Forrest Banc est respecté pour sa rigueur et est conçu pour apporter des améliorations de la qualité de vie qui contribuent à faire du monde un monde meilleur.

Behind the Design

Press Kit

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

Unique Properties: The Forrest bench is a monolith which bases its elegance to the minimal shape and to its projecting structure covered with porcelain stoneware that embellishes the surfaces. Thanks to these elements, it's possible to perfectly emulate any stone, wooden or metal material while maintaining the technical advantages (durability, lightness, resistance, etc.) that such materials usually do not provide. The structure is completed by the lightened corten support made almost evanescent by plasma cutted pattern.
Dimensions & Packaging: 2400 mm x 800 mm x 400 mm
Tags: bench, gres, corten, led, laser cutting, waterjet, marble, luxury, seat
Production Technology: Plasma cutting for Corten, waterjet cutting for Gres
Design Challenge: The main challenge was to provide lightness to a heavy-looking monolith, by replacing marble with other materials, like the mdf for the support and the porcelain stoneware for coating. These materials, when appropriately cut, would keep the texture continuity and allow to create a storage space. The secondary challenge was to give emphasis to the seat with a corten made support, which the aesthetic and structural features would make the bench complete.
Research: Market research analysis showed that the bench has always perceived as a poor and vaguely crude looks object. It is often made by low quality and easy to find materials. These conditions, reduce elegance and value of a useful object that could enrich an urban landscape, a park, or a museum or residential space. Forrest is the answer to the current need of living in a refined design setting while respecting the sustainable consumption of natural raw materials.
Inspiration: Thinking of a bench, the first picture that comes to mind is probably the “Forrest Gump” movie. The main character, sitting on a bench, deeply describes his life to the different people who exchange seats, while they wait for their buses passing. Bench is a meeting place, it’s a place of exchange, expectation, conversation, meditation and confidence; is not only a place for rest, is a means that brings travellers together, no matter if they know each other.
Project Duration: The project started and ended in September 2019 in Taranto. It obtained the first prize in the "Design With Gres" contest organized by SpazioBianko with Arch. Bernardo D'Ippolito, CEO of KinoWorkshop srl, as jury president and was prototyped to be exhibited at the award ceremony during the Gres & Dress event
Operation Flow: The bearing structure of Forrest consists of a mdf box which could be accessed through a door on the side for storing functions like mats, books, etc. The corten support element has a pure static and decorative function. The associated texture with corten and the specific stoneware crafting and finishing, allow for a better bench definition and adaptation to any stylistic and environmental context. The strip led below has a soft light touch function both for indoor and outdoor settings.
Image Credits: #1 Designer Giuliano Ricciardi, Forrest 01, 2019
#2 Designer Giuliano Ricciardi, Forrest 02, 2019
#3 Designer Giuliano Ricciardi, Forrest 03, 2019
#4 Designer Giuliano Ricciardi, Forrest 04, 2019
#5 Designer Giuliano Ricciardi, Forrest 05, 2019