Flowerblock Estante by Mizuki Chinen is a highly esteemed winner of the very prestigious 2026 A' Design Award de Prata in Deseño de Mobiliario Competition Category.

PrataMobiliario· 2026

Flowerblock Estante

by Mizuki Chinen

Client: Chinen Mizuki

A' Design Award de Prata Winner in Mobiliario Category

17,412

Verified Award Winner

Verify Award Status for #180361

View at A' Design Award Press Release Award Badge

Colors

The Design

About Flowerblock Estante

Flowerblock é un estante deseñado para servir tanto como moble de almacenaxe como separador de ambientes. O deseño inspírase nos flower blocks, unidades de formigón con patróns xeométricos calados empregados na arquitectura de Okinawa, que filtran a luz solar intensa mentres deixan pasar o aire. Os espazos entre as caixas confírenlle ao estante unha aparencia lixeira e aberta. Varas de aceiro inoxidable conectan as caixas para garantir a estabilidade, madeira maciza de freixo branco soporta os puntos de carga e o contrachapado reduce o peso total. O estante non ten panel traseiro, polo que pode colocarse contra unha parede ou no centro dunha estancia.

The Recognition

About the A' Design Award de Prata

Flowerblock Estante gañou o A' Design Award de Prata, un recoñecemento enormemente prestixioso outorgado a deseños de gama alta, fermosos e impresionantes. Os gañadores Prata son obras tremendamente brillantes e sumamente creativas que ilustran a pericia, o talento e a agudeza sobresaíntes dos seus deseñadores. Espérase que Flowerblock Estante sexa unha obra marabillosa, escaparate de oficio, notablemente profesional e profundamente innovadora. Este deseño gañador do A' Design Award de Prata é unha invención moi notable e admirada que beneficia e fai avanzar os límites da arte, a ciencia, o deseño e a tecnoloxía. Flowerblock Estante é unha creación moi envexada que esperta desexos, achega sentimentos positivos e prende asombro e marabilla.

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.