Balanco Sofá by Daniel Coutinho is a highly esteemed winner of the very prestigious 2026 A' Design Award Pláta in Mba'epyru Jejapo Competition Category.

PlátaMba'epyru· 2026

Balanco Sofá

by Daniel Coutinho

Client: Daniel Coutinho Estudio

A' Design Award Pláta Winner in Mba'epyru Category

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Verified Award Winner
Verify Award Status for #182249

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Colors

The Design

About Balanco Sofá

Balanco ha'e peteĩ sofá modular ojejapóva umi koty ryepy ko'ãgagua peguarã. Héra ou pe cantilever-gui, pe téknika estructural ojeporúva omomichĩ hag̃ua pe mba'e pohýi ojehecháva. Balanco ombojoaju peteĩ hyepy ojesuspendéva ao iporãvape ojejaho'íva, peteĩ atukupe yvyra atãgui ijapopyre ha peteĩ mesa'i ita natural-gui oĩva metal ári ojoajúva hendive. Umi jekoha ojehecháva sa'ive oĩ, upévare pe mba'e tuichaite ojehecha vevúicha. Yvyra atã, vrónse, ita, líno, vakapi ha terciopelo ojapo peteĩ juavy pe materiál pohýi ha pe ojehecháva vevúi apytépe. Ipuku oñemboyke 3500 mm.

The Recognition

About the A' Design Award Pláta

Balanco Sofá ohupyty A' Design Award Pláta, peteĩ ñehechakuaa extraordinariamente prestigioso oñeme'ẽva diseño de primera línea, hechapyrãva ha impresionante-pe. Umi ganador Pláta ha'e tembiapo brillante ha heta creativo ohechaukáva expertise, talento ha agudeza sobresaliente umi diseñador-pe. Oñeha'ãrõ Balanco Sofá ha'eha peteĩ tembiapo maravilloso, ejemplar, profesional ha innovador pypukuvéva. Ko diseño ohupytýva A' Design Award Pláta ha'e invento ojehechakuaáva ha ojehayhúva ohepyme'ẽva ha ombohasáva límite arte, ciencia, diseño ha tecnología rehegua. Balanco Sofá ha'e creación heta ojeenvidiáva omokyre'ỹva ipotapy, ome'ẽva sentimiento positivo ha omoheñóiva maravilla ha sorpresa.

Behind the Design

Press Kit

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

Unique Properties: The structure was conceived to minimize visible support points, reducing the perception of weight in a large-scale piece. The contrast between dense materials and the resulting formal lightness establishes a distinctive structural language. The intentional misalignment reinforces its identity, while the cantilevered side table, supported by a metal base, enhances the sense of suspension and lightness.
Dimensions & Packaging: Modular system composed of a suspended upholstered base, structural solid wood backrest, and integrated natural stone side table with metal support.
Total length: 3500mm Depth: 920mm Seat height: 430mm Total height: 665mm Side table: Total length 700mm:Depth: 700mm
Tags: structural lightness, contemporary furniture, Brazilian design, modular sofa, noble materials, structural cantilever, sophistication, authorial design, material contrast, elegance
Production Technology: The structure was designed with strategic load distribution and visually minimized support points, allowing the suspension effect while maintaining structural integrity. The upholstery uses multi-density foams and coverings in linen, leather, and velvet, applied using advanced upholstery techniques. The combination of structural engineering and construction precision transforms high-density materials into a visually light and continuous expression.
Design Challenge: The challenge was to transform a large-scale piece into a visually lightweight volume, requiring structural refi nement, iterative prototyping, and precise control of proportions and materials. The result demonstrates how engineering and design work together to redefi ne structural perception in contemporary furniture.
Research: Applied research in furniture design focused on the relationship between structure, materiality, and visual perception. The objective was to investigate how structural cantilever and material combinations could reduce the perceived weight of upholstered pieces. The methodology included formal analysis, material experimentation, 3D modeling, and prototyping. The results show that balancing structure and materials redefi nes visual perception, contributing to new approaches in contemporary design.
Inspiration: Architectural and structural references guided the development of a solution that explores visual suspension as a design language. Throughout the process, the investigation of the interaction between solid wood, brass, stone, linen, leather, and velvet guided the search for material balance, where the contrast between physical density and visual lightness defi nes the expression and identity of the piece.
Project Duration: The project was developed over two months at the brand’s studio in Sao Paulo, Brazil. The process involved conceptual investigation, structural development, and material experimentation, focusing on the integration of visual lightness, stability, and balance between different materials, resulting in a solution that combines technical rigor and contemporary expression.
Operation Flow: The sofa integrates the seat and side table into a continuous composition, where the cantilevered element expands its functionality without compromising visual lightness. The structure was conceived to reduce the perception of weight, creating a sense of suspension. Unlike conventional solutions, the solid wood backrest is treated as an essential part of the design, allowing the piece to be freely positioned and appreciated from all angles within the space.
Image Credits: Image 1: photographer: Fernando Crescente Fotografia, Balanco, 2026, Image 2: photographer: Fernando Crescente Fotografia, Balanco, 2026, Image 3: photographer: Fernando Crescente Fotografia, Balanco, 2026, Image 4: photographer: Fernando Crescente Fotografia, Balanco, 2026.
Video: Fernando Crescente Fotografia, Balanco, 2026.