The First One Mensula nocturna by Luisa Gonzalez Mijares is a highly esteemed winner of the very prestigious 2026 Praemium A' Design Award Ferreum in Designatio Supellectilis Competition Category.
FerrumSupellex· 2026
The First One Mensula nocturna
Client: Luisa Gonzalez Mjares
Praemium A' Design Award Ferreum Winner in Supellex Category
Verified Award Winner
Verify Award Status for #176307The Design
About The First One Mensula nocturna
Hoc armarium artem fabrilem traditam cum stilo recenti coniungit, ligno tectonae recuperato et compactili betullae utens. Compactiones tempore honoratae et expolitiones manu factae artificium ostendunt, dum formae assulares variique colores tactum modernum praebent. Assulae asperatae effectus visuales umbrasque mobiles producunt dum ianua movetur, energiam iocosam artificiumque addentes. Haec mixtio methodos classicas honorat dum materias recentes inserit, functionem expressionemque praestans.
The Recognition
About the Praemium A' Design Award Ferreum
The First One Mensula nocturna victor est Praemii A' Design Award Ferreum, honoris amplissimi formis bonis dati, quae postulatis professionalibus et industrialibus ab creationibus bene formatis exspectatis satisfaciunt. Victores Ferrei magnam peritiam, altam specializationem, intellectum periti et facultatem creandi auctorum suorum ostendunt. Exspectatur The First One Mensula nocturna creationem multum aestimatam, admiratam et carissimam, practicam et novam fore. Haec forma Ferreo victa optimas industriae consuetudines integrat et proprietates technicas idoneas, cum scientia et talento coniunctas, habet. The First One Mensula nocturna ob diligentiam suam honoratur et ad vitae qualitatem emendandam formatum est, ut mundum meliorem reddere iuvet.
Behind the Design
Press Kit
Credits, team members and technical details provided by the designer.
- Unique Properties
- This cabinet blends traditional woodworking with modern flair using reclaimed solid teak and Birch Plywood. Classic joinery and hand-finishing highlight craftsmanship, while slatted designs and contrasting tones add a contemporary edge. The textured slats create optical illusions and shifting shadows as the door moves, infusing playful dynamism and art into the piece. This fusion respects heritage techniques while embracing innovative design, making it both functional and expressive.
- Dimensions & Packaging
- Hight 500mm, Width 400mm, Depth 300mm
- Tags
- Furniture, Reclaimed, wood, plywood, optical illusion, stability, art
- Production Technology
- This furniture piece blends traditional and modern woodworking. Dovetail joints create a sturdy, classic drawer, while marriage joints ensure precise wood connections. Biscuit joinery strengthens the carcass, and teak edge lipping enhances plywood durability and elegance. Hand-routed grooves hold teak slats, creating a striking optical illusion and floating effect.
- Design Challenge
- The creative challenge was to transform the proportions given by the guidelines into something aesthetically acceptable or pleasing to my criteria by the incorporation of optical illusions in the design to distract the eye from the given proportions.
- Research
- Crafting solid wood furniture in coastal Cornwall remains a challenge due to high humidity over 80 in uninsulated 1700s1800s stone cottages and sea breezes, causing wood to swell warp and loosen joints affecting function look and durability. Combining traditional joinery with stable birch plywood and reclaimed teak which resists moisture and salty air ensures furniture stays structurally sound in Cornish coastal climate The piece has been tested in various environments to prove its stability
- Inspiration
- This furniture design project came from my studies. I had to work with set proportions, one drawer and one door. I did not find the guidelines nor proportions appealing, therfore I experimented with optical illusions to make the drawer and door blend, and visually giving the piece a lighter floating perception. I drew inspiration from Carlos Cruz Diez, the clean lines of Japanese design and from the conviction that any object can blend with art and functionality.
- Project Duration
- The project started in February 2024 and ended in July 2024 in the Cornwall College Camborne, Cornwall, UK.
The piece remained in exhibition in the College gallery for a another year when they offered to but it from me. Sadly I had to decline the offer at the time, but might consider donating it to them instead at some point in the future. - Operation Flow
- The operation and interaction of this furniture piece are intentionally subtle, designed to conceal any obvious function while integrating decorative elements as operational handles, The vertical teak slats a whilst a aesthetic feature doubles as handles for both the door and the traditional drawer creating a seamless flow. Opening the door reveals the interior while pulling the drawer engages the same slatted design blending utility with art. This interplay ensures the units purpose remains discreet inviting users to explore its kinetic charm and optical illusions through tactile engagement enhancing both form and function.
- Team Members
- Luisa Gonzalez Mijares
- Image Credits
- All images
Photographer : Remi Cribb
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