Flowerblock Pluteus by Mizuki Chinen is a highly esteemed winner of the very prestigious 2026 Praemium A' Design Award Argenteum in Designatio Supellectilis Competition Category.
ArgentumSupellex· 2026
Flowerblock Pluteus
Client: Chinen Mizuki
Praemium A' Design Award Argenteum Winner in Supellex Category
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- Verified Award Winner
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The Design
About Flowerblock Pluteus
Flowerblock est pluteus ita excogitatus ut simul supellex ad res condendas et saeptum cubiculi dividens inserviat. Consilium eius ex "flower blocks" inspiratur, unitatibus e caemento factis cum formis geometricis perforatis, quae in architectura Okinavensi adhibentur, ut solem vehementem temperent et simul aerem transire sinant. Intervalla inter arculas plutei speciem levem et apertam praebent. Virgae ex chalybe immaculato arculas inter se conectunt ad stabilitatem, lignum solidum fraxini albae puncta onera sustinentia firmat, et lignum tabulatum pondus totius operis minuit. Pluteus tabula postica caret, quare vel ad parietem vel in medio cubiculo collocari potest.
The Recognition
About the Praemium A' Design Award Argenteum
Flowerblock Pluteus victor est Praemii A' Design Award Argenteum, honoris eximie amplissimi formis summi generis, pulchris et conspicuis dati. Victores Argenti opera valde splendida et creandi ingenio praedita sunt, quae praestantem peritiam, talentum et acumen auctorum suorum ostendunt. Exspectatur Flowerblock Pluteus opus mirabile, exemplare, valde professionale et penitus novum fore. Haec forma Argento victa inventum notabile et admiratum est, quod ad fines artis, scientiae, formandi rationis et technologiae promovendos confert. Flowerblock Pluteus creatio est, quam multi invident, quae cupiditates excitat, sensus bonos affert et admirationem miraculumque movet.
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.
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