Opus Uni Mensa Lateralis Uni a designatore Xubai Li est victor maxime honoratus praemii praestigiosissimi 2026 Praemium A' Design Award Aeneum in Categoria Certaminis Designatio Supellectilis.
AesSupellex· 2026
Uni Mensa Lateralis Uni
a Xubai Li
Cliens: Xubai Li
Victor praemii Praemium A' Design Award Aeneum in Categoria Supellex
Victor Praemii Verificatus
Verifica Statum Praemii pro #182518Designum
De Uni Mensa Lateralis Uni
Uni superficies internas externasque coniungit ut formas insolitas creet. Ab arte origami spatioque negativo inspiratus, Xubai Li eam designavit lamellam planam aluminii in volumen tribus dimensionibus formando. A exemplaribus sexta decima parte ad prototypa magnitudinis plenae ampliata, stabilitatem per geometriam plicis innixam consequitur. Ambitibus urbanis destinata, Uni et tamquam mensa et tamquam res libere stans fungitur, spatium negativum impeditum et mobilitatem vitae studii hodiernae praebens, dum speciem modestam servat.
Agnitio
De Praemium A' Design Award Aeneum
Uni Mensa Lateralis Uni victor est Praemii A' Design Award Aeneum, honoris multum aestimati formis egregiis, creandi ingenio, sollertia et acumine insignibus dati. Victores Aenei opera perita et mire creandi sunt, quae experientiam, imaginationem et solertiam auctorum suorum confirmant. Exspectatur Uni Mensa Lateralis Uni rem multum aestimatam, admiratam et carissimam, notabiliter professionalem et novam fore. Haec forma Aeneo victa optimas consuetudines artis, scientiae, formandi rationis et technologiae amplectitur et in cura minutiarum excellit. Uni Mensa Lateralis Uni necessitates egregie explet, cupiditates tangit, sensus capit et curiositatem allicit.
Post Designum
Fasciculus Nuntii
Merita, sodales gregis et singula technica a designatore praebita.
- Proprietates Singulares
- Uni is a singular, continuous form that transmutes a flat aluminum sheet into a sophisticated, freestanding volume. By blurring the line between interior and exterior, the design achieves a structural duality where the tabletop and base exist as one uninterrupted gesture. Its innovation lies in this seamless geometry, offering a sculptural aesthetic that redefines traditional furniture assembly through minimalist rationale. This piece was designed by Xubai Li and manufactured by Bestcase in New York, United States, in a collaboration program, led by Rhode Island School of Design.
- Dimensiones et Involucrum
- 533 mm × 508 mm × 457 mm
- Notulae
- industrial decor, aluminum furniture, minimalist design, side table, sheet metal, sculptural furniture, origami
- Technologia Productionis
- Uni is made with 5052 Aluminum sheet in .25-inch thickness. The process can be divided into three simple stages: 1. Roller Bending and Brake Press Bending 2. Edge Welding 3. Sand and Standard Waxed Finish to preserve the original aesthetic of the raw material.
- Provocatio Designandi
- The main challenge was finding a form that elegantly embodies the essence of origami while adapting to harsh sheet metal processes. Every additional pressed piece introduced unwanted aesthetic noise. To solve this, we minimized assembly to a singular, continuous form. We also bypassed standard industry powder coating; instead, a simple waxed finish preserved the aluminum's subtle shine, reducing maintenance while celebrating the material's raw, industrial elegance.
- Investigatio
- The research for Uni was a hybrid of theoretical exploration and material investigation. The primary objective was to subvert traditional expectations of furniture by blurring the boundaries between interior and exterior spaces. The study sought to translate the philosophical principles of origami—transforming a flat, meaningless plane into a meaningful 3D volume—into a functional furniture silhouette.
The methodology employed a "form-from-flatness" approach, utilizing comparative analysis of contemporary sheet metal furniture and traditional origami techniques. Data collection included a literature review of origami philosophy and an analysis of Asian aesthetic principles regarding "negative space" as a poetic element. Additionally, market data from furniture e-commerce platforms was analyzed to identify consumer trends in urban high-density housing.
Technical feasibility was established through consultations with manufacturing specialists to define production constraints. Physical experimentation involved a rigorous iterative prototyping process:
Initial Phase: One-sixteenth and one-quarter scale models were used to test folding geometry.
Testing Phase: Full-scale models were constructed from plastic and strength-enhanced corrugated boards (0.25-inch thickness) to simulate final material behavior.
Review Phase: Interviews with design professionals were conducted to evaluate the aesthetic impact and functional utility of the prototypes.
The research revealed a market gap for pieces that balance "visual openness" with sculptural presence. A key insight was that studio and condo dwellers increasingly prioritize furniture that provides "breathing room" through negative space without sacrificing artistic permanence. Uni impacts the design field by offering a dual-purpose solution: a minimalist utility surface and a monumental sculpture. By utilizing blank space as a functional element, the design addresses the need for openness in small architectural footprints. - Inspiratio
- Inspired by origami, Uni explores the transformation of a two-dimensional aluminum plane into a self-supporting, multi-dimensional volume. The design utilizes fundamental roller bending techniques to transform a single sheet into a sophisticated, freestanding object. By eliminating traditional joinery in favor of a singular, continuous gesture, Uni achieves structural integrity.
- Duratio Operis
- The project started its design process in February 2024 in Providence, Rhode Island, United States, and finished its first edition for manufacturing in May 2025 in New York, United States, and was first exhibited in International Contemporary Furniture Fair 2025 in New York City, United States, and the Convention Center in the same month, in Rhode Island, United States.
- Cursus Operationis
- Uni isn't just a table; it's functional art. You interact with it by placing items on its surface or simply admiring it. As you walk around the room, its folded metal design visually transforms from a solid block into an airy, open sculpture. It performs better than standard furniture because it serves dual purposes: it provides a handy resting spot for everyday objects while elevating your space as a beautiful, free-floating centerpiece that doesn't need to be hidden away.
- Agnitiones Imaginum
- Image #1: Photographer Jonah Takagi, Uni, 2025.
Image #2: Creator Xubai Li, Uni, 2025.
Image #3: Creator Xubai Li, Uni, 2025.
Image #4: Creator Xubai Li, Uni, 2025.
Image #5: Creator Xubai Li, Uni, 2025.
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