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Balanco Dīvāns by Daniel Coutinho

Balanco Dīvāns by Daniel Coutinho is a highly esteemed winner of the very prestigious 2026 Sudraba balva A' Design Award in Mēbeļu dizains Competition Category.


SudrabaMēbeles· 2026

Balanco Dīvāns

by Daniel Coutinho

Client: Daniel Coutinho Estudio

Sudraba balva A' Design Award Winner in Mēbeles Category

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The Design

About Balanco Dīvāns

Balanco ir modulārs dīvāns, kas radīts mūsdienīgiem interjeriem. Nosaukums atsaucas uz konsoli — konstruktīvo principu, kas izmantots, lai samazinātu izstrādājuma vizuālo smagumu. Balanco apvieno piekārtu polsterētu pamatni, masīvkoka atzveltni un integrētu dabīgā akmens sānu galdiņu uz metāla balsta. Redzamie balsta punkti ir samazināti līdz minimumam, tāpēc lielais apjoms šķiet viegls. Masīvkoks, misiņš, akmens, lins, āda un samts rada kontrastu starp materiālu blīvumu un vizuālo vieglumu. Kopējais garums ir 3500 mm.

The Recognition

About the Sudraba balva A' Design Award

Balanco Dīvāns ir Sudraba balvas A' Design Award ieguvējs, ārkārtīgi prestiža atzinība, ko piešķir augstākās klases, krāšņiem un iespaidīgiem dizainiem. Sudraba ieguvēji ir ārkārtīgi spožas un ļoti radošas izpausmes, kas parāda to dizaineru izcilo kompetenci, talantu un asredzību. Sagaidāms, ka Balanco Dīvāns būs lielisks, paraugdarbs, ļoti profesionāls un dziļi inovatīvs. Šis ar Sudraba balvu apbalvotais dizains ir ievērojams, apbrīnots izgudrojums, kas palīdz paplašināt mākslas, zinātnes, dizaina un tehnoloģiju robežas. Balanco Dīvāns ir radījums, kam daudzi apskauž, kas modina vēlmes, rada pozitīvas izjūtas un raisa izbrīnu un apbrīnu.

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.

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