Whorl Mahinga Matua: Tēpu Kawhe by Adam Bezzina is a highly esteemed winner of the very prestigious 2026 A' Design Award Hiriwa in Hoahoa Taputapu Competition Category.
HiriwaTaputapu· 2026
Whorl Mahinga Matua: Tēpu Kawhe
by Adam Bezzina
Client: Pompous Fox Wood Co.
A' Design Award Hiriwa Winner in Taputapu Category
Verified Award Winner
Verify Award Status for #176140The Design
About Whorl Mahinga Matua: Tēpu Kawhe
Ko Whorl he tēpu kawhe whakairo i hangaia mai i te maire i tikina mai i ngā puna toitū, mā te tikanga whakapiri kōpiri kua whakapakaritia. Ko ōna waewae rere, rite ki te rīpene, ka piki ake i tētahi tihi mārō whakawāwāiti i āhuatia ki roto i ngā jig ritenga me ngā tā koreha. E honohono ana te hoahoa i te tū pakari o te hanganga me te nekehanga taiao, e whakarerekē ana i te rākau mārō hei āhua rere e ora ana te āhua. Mā te whakataurite i te auahatanga, te toi ā-ringa, me te pono o te rawa, ka wero a Whorl i te hoahoa taputapu tuku iho me te whakanui i te ātaahua whakaputa o te rākau māori.
The Recognition
About the A' Design Award Hiriwa
Ko Whorl Mahinga Matua: Tēpu Kawhe te toa o te A' Design Award Hiriwa, he whakaaetanga tino whai mana e hoatu ana ki ngā hoahoa taumata teitei rawa, ātaahua me te whakamīharo. Ko ngā toa Hiriwa he mahi tino kanapa, tino auaha e whakaatu ana i te mātanga, te pūmanawa me te mōhio hōhonu o ā rātou kaihoahoa. E tūmanakohia ana ko Whorl Mahinga Matua: Tēpu Kawhe he mahi whakamīharo, he tauira, he tino ngaio, he auaha hōhonu. Ko tēnei hoahoa i toa i te Hiriwa he hanganga rongonui, whakamīharotia e whai wāhi ana ki te whakawhānui i ngā rohe o te toi, te pūtaiao, te hoahoa me te hangarau. Ko Whorl Mahinga Matua: Tēpu Kawhe he mahi e hae ana te tini, e whakaara ana i ngā hiahia, e kawe mai ana i ngā kare-ā-roto pai, ā, e whakaoho ana i te mīharo.
Behind the Design
Press Kit
Credits, team members and technical details provided by the designer.
- Unique Properties
- This sculptural coffee table is designed and crafted from sustainably sourced ash, combining a finely tapered solid top with complex bent-laminated legs formed in custom vacuum molds. Unlike conventional tables, its flowing, ribbon-like curves blur the line between furniture and art. Precision joinery seamlessly integrates the base, creating strength within an organic, fluid form. Designed as a conversation piece, it showcases technical innovation and the expressive potential of wood.
- Dimensions & Packaging
- Width 1220 mm x Depth 508 mm x Height 356 mm
- Tags
- coffee table, bent furniture, ash furniture, solid wood furniture, wooden table, handmade furniture, organic furniture design, sculptural furniture, wood furniture
- Production Technology
- Constructed from locally sourced ash, the table combines advanced machining with bent lamination. The top was machined to taper from a knife-edge profile to a reinforced center, while the legs were formed from hand-laid veneer strips shaped in custom jigs and vacuum bags. Mortises in the underside receive the laminated legs, achieving seamless structural integration. Finished with eco-friendly hardwax oil to enhance grain and durability.
- Design Challenge
- The greatest challenge was achieving the fluid curves of the bent-laminated legs. Bent wood furniture is rare in North America, with limited reference and precedent, requiring extensive self-directed experimentation. Adam built scale models, tested lamination thickness, and developed custom jigs and vacuum molds to push the material to its limits. Integrating these forms seamlessly into a machine-milled top demanded precision, innovation, and persistence to overcome both technical and creative obstacles.
- Research
- This project centered on material and form research, exploring methods of bending wood and studying organic shapes. The objective was to showcase the untapped potential of bent wood furniture in North America. Using a scale model, veneer experiments, precision machining, and custom vacuum jigs, these tests refined lamination thickness and showed the limitations when bending wood. Conducted by the designer with support in fabrication, the research revealed new structural and aesthetic possibilities, inspiring future clients and broadening design practice.
- Inspiration
- The inspiration for this table came from a desire to create an organic form guided by the natural possibilities of wood rather than digital modeling. By exploring the limits of bent lamination, the design transforms rigid ash into fluid, ribbon-like curves. The motivation was to craft a functional coffee table that feels sculptural, inviting curiosity and awe at how traditional materials can be reimagined through modern techniques.
- Project Duration
- Adam began imagining and designing the piece in the Spring of 2024, in Barrie, Ontario, Canada. The finished piece was complete in the Fall of 2024 and was exhibited at the Toronto Interior Design Show in January 2025.
- Operation Flow
- Whorl is designed to be lived with and admired. Its smooth curves invite touch, while the solid ash top provides a practical surface scaled for smaller spaces. Though sculptural in form, it functions seamlessly as a coffee table, offering stability and balance in everyday use. The interaction lies in its presence: a functional object that sparks conversation and wonder by transforming wood into a fluid, unexpected shape.
- Image Credits
- Image #1: Photographer Ethicious.com, Whorl, 2025
Image #2: Photographer Ethicious.com, Whorl, 2025
Image #3: Photographer Ethicious.com, Whorl, 2025
Image #4: Photographer Ethicious.com, Whorl, 2025
Image #5: Photographer Ethicious.com, Whorl, 2025
Video Credits: Videographer: Ethicious.com, Whorl, 2025
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