Flowerblock Rak by Mizuki Chinen is a highly esteemed winner of the very prestigious 2026 A' Design Award Perak in Desain Parabot Competition Category.

PerakParabot· 2026

Flowerblock Rak

by Mizuki Chinen

Client: Chinen Mizuki

A' Design Award Perak Winner in Parabot Category

17,412
Verified Award Winner
Verify Award Status for #180361

View at A' Design Award Press Release Award Badge

Colors

The Design

About Flowerblock Rak

Flowerblock adolah rak nan dirancang untuak bafungsi sabagai parabot panyimpanan sakaligus pambateh ruangan. Rancangan ko tainspirasi dari flower block, yaitu unit beton jo pola balubang geometris nan dipakai dalam arsitektur Okinawa, nan manyariang cahayo matoari nan kuek sambia mambiakan udaro lalu. Sela-sela antaro kotak-kotak mambuek rak ko tampak ringan jo tabukak. Batang baja tahan karek manyambuangkan kotak-kotak tu supayo kokoh, kayu white ash padek manyokong titiak-titiak panahan beban, sarato kayu lapih mangurangi barek kasadonyo. Rak ko indak punyo panel balakang, jadi bisa dilatakkan marapek ka dindiang atau di tangah ruangan.

The Recognition

About the A' Design Award Perak

Flowerblock Rak adolah pamenang A' Design Award Perak, sabuah pangakuan nan luar biaso bapresti nan dibarikan ka rancangan tingkaik tatinggi, elok jo mangesankan. Pamenang Perak adolah karya nan sangaik cemerlang jo sangaik kreatif nan mamparlihatkan kapakaran, bakaik jo katajaman pikiran parancangnyo. Flowerblock Rak dipaokan manjadi karya nan mangaguikan, contoh tauladan, sangaik profesional jo inovatif sacaro dalam. Rancangan nan manang Perak iko adolah panemuan nan nampak jo dikagumi nan mambari sumbangan untuak maluaskan batas seni, ilimu, rancangan jo teknologi. Flowerblock Rak adolah ciptaan nan dicamburui banyak urang, nan mambangkikkan karinduan, mambaok parasaan positif jo malahiakan karagumon jo kakaguman.

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.