Flowerblock Xkaffa by Mizuki Chinen is a highly esteemed winner of the very prestigious 2026 Premju A' Design Award tal-Fidda in Disinn tal-Għamara Competition Category.

FiddaGħamara· 2026

Flowerblock Xkaffa

by Mizuki Chinen

Client: Chinen Mizuki

Premju A' Design Award tal-Fidda Winner in Għamara Category

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Verified Award Winner
Verify Award Status for #180361

View at A' Design Award Press Release Award Badge

Colors

The Design

About Flowerblock Xkaffa

Flowerblock hija xkaffa ddisinjata biex isservi kemm bħala għamara għall-ħażna kif ukoll bħala diviżur tal-kamra. Id-disinn huwa ispirat mill-flower blocks, unitajiet tal-konkrit b'disinni ġeometriċi mtaqqbin użati fl-arkitettura ta' Okinawa, li jiffiltraw id-dawl qawwi tax-xemx filwaqt li jħallu l-arja tgħaddi. Spazji bejn il-kaxxi jagħtu lix-xkaffa dehra ħafifa u miftuħa. Vireg tal-azzar inossidabbli jgħaqqdu l-kaxxi għall-istabbiltà, injam solidu tal-fraxxnu abjad isostni l-punti li jġorru t-tagħbija, u l-plajwud inaqqas il-piż totali. Ix-xkaffa m'għandhiex pannell ta' wara, għalhekk tista' titqiegħed mal-ħajt jew fin-nofs ta' kamra.

The Recognition

About the Premju A' Design Award tal-Fidda

Flowerblock Xkaffa huwa rebbieħ tal-Premju A' Design Award tal-Fidda, rikonoxximent prestiġjuż straordinarjament mogħti lil disinji tal-ogħla livell, sbieħ u impressjonanti. Ir-rebbieħa tal-Fidda huma xogħlijiet brillanti ħafna u kreattivi ħafna li juru l-għarfien espert, it-talent u l-aċċuratezza tad-disinjaturi tagħhom. Huwa mistenni li Flowerblock Xkaffa ikun xogħol mill-isbaħ, eżemplari, professjonali ħafna u innovattiv bil-fond. Dan id-disinn rebbieħ tal-Fidda huwa invenzjoni notevoli u mammirata li tikkontribwixxi biex jitwessgħu l-fruntieri tal-arti, ix-xjenza, id-disinn u t-teknoloġija. Flowerblock Xkaffa huwa ħolqien li ħafna jinvidjawh, li jqajjem ix-xewqat, iġib sentimenti pożittivi u joħloq tgħaġġib u mistagħġib.

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.