Balanco Sufan by Daniel Coutinho is a highly esteemed winner of the very prestigious 2026 Premju A' Design Award tal-Fidda in Disinn tal-Għamara Competition Category.

FiddaGħamara· 2026

Balanco Sufan

by Daniel Coutinho

Client: Daniel Coutinho Estudio

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

19,203

Verified Award Winner

Verify Award Status for #182249

Visit Site View at A' Design Award Press Release Award Badge

Colors

The Design

About Balanco Sufan

Balanco huwa sufan modulari ddisinjat għal interni kontemporanji. L-isem jirreferi għall-kantilever, il-prinċipju strutturali użat biex jitnaqqas il-piż perċepit tal-biċċa. Balanco jgħaqqad bażi mħaxxna sospiża, dahar tal-injam solidu u mejda tal-ġenb integrata tal-ġebel naturali fuq appoġġ tal-metall. Il-punti ta' appoġġ viżibbli huma mnaqqsa għall-minimu, sabiex il-volum kbir jidher ħafif. L-injam solidu, ir-ram isfar, il-ġebel, l-għażel, il-ġilda u l-bellus joħolqu kuntrast bejn id-densità tal-materjal u l-ħeffa viżwali. It-tul totali huwa ta' 3500 mm.

The Recognition

About the Premju A' Design Award tal-Fidda

Balanco Sufan 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 Balanco Sufan 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. Balanco Sufan 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: 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.