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Gera Tlapechtli ipan motlalia by Alessandra Delgado

Gera Tlapechtli ipan motlalia by Alessandra Delgado is a highly esteemed winner of the very prestigious 2026 Mahuizolli A' Design Award Cozticteocuitlatl in Caltlapechtli Tlachihchihualiztli Competition Category.


CozticteocuitlatlCaltlapechtli· 2026

Gera Tlapechtli ipan motlalia

by Alessandra Delgado

Client: Alessandra Delgado Design

Mahuizolli A' Design Award Cozticteocuitlatl Winner in Caltlapechtli Category

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The Design

About Gera Tlapechtli ipan motlalia

Gera ce cuahuitl tlachihualli tlen omochiuh ica Brazil itlamodernizado tlachihualli ihuan ica yancuic tlanahuatilli tlen onca ipan itequiuh Geraldo de Barros. Omochiuh ica certificado Brazil ijequitiba cuahuitl ihuan yancuic ehuatl, ahmo quipia tepoztli partes nion tepoztlatzacualoni tlen mottaz. Tlatlapacholli tlanechicoliztli quipiya in tlachializtli iuhquinemiliztli, in ehuatl tlatilanaltin quinanquiliah in tonacayo. Ica tlamantli temohualiztli, cualli tlatemoliztli, ihuan tlanahuatilli melahuacayotl, in tequitl quitenehua ce tlatemoliztli ipan ergonomía ihuan cualli mocahualiztli.

The Recognition

About the Mahuizolli A' Design Award Cozticteocuitlatl

Gera Tlapechtli ipan motlalia ca in quicuic in Mahuizolli A' Design Award Cozticteocuitlatl, huel mahuiztic tlamahuizoliztli tlen momaca in achtopa, huel cualli ihuan mahuiztic tlachihualli. In quicuicah Cozticteocuitlatl ca cenca yancuic, tlachiyani ihuan tlanextic tlachihualli in quinextia in tlamatiliztli ihuan toltecayotl. Ca quinequi in Gera Tlapechtli ipan motlalia quitlalizque yancuic tlamantli ihuan quimacazque tlazohtli. Ni dizayno in quicuic Cozticteocuitlatl ca mahuiztic tlamantli in quihuelitia in toltecayotl, tlamatiliztli, dizayno ihuan teknolohia. Gera Tlapechtli ipan motlalia quiyolchicahua ihuan quipaquiltia in tlacah.

Behind the Design

Press Kit

Credits, team members and technical details provided by the designer.

Unique Properties
Gera Chair redefines solid wood seating through structural minimization. Developed exclusively with wood and leather as load-bearing systems, it eliminates metal reinforcement and visible fasteners. The tensioned leather seat operates as a structural membrane, while concealed joinery ensures load transfer and rigidity. Weighing 4 kg, the chair achieves resistance through geometry and material behavior rather than mechanical devices.
Dimensions & Packaging
Dimensions W 525 mm x D 570 mm x H 830 mm.
Weight 4.0 kg.

The geometry was defined through ergonomic studies to ensure lumbar support and seating stability. The curved back rail follows the natural contour of the spine, while the structural proportions allow high resistance with reduced mass. The low overall weight facilitates transport, handling and spatial flexibility without compromising durability.
Tags
Chair, Gera Chair, Wood, Dinning Chair, Wooden Chair, Sustainable materials
Production Technology
The chair was developed through structural reduction and load optimization studies. Certified Brazilian jequitiba was selected for its favorable density to weight ratio, fiber stability and bending resistance, allowing minimized cross sections without metal reinforcement. Mortise and tenon joints ensure axial load transfer and torsional rigidity. The seat, composed of two bonded natural leather layers, operates as a tensioned membrane fixed beneath the frame, distributing loads dynamically while maintaining a total mass of 4 kg.
Design Challenge
The primary challenge was achieving structural integrity through material behavior rather than reinforcement. Identifying a wood capable of sustaining reduced sections without compromising resistance led to the selection of certified jequitiba. Designing a suspended leather seat functioning as a structural membrane required extensive prototyping and geometric refinement. Achieving a 4 kg solid wood chair demanded continuous structural recalibration and concealed joinery precision.
Research
This is applied design research focused on structural efficiency through material minimization. The objective was to develop a lightweight, durable chair using only wood and leather as load-bearing systems. Methodology included iterative prototyping, ergonomic validation and material performance testing. Results demonstrate that geometry and tensioned leather behavior can replace mechanical components, achieving structural stability at 4 kg. The research advances sustainable, repairable furniture production through reduction-based design logic.
Inspiration
Gera Chair originates from an investigation into structural reduction in Brazilian modernism, particularly the constructive clarity found in the work of Geraldo de Barros. The project explores how geometry, proportion and material logic can generate resistance and comfort without auxiliary mechanisms. Rather than referencing form, the design references structural intelligence, translating modernist principles into a contemporary reduction-based seating system.
Project Duration
The project started in September 2024 in Sao Paulo, Brazil. It was presented as a prototype at Salone del Mobile in Milan in April 2025. Industrial development and final production adjustments were completed in May 2026 in Uba, Brazil.
Operation Flow
Gera Chair offers intuitive interaction. Weighing only 4 kg, it can be easily moved and repositioned. As the user sits, the leather gently adapts to body weight, enhancing comfort without adjustments or mechanisms. The curved wooden structure supports the back naturally. Comfort is achieved through the behavior of materials and form rather than mechanical systems, resulting in a simple and immediate user experience.
Patents
pendind patent number
Image Credits
Photografer Alessandra Delgado Design, 2025

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