Balanco Sofa (Hueyi Icpalli) by Daniel Coutinho is a highly esteemed winner of the very prestigious 2026 Mahuizolli A' Design Award Iztacteocuitlatl in Caltlapechtli Tlachihchihualiztli Competition Category.
IztacteocuitlatlCaltlapechtli· 2026
Balanco Sofa (Hueyi Icpalli)
Client: Daniel Coutinho Estudio
Mahuizolli A' Design Award Iztacteocuitlatl Winner in Caltlapechtli Category
Verified Award Winner
Verify Award Status for #182249The Design
About Balanco Sofa (Hueyi Icpalli)
Balanco ce hueyi icpalli tlen mochihchiuhtoc ica tlapaltin tlen mosentlaliah, tlachihchiuhtli para yancuic calihtic tlamantli. Itoca quihtoznequi in cantilever, in tlanahuatilli tlen tepantli ica motequihuia para amo huel eticmati in tlachihualli. Balanco quicentlalia ce tzintlan tlapachiuhtoc tlen pilcatica, ce icuitlapan tlachihualli ica chicahuac cuahuitl huan ce tepitzin mesa tlen tetl yolic tlen mosentlalihtoc ipan ce tepoztli tlapalehuiliztli. In tlapalehuilizmeh tlen neci san quezqui, ic in hueyi tlamantli neci amo etic. Chicahuac cuahuitl, teocuitlatepoztli, tetl, lino ichcatl, cuetlaxtli huan velvet quichihuah ce tlanenehuiliztli itzalan in tlamantli ietica huan in tlachializtli tlen ahcocui. In ixquich ihueyaca 3500 mm.
The Recognition
About the Mahuizolli A' Design Award Iztacteocuitlatl
Balanco Sofa (Hueyi Icpalli) ca in quicuic in Mahuizolli A' Design Award Iztacteocuitlatl, hueyi tlamahuizoliztli tlen momaca in huel yectli, tlanextic ihuan mahuiztic tlachihualli. In quicuicah Iztacteocuitlatl ca cenca cualli ihuan cenca yancuic tlachihualli in quinextia in tlamatiliztli, toltecayotl ihuan ixtlamatiliztli intlachihuanime. Ca quinequi in Balanco Sofa (Hueyi Icpalli) ca cenca cualli, cenca motequiuhtia ihuan yancuic. Ni dizayno in quicuic Iztacteocuitlatl quihuelitia in toltecayotl, tlamatiliztli, dizayno ihuan teknolohia. Balanco Sofa (Hueyi Icpalli) quiyolchicahua in tlacah, quipaquiltia ihuan quitlamahuiztiltia.
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.
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