Forrest Bank by Giuliano Ricciardi is a highly esteemed winner of the very prestigious 2022 A' Design Award in IJzer in Tuin- en Buitenmeubels Ontwerp Competition Category.

IJzerBuitenmeubels· 2022

Forrest Bank

by Giuliano Ricciardi

Client: d-Lab studio

A' Design Award in IJzer Winner in Buitenmeubels Category

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Verified Award Winner

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The Design

About Forrest Bank

Forrest is een monolithische bank die zijn elegantie baseert op de minimale en strakke vorm en op de uitstekende structuur bedekt met porseleinen steengoed dat de oppervlakken verfraait. Dankzij deze elementen is het mogelijk om elke steen, hout of metaal perfect na te bootsen met behoud van de technische voordelen (duurzaamheid, lichtheid, weerstand, enz.) die dergelijke materialen gewoonlijk niet bieden. De structuur wordt gecompleteerd door de verlichte corten-ondersteuning die bijna onzichtbaar is gemaakt door plasmagesneden texturen en door het led-licht dat onder de projectie is geplaatst en een aangenaam schaduwspel biedt.

The Recognition

About the A' Design Award in IJzer

Forrest Bank is winnaar van de A' Design Award in IJzer, een prestigieuze erkenning die wordt toegekend aan goede ontwerpen die voldoen aan de professionele en industriële eisen die worden verwacht van goed ontworpen creaties. Winnaars in IJzer tonen grote vaardigheid, hoge specialisatie, deskundig inzicht en het creatieve vermogen van hun makers. Forrest Bank wordt verwacht een hooggewaardeerde, bewonderde en gekoesterde creatie te zijn die praktisch en innovatief is. Dit ontwerp dat de A' Design Award in IJzer heeft gewonnen, integreert de beste praktijken uit de sector en heeft bekwame technische kenmerken die verbonden zijn met knowhow en talent. Forrest Bank wordt gerespecteerd om zijn grondigheid en is ontworpen om verbeteringen van de levenskwaliteit te bieden die helpen de wereld een betere plek te maken.

Behind the Design

Press Kit

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

Unique Properties: The Forrest bench is a monolith which bases its elegance to the minimal shape and to its projecting structure covered with porcelain stoneware that embellishes the surfaces. Thanks to these elements, it's possible to perfectly emulate any stone, wooden or metal material while maintaining the technical advantages (durability, lightness, resistance, etc.) that such materials usually do not provide. The structure is completed by the lightened corten support made almost evanescent by plasma cutted pattern.
Dimensions & Packaging: 2400 mm x 800 mm x 400 mm
Tags: bench, gres, corten, led, laser cutting, waterjet, marble, luxury, seat
Production Technology: Plasma cutting for Corten, waterjet cutting for Gres
Design Challenge: The main challenge was to provide lightness to a heavy-looking monolith, by replacing marble with other materials, like the mdf for the support and the porcelain stoneware for coating. These materials, when appropriately cut, would keep the texture continuity and allow to create a storage space. The secondary challenge was to give emphasis to the seat with a corten made support, which the aesthetic and structural features would make the bench complete.
Research: Market research analysis showed that the bench has always perceived as a poor and vaguely crude looks object. It is often made by low quality and easy to find materials. These conditions, reduce elegance and value of a useful object that could enrich an urban landscape, a park, or a museum or residential space. Forrest is the answer to the current need of living in a refined design setting while respecting the sustainable consumption of natural raw materials.
Inspiration: Thinking of a bench, the first picture that comes to mind is probably the “Forrest Gump” movie. The main character, sitting on a bench, deeply describes his life to the different people who exchange seats, while they wait for their buses passing. Bench is a meeting place, it’s a place of exchange, expectation, conversation, meditation and confidence; is not only a place for rest, is a means that brings travellers together, no matter if they know each other.
Project Duration: The project started and ended in September 2019 in Taranto. It obtained the first prize in the "Design With Gres" contest organized by SpazioBianko with Arch. Bernardo D'Ippolito, CEO of KinoWorkshop srl, as jury president and was prototyped to be exhibited at the award ceremony during the Gres & Dress event
Operation Flow: The bearing structure of Forrest consists of a mdf box which could be accessed through a door on the side for storing functions like mats, books, etc. The corten support element has a pure static and decorative function. The associated texture with corten and the specific stoneware crafting and finishing, allow for a better bench definition and adaptation to any stylistic and environmental context. The strip led below has a soft light touch function both for indoor and outdoor settings.
Image Credits: #1 Designer Giuliano Ricciardi, Forrest 01, 2019
#2 Designer Giuliano Ricciardi, Forrest 02, 2019
#3 Designer Giuliano Ricciardi, Forrest 03, 2019
#4 Designer Giuliano Ricciardi, Forrest 04, 2019
#5 Designer Giuliano Ricciardi, Forrest 05, 2019