Folding Ladu Hamp'ara by Max Niemiec is a highly esteemed winner of the very prestigious 2026 A' Design Award Fierru Premiu in Tiyarina Kamay Competition Category.

FierruTiyarina· 2026

Folding Ladu Hamp'ara

by Max Niemiec

Client: Paul Maxwell

A' Design Award Fierru Premiu Winner in Tiyarina Category

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Verified Award Winner

Verify Award Status for #180622

View at A' Design Award Press Release Award Badge

Colors

The Design

About Folding Ladu Hamp'ara

Folding nisqaqa huk ladu hamp'aram, chaymantapas huk geometrico sculptura hinam, tukuy ladomanta qhawanapaq ruwasqa. Kay hamp'araqa huk sapalla laminasqa sinchi k'ullu p'alqamanta ruwasqam, tawa t'aqaman kuchusqa hinaspa yapamanta k'uchu ñañu hinaspa k'uchu kicharisqa angulokunapi hukllachasqa, chayraykum rikch'ayninqa patarasqa hina rikukun. Suni ñañuyachisqa chamfer nisqakunaqa faceta patakunata sumaqchan. Huñunapaqmi dowel nisqa hukllachaykuna, k'ullu llamk'ana jigs nisqakuna hinaspa sapaq clamping nisqa ñit'iy ruwaykuna apaykachakun. Chay p'alqaqa kimsa kutim patarasqa, hinaspa sapa tawa ladokunaqa huk niray qhawayta rikuchin. Sapa tupuninmi 483 mm kachkan.

The Recognition

About the A' Design Award Fierru Premiu

Folding Ladu Hamp'ara A' Design Award Fierru Premiu mishak kan, yupaychay, kayta ruray yachak shinallatak industriapak mañaykunata paktachik alli diseñukunaman kun. Fierru mishak kashkakunaka hatun ruray ushayta, hanak yachayta, yachak yuyayta shinallatak ruray kamachiyta rikuchinku. Folding Ladu Hamp'ara sinchi yupaychashka, kuyashka shinallatak kuyashka ruray, ruranapak alli shinallatak mushuk yuyaypi kanata munanku. Kay Fierru Premiu japishka diseñuka industriapak ashtawan alli ruraykunata tantachin shinallatak yachaywan shinallatak ushaywan tantashka tekniku ushayta charin. Sinchi ruraymanta Folding Ladu Hamp'ara yupaychashka kan shinallatak kawsayta alliyachik ruraykunata kuypak ruray kan, pachata ashtawan alli kachun ruran.

Behind the Design

Press Kit

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

Unique Properties: This side table design is a geometric sculpture meant to be enjoyed from all sides. It is made from one laminated slab, cut and joined back together on acute and obtuse angles, to give the impression that it has been folded into a table-like form.
Dimensions & Packaging: Width 483 mm x Depth 483 mm x Height 483 mm
Tags: folding, table, geometric, sculptural, side table, origami, taper, facet
Production Technology: The first step in the process is to make a laminated hardwood slab. Then the slab is cut into four pieces. The use of woodworking jigs and fixtures is necessary to cut the unusual angles and tapered chamfers. Dowel-type joinery and special clamping methods are used for the final assembly
Design Challenge: In minimalist designs a recurring challenge is finding the sweet spot between simplicity and complexity. Based on the initial design concept it was clear that the base and top of the table needed to be parallel planes. Two folds would have been the minimum to accomplish this but would have also been too simple to be interesting. Four folds would have been too complex and less structurally sound. The conclusion that this design required the slab to be folded three times provided the constraints and scope for the remainder of the design work.
Research: For this design the portion of the effort that was mathematical was far grater than in most other design projects. Although at first sight the folding table may appear elegantly simple, transforming this concept into reality was a highly complex trigonometric challenge. Each adjustment to the aesthetics required a long series of recalculations
Inspiration: The objective in this design was to create something that is both simple and radically new. The design process began with experiments folding a rectangular strip of paper. After transitioning from working with the flat plane of the paper to the thick wooden slab, the incorporation of the long tapered chamfers became aesthetically necessary - one of the most delightful elements of the design.
Project Duration: February 2025 - September 2025
Operation Flow: The folding table is best suited for use as a side table in an open space that provides as many unobstructed views as possible. Since it appears different from each of it's four sides, the front of the table depends on the preference of the viewer.
Patents: Application No. 30/046,172
Filed: February 3, 2026
Team Members: Max Niemiec
Image Credits: Brian Shumway