Booklover Imbonerahamwe ngiro nyinshi yo ku ruhande rw'igitanda by Hyunchul Shim

Booklover Imbonerahamwe ngiro nyinshi yo ku ruhande rw'igitanda by Hyunchul Shim is a highly esteemed winner of the very prestigious 2026 Igihembo cya A' Design Award cya Buronze in Igishushanyo cy'Imitako Competition Category.

BuronzeImitako· 2026

Booklover Imbonerahamwe ngiro nyinshi yo ku ruhande rw'igitanda

by Hyunchul Shim

Client: Alex Studio

Igihembo cya A' Design Award cya Buronze Winner in Imitako Category

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The Design

About Booklover Imbonerahamwe ngiro nyinshi yo ku ruhande rw'igitanda

Booklover ni ameza ashyirwa ku ruhande rw'igitanda yashyiriweho abakunda gusoma mbere yo kuryama. Ashingiye ku miterere ifunguye y'ibikoresho gakondo by'Abakoreya, anononsora ikoreshwa ryayo binyuze ku biranga byiza bihuye n'imikoreshereze ya none. Itara ryubatswe mu gace ko hejuru ritanga uburyo bwo guhindura urumuri n'ubushyuhe bw'amabara ku bwo gusoma no kuruhuka, mu gihe ahamanikwa ibitabo hakozwe mu muringa hepfo y'itara haha uburyo ibitabo bishyirwaho byoroshye binakora nk'akamenyetso ko gusoma. Iyi mishushanyirize ituma abayikoresha bahura n'ubwiza buciye bugufi bwa gakondo y'Abakoreya mu buzima bwa buri munsi, aho gusoma, gutekereza no kuruhuka bitembera neza hamwe.

The Recognition

About the Igihembo cya A' Design Award cya Buronze

Booklover Imbonerahamwe ngiro nyinshi yo ku ruhande rw'igitanda ni uwegukanye Igihembo cya A' Design Award cya Buronze, ishimwe ry'agaciro gakomeye ritangwa ku bishushanyo by'indashyikirwa birangwa no guhanga, ubwenge n'ubushishozi. Abegukanye Buronze ni ibihangano bifite ubuhanga bwinshi kandi bihanga cyane, bishimangira uburambe, ubwenge n'ubushobozi bw'ababihanze. Booklover Imbonerahamwe ngiro nyinshi yo ku ruhande rw'igitanda biteganyijwe ko izaba ikintu cyubahwa, gishimwa kandi gikundwa, gifite ubunyamwuga n'udushya. Iki gishushanyo cyegukanye Buronze gikoresha uburyo bwiza mu buhanzi, ubumenyi, ubushushanyo n'ikoranabuhanga kandi kirarenze mu gutaha ku tuntu duto. Booklover Imbonerahamwe ngiro nyinshi yo ku ruhande rw'igitanda ishimisha ibyo dukeneye, ikora ku byifuzo byacu, itwara amarangamutima yacu kandi ikurura amatsiko yacu.

Behind the Design

Press Kit

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

Unique Properties: Booklover is designed for those who enjoy reading before sleep, reinterpreting the open structure of traditional Korean furniture to suit their lifestyle and sensibilities. It maintains the simplicity of traditional construction while harmoniously combining wood and metal to achieve both aesthetic and functional balance. The brass hanger embodies practicality within its restrained form, and the smart lighting allows adjustment of brightness and color temperature, creating an ideal environment for both reading and relaxation.
Dimensions & Packaging: Dimensions
Width 298 mm x Depth 298 mm x Height 990 mm
Materials
Solid walnut wood, brass, brown glass, polycarbonate, linen
Techniques
Traditional joinery ensures structural strength and fine details. The modular lighting system allows easy maintenance and bulb replacement.
Finishing
Plant-based hardwax oil was applied three times inside before assembly and three times outside after, enhancing wood texture while improving durability and moisture resistance.
Tags: bedside table, mood light, Korean furniture, multifunctional table
Production Technology: This table is entirely handcrafted. Its main structure is built using traditional joinery techniques with solid walnut, while brass is used for the bookend, book hanger, and drawer handles to create a subtle contrast and provide refined visual accents against the dark wood. The lighting element is designed with sustainability in mind, using a modular structure for easy maintenance. The lampshade is made of polycarbonate covered with linen, allowing the light to diffuse softly and warmly.
Design Challenge: By integrating lighting and a book hanger into an open structure, this design offers a warm, practical space for both reading and relaxation. A key challenge was maintaining the furniture overall proportions while accommodating a compact lighting area without compromising usability or sustainability. To solve this, an accessible G9 LED bulb was chosen, and a modular socket holder was custom designed to enable easy replacement within the limited space.
Research: This design reinterprets the structural strengths of traditional Korean furniture into a form suited for book lovers. By reflecting on daily living patterns, it reimagines traditional elements to fit contemporary needs, making them more practical and accessible. Users can feel the poetic beauty of tradition and gain a sense of comfort in their space. The use of wood and metal in balance symbolizes the intention to connect past and present.
Inspiration: This design is inspired by the traditional Korean sabangtakja, an open-frame table with all sides exposed. While preserving its original form, the piece has been reinterpreted with a modern sensibility. The primary inspiration behind the design lies in a deep respect for Korean aesthetics rooted in the values of emptiness, balance, and line and in the desire to carry forward a contemplative way of life shaped by traditional lifestyle.
Project Duration: The project started with the design phase at Alex Studio in Korea in January 2023 and was completed in May 2023.
Operation Flow: The upper lighting unit connects to a smartphone via Wi-Fi, allowing users to freely adjust brightness and choose between cool white, neutral, and warm white color temperatures. A touch switch on the back enables intuitive power control even without a smartphone. Below the light, a book hanger serves both as a bookmark and a display for current reads. Underneath, shelves and a drawer are arranged to efficiently store books, reading accessories, and bedroom essentials.
Image Credits: Image #1: Photographer Jeon Jaekyung, Perspective View, 2025.
Image #2: Photographer Jeon Jaekyung, Side View Detail, 2025.
Image #3: Photographer Jeon Jaekyung, Book Shelf Detail, 2025.
Image #4: Photographer Jeon Jaekyung, Drawer Detail, 2025.
Image #5: Photographer Jeon Jaekyung, Actual Usage Example Mood Light On, 2025.