Whorl Imeza ya Kawa by Adam Bezzina is a highly esteemed winner of the very prestigious 2026 Igihembo cya A' Design Award cya Ifeza in Igishushanyo cy'Imitako Competition Category.

IfezaImitako· 2026

Whorl Imeza ya Kawa

by Adam Bezzina

Client: Pompous Fox Wood Co.

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

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Verified Award Winner

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Colors

The Design

About Whorl Imeza ya Kawa

Whorl ni imeza ya kawa y'icyirembe yakozwe mu mbaho z'umuti witwa ash zaturutse mu buryo burambye, zikoreshejwe ubuhanga buhanitse bwo guhuza no kugoramika imbaho. Amaguru yayo asa n'imigozi itemba azamuka aturuka ku gasonga gakomeye gakorewe mu byuma bidasanzwe no mu mashini zikoresha umwuka. Iyi gakondo ihuza ubukomeye bw'imiterere n'imyitozo isanzwe, ihindura ibiti bikomeye mu buryo butemba busa n'ubuzima. Ihuza udushya, ubuhanga bw'ubukorikori, n'ukuri kw'ibikoresho, Whorl irasaba imyumvire isanzwe yo gukora ibikoresho byo mu nzu mu gihe yubaha ubwiza nyabwo bw'ibiti kamere.

The Recognition

About the Igihembo cya A' Design Award cya Ifeza

Whorl Imeza ya Kawa ni uwegukanye Igihembo cya A' Design Award cya Ifeza, ishimwe ridasanzwe ry'agaciro gakomeye ritangwa ku bishushanyo byo ku rwego rwo hejuru, byiza kandi bikora ku mutima. Abegukanye Ifeza ni ibihangano by'ubuhanga bukomeye kandi bifite guhanga kwinshi, bigaragaza ubuhanga bwimbitse, impano n'ubushishozi bw'ababihanze. Whorl Imeza ya Kawa biteganyijwe ko izaba igihangano cy'icyitegererezo, gifite ubunyamwuga bukomeye n'udushya twimbitse. Iki gishushanyo cyegukanye Ifeza ni igihangano kizwi kandi gishimwa, gifasha kugura imbibi z'ubuhanzi, ubumenyi, ubushushanyo n'ikoranabuhanga. Whorl Imeza ya Kawa ni igihangano benshi bifuza, gikangura ibyifuzo, gitanga amarangamutima meza kandi gitera igitangaza.

Behind the Design

Press Kit

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

Unique Properties: This sculptural coffee table is designed and crafted from sustainably sourced ash, combining a finely tapered solid top with complex bent-laminated legs formed in custom vacuum molds. Unlike conventional tables, its flowing, ribbon-like curves blur the line between furniture and art. Precision joinery seamlessly integrates the base, creating strength within an organic, fluid form. Designed as a conversation piece, it showcases technical innovation and the expressive potential of wood.
Dimensions & Packaging: Width 1220 mm x Depth 508 mm x Height 356 mm
Tags: coffee table, bent furniture, ash furniture, solid wood furniture, wooden table, handmade furniture, organic furniture design, sculptural furniture, wood furniture
Production Technology: Constructed from locally sourced ash, the table combines advanced machining with bent lamination. The top was machined to taper from a knife-edge profile to a reinforced center, while the legs were formed from hand-laid veneer strips shaped in custom jigs and vacuum bags. Mortises in the underside receive the laminated legs, achieving seamless structural integration. Finished with eco-friendly hardwax oil to enhance grain and durability.
Design Challenge: The greatest challenge was achieving the fluid curves of the bent-laminated legs. Bent wood furniture is rare in North America, with limited reference and precedent, requiring extensive self-directed experimentation. Adam built scale models, tested lamination thickness, and developed custom jigs and vacuum molds to push the material to its limits. Integrating these forms seamlessly into a machine-milled top demanded precision, innovation, and persistence to overcome both technical and creative obstacles.
Research: This project centered on material and form research, exploring methods of bending wood and studying organic shapes. The objective was to showcase the untapped potential of bent wood furniture in North America. Using a scale model, veneer experiments, precision machining, and custom vacuum jigs, these tests refined lamination thickness and showed the limitations when bending wood. Conducted by the designer with support in fabrication, the research revealed new structural and aesthetic possibilities, inspiring future clients and broadening design practice.
Inspiration: The inspiration for this table came from a desire to create an organic form guided by the natural possibilities of wood rather than digital modeling. By exploring the limits of bent lamination, the design transforms rigid ash into fluid, ribbon-like curves. The motivation was to craft a functional coffee table that feels sculptural, inviting curiosity and awe at how traditional materials can be reimagined through modern techniques.
Project Duration: Adam began imagining and designing the piece in the Spring of 2024, in Barrie, Ontario, Canada. The finished piece was complete in the Fall of 2024 and was exhibited at the Toronto Interior Design Show in January 2025.
Operation Flow: Whorl is designed to be lived with and admired. Its smooth curves invite touch, while the solid ash top provides a practical surface scaled for smaller spaces. Though sculptural in form, it functions seamlessly as a coffee table, offering stability and balance in everyday use. The interaction lies in its presence: a functional object that sparks conversation and wonder by transforming wood into a fluid, unexpected shape.
Image Credits: Image #1: Photographer Ethicious.com, Whorl, 2025
Image #2: Photographer Ethicious.com, Whorl, 2025
Image #3: Photographer Ethicious.com, Whorl, 2025
Image #4: Photographer Ethicious.com, Whorl, 2025
Image #5: Photographer Ethicious.com, Whorl, 2025
Video Credits: Videographer: Ethicious.com, Whorl, 2025