Flowerblock Etajeri by Mizuki Chinen 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

Flowerblock Etajeri

by Mizuki Chinen

Client: Chinen Mizuki

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

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View at A' Design Award Press Release Award Badge

Colors

The Design

About Flowerblock Etajeri

Flowerblock ni etajeri yateguwe kugira ngo ikore nk'ikigikoresho cyo kubika ibintu kandi ikanaba urukuta rutandukanya icyumba. Iyi mishushanyirize yahumekewe na "flower blocks", ibice bya beto bifite imyenge y'ibishushanyo mbonera bikoreshwa mu bwubatsi bwa Okinawa, bikayungurura urumuri rukaze rw'izuba mu gihe binyuza umwuka. Imyanya iri hagati y'udusanduku iha iyi etajeri isura yoroheje kandi ifunguye. Uduti tw'icyuma kidafata ingese duhuza udusanduku kugira ngo tuyihe gushikama, igiti gikomeye cya ash yera gishyigikira ahafatirwa uburemere, naho ibibaho by'ibipande bigabanya uburemere rusange. Iyi etajeri nta rubaho rw'inyuma ifite, bityo ishobora gushyirwa ku rukuta cyangwa hagati mu cyumba.

The Recognition

About the Igihembo cya A' Design Award cya Ifeza

Flowerblock Etajeri 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. Flowerblock Etajeri 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. Flowerblock Etajeri 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 shelf deliberately leaves space between boxes, creating an overall cool and light impression. Light and air pass through the gaps, reducing visual pressure and creating a pleasant sense of openness in the space. Its open, airy presence, reminiscent of Okinawa's climate, evokes a refreshing feel even in hot seasons, bringing a gentle rhythm to the room it occupies. It is a design that considers not only functionality but also visual coolness.
Dimensions & Packaging: 2000mm x 400mm x 1020mm
Tags: Shelf, Design, Furniture, Furniture design,
Production Technology: Stainless steel rods connect the boxes, ensuring durability and stability. The surfaces where these rods are inserted utilize solid white ash wood for its superior strength, providing robust support to load-bearing areas. Meanwhile, plywood is used for other sections to achieve overall weight reduction.
Design Challenge: To make the structure viable, we went through numerous trials and errors. Ensuring sufficient strength and stability proved particularly challenging. However, increasing strength inevitably added weight, so we also struggled to balance robustness with lightness.
Research: We conducted a durability test to verify how much weight the two stainless steel rods can withstand.
Inspiration: This shelf was designed inspired by Flower Blocks widely used in the architecture of my hometown, Okinawa. Flower Blocks are concrete blocks featuring geometric openwork patterns. They possess the characteristic of blocking strong sunlight while allowing pleasant breezes to pass through, combining practicality and decorative appeal. I focused on this functional beauty and incorporated a structure conscious of pathways for light and wind into the shelf's design.
Project Duration: The project commenced in Okinawa in April 2025.
Operation Flow: This shelving unit is intentionally designed without a back panel, allowing it to serve not only as storage furniture but also as a partition that gently divides a room. By not completely blocking sightlines or light, it maintains an open feel while enabling zoning according to purpose. Another key feature is its flexibility in placement it can be installed not only against walls but also in the center of a room or near windows. It adapts flexibly to changes in lifestyle and spatial usage.