Uni Primary Function: Uni Imeza y'Iruhande na Xubai Li

Umushinga Uni Primary Function: Uni Imeza y'Iruhande wa Xubai Li ni uwatsinze igihembo cyubahwa cyane 2026 Igihembo cya A' Design Award cya Buronze mu Cyiciro cy'Ihiganwa cya Igishushanyo cy'Imitako.

BuronzeImitako· 2026

Uni Primary Function: Uni Imeza y'Iruhande

na Xubai Li

Umukiriya: Xubai Li

Uwatsinze Igihembo cya A' Design Award cya Buronze mu Cyiciro cya Imitako

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Uwatsinze Igihembo Yemejwe

Emeza Uko Igihembo Gihagaze ku #182518

Sura Urubuga Reba kuri A' Design Award Itangazo ry'Ikinyamakuru Ikimenyetso cy'Igihembo

Amabara

Imigereranyo

Ibyerekeye Uni Primary Function: Uni Imeza y'Iruhande

Book Text: Uni ihuza ubuso bwo imbere n'ubwo hanze kugira ngo ishyireho imiterere idasanzwe. Yahumekewe na origami n'umwanya udafite ikintu, Xubai Li yayiteguye akoresheje urupapuro rwa aluminiyumu rusatse arushyiramo imiterere y'amapaji atatu. Yashushanyijwe ivuye ku bicapo bya kimwe cya cumi na gatandatu ikagera ku mishushanyo y'ingero zujuje ubunini, igera ku buringaniza binyuze kuri geometiri ishingiye ku guhina. Igenewe ahantu h'imijyi, Uni ikora nk'imeza ndetse n'ikintu gihagaze cyonyine, itanga umwanya udafunze kandi yoroshye kwimurwa mu buzima bw'ubukorero bugezweho mu gihe igumana isura itababaza.

Ishimwe

Ibyerekeye Igihembo cya A' Design Award cya Buronze

Uni Primary Function: Uni Imeza y'Iruhande 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. Uni Primary Function: Uni Imeza y'Iruhande 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. Uni Primary Function: Uni Imeza y'Iruhande ishimisha ibyo dukeneye, ikora ku byifuzo byacu, itwara amarangamutima yacu kandi ikurura amatsiko yacu.

Inyuma y'Imigereranyo

Dosiye y'Itangazamakuru

Amazina y'abagize uruhare, abagize itsinda n'amakuru y'ubuhanga byatanzwe n'umuhanzi.

Ibintu Bidasanzwe: Uni is a singular, continuous form that transmutes a flat aluminum sheet into a sophisticated, freestanding volume. By blurring the line between interior and exterior, the design achieves a structural duality where the tabletop and base exist as one uninterrupted gesture. Its innovation lies in this seamless geometry, offering a sculptural aesthetic that redefines traditional furniture assembly through minimalist rationale. This piece was designed by Xubai Li and manufactured by Bestcase in New York, United States, in a collaboration program, led by Rhode Island School of Design.
Ibipimo n'Ipaki: 533 mm × 508 mm × 457 mm
Ibibazo Fatizo: industrial decor, aluminum furniture, minimalist design, side table, sheet metal, sculptural furniture, origami
Ikoranabuhanga ryo Guteza Imbere: Uni is made with 5052 Aluminum sheet in .25-inch thickness. The process can be divided into three simple stages: 1. Roller Bending and Brake Press Bending 2. Edge Welding 3. Sand and Standard Waxed Finish to preserve the original aesthetic of the raw material.
Ikibazo cy'Ishusho: The main challenge was finding a form that elegantly embodies the essence of origami while adapting to harsh sheet metal processes. Every additional pressed piece introduced unwanted aesthetic noise. To solve this, we minimized assembly to a singular, continuous form. We also bypassed standard industry powder coating; instead, a simple waxed finish preserved the aluminum's subtle shine, reducing maintenance while celebrating the material's raw, industrial elegance.
Ubushakashatsi: The research for Uni was a hybrid of theoretical exploration and material investigation. The primary objective was to subvert traditional expectations of furniture by blurring the boundaries between interior and exterior spaces. The study sought to translate the philosophical principles of origami—transforming a flat, meaningless plane into a meaningful 3D volume—into a functional furniture silhouette.

The methodology employed a "form-from-flatness" approach, utilizing comparative analysis of contemporary sheet metal furniture and traditional origami techniques. Data collection included a literature review of origami philosophy and an analysis of Asian aesthetic principles regarding "negative space" as a poetic element. Additionally, market data from furniture e-commerce platforms was analyzed to identify consumer trends in urban high-density housing.

Technical feasibility was established through consultations with manufacturing specialists to define production constraints. Physical experimentation involved a rigorous iterative prototyping process:

Initial Phase: One-sixteenth and one-quarter scale models were used to test folding geometry.

Testing Phase: Full-scale models were constructed from plastic and strength-enhanced corrugated boards (0.25-inch thickness) to simulate final material behavior.

Review Phase: Interviews with design professionals were conducted to evaluate the aesthetic impact and functional utility of the prototypes.

The research revealed a market gap for pieces that balance "visual openness" with sculptural presence. A key insight was that studio and condo dwellers increasingly prioritize furniture that provides "breathing room" through negative space without sacrificing artistic permanence. Uni impacts the design field by offering a dual-purpose solution: a minimalist utility surface and a monumental sculpture. By utilizing blank space as a functional element, the design addresses the need for openness in small architectural footprints.
Ibyatumye Habaho: Inspired by origami, Uni explores the transformation of a two-dimensional aluminum plane into a self-supporting, multi-dimensional volume. The design utilizes fundamental roller bending techniques to transform a single sheet into a sophisticated, freestanding object. By eliminating traditional joinery in favor of a singular, continuous gesture, Uni achieves structural integrity.
Igihe cy'Umushinga: The project started its design process in February 2024 in Providence, Rhode Island, United States, and finished its first edition for manufacturing in May 2025 in New York, United States, and was first exhibited in International Contemporary Furniture Fair 2025 in New York City, United States, and the Convention Center in the same month, in Rhode Island, United States.
Uburyo bw'Imikorere: Uni isn't just a table; it's functional art. You interact with it by placing items on its surface or simply admiring it. As you walk around the room, its folded metal design visually transforms from a solid block into an airy, open sculpture. It performs better than standard furniture because it serves dual purposes: it provides a handy resting spot for everyday objects while elevating your space as a beautiful, free-floating centerpiece that doesn't need to be hidden away.
Abafotoye: Image #1: Photographer Jonah Takagi, Uni, 2025.
Image #2: Creator Xubai Li, Uni, 2025.
Image #3: Creator Xubai Li, Uni, 2025.
Image #4: Creator Xubai Li, Uni, 2025.
Image #5: Creator Xubai Li, Uni, 2025.