Hopper Nofoa by Takashi Niwa is a highly esteemed winner of the very prestigious 2022 A' Design Award Apamemea in Mamanu Meafale Competition Category.

ApamemeaMeafale· 2022

Hopper Nofoa

by Takashi Niwa

Client: Takashi Niwa

A' Design Award Apamemea Winner in Meafale Category

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Verified Award Winner

Verify Award Status for #137986

View at A' Design Award Press Release Award Badge

Colors

The Design

About Hopper Nofoa

Hopper o se nofoa laupapa ua mamanuina mo le nofoa malolo. O le fa'avaa gaugau fa'alua fa'atasi ma se fa'amaufa'ailoga ua fa'apitoa e lagolago ai le mafanafana ma tu'uina atu ai i le nofoa se foliga malosi. E tolu tulimanu o le fa'amaufa'ailoga ua fa'amalūina i le mea e pa'i ai le tino i le nofoa, a'o tumau pea se pito ma'ai e fa'aalia ai le foliga atoa. O le tulimanu fa'aliliuina e liua atu i taula lima ma tua lelei. O laupapa e nofo ma lagolago ai e fa'aopoopo mai ai le mama ma le mautu fa'ale-fausaga. Na faia vaega i le fa'aogaina o masini CNC e lima aga, ona fa'apipi'i lea i lima.

The Recognition

About the A' Design Award Apamemea

O le A' Design Award Apamemea na manumalo ai Hopper Nofoa, o se faamaoniga matuā mamalu e tuuina atu i mamanu ese e iloga i le fatufatuaʻi, le atamai ma le poto. O ē manumalo i le Apamemea o mea e iai le tomai atoa ma fatufatuaʻi mataʻina e faamaonia ai le poto masani tele, le mafaufau ma le atamai o tagata mamanu. E faamoemoeina Hopper Nofoa e avea ma mea e vivii tele, ua pelepelea, e iloga i le tomai faapolofesa ma mea fou. O lenei mamanu na manumalo i le A' Design Award Apamemea e tuufaatasia ai faiga sili i le faatufugaga, saienisi, mamanu ma tekonolosi ma e sili ona lelei i le mataituina o mea itiiti. Hopper Nofoa e faamalieina matagofie manaʻoga, pa i manaʻo, faalataina lagona ma faaosofia le fia iloa.

Behind the Design

Press Kit

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

Unique Properties: The double curved wood frame with customized profile ensures comfort while also enhancing the dynamic form of the chair. The profile has its three corners filletted where the body is in contact with the chair. On the other hand, one strong edge still remains to highlight the overall gesture and appears with higher contrast under the lighting effect.
Dimensions & Packaging: 550 x 645 x 800
Tags: furniture, chair, ergonomic, wood
Production Technology: With high quality requirement and subtle details, the chair’s parts were made using 5 axis CNC for finishing accuration. A technician with 20 years of experience in craftsmanship then worked to assemble these parts and details together.
Design Challenge: It was a challenge to ensure structure and rigidity with the chair’s significant curves and incline without losing the purity of the form. Various testing took place to study different relationships between front legs and back legs’ curve and angle. Supporting structural frames and joints were then added underneath the seat to ensure stability.
Research: Throughout the design process, there were many studies on the overall form to reveal strong gestures with simplicity. After multiple iterations of the leg and frame profile, a scale model was 3d printed for mock up before sending the final design to the factory.
Inspiration: Hopper Chair with its reclined ergonomics invites the users to sit back and relax. The signature double curves form an energizing and friendly gesture, which recalls a joyful spirit of hopping. When not in use, Hopper Chair is still a spark of joy in the space.
Project Duration: The project was designed in Hanoi, Vietnam in May 2021 and finished in Binh Duong, Vietnam in February 2022
Operation Flow: With a welcoming gesture, Hopper Chair offers its user to relax with comfort. The reclined angle with a smooth curve turns into pleasant armrests and backrests. The double curved frame is designed to give light and open feelings with resting and support panels, which also enhance structural stability.
Team Members: Takashi Niwa
Image Credits: Naoto Ohike