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Desafinado Stol by Cass Saldanha

Desafinado Stol by Cass Saldanha is a highly esteemed winner of the very prestigious 2026 Çmimi i Bronztë A' Design Award in Dizajni i Mobiljeve Competition Category.


BronziMobilje· 2026

Desafinado Stol

by Cass Saldanha

Client: SAL+Co

Çmimi i Bronztë A' Design Award Winner in Mobilje Category

Colors

The Design

About Desafinado Stol

Desafinado është një stol i projektuar si një studim i ekuilibrit dhe përmbajtjes. Forma ndjek qartësinë skandinave, me vija të drejta dhe gjeometri të thjeshtë, e kombinuar me peshën dhe drejtpërdrejtshmërinë e modernizmit brutalist brazilian. Përmasat e ulëta ftojnë një qëndrim të relaksuar, dhe ndarja midis ndenjëses dhe mbështetëses krijon tension vizual. Një zgjatim i qëllimshëm balancon ndenjësen dhe mbështetësen në drejtime të kundërta. Stoli është ndërtuar pothuajse tërësisht nga lisi evropian me një lyerje të zezë, dhe një jastëk i hollë i qepur me dorë nga lëkura braziliane e shalës plotëson ndenjësen.

The Recognition

About the Çmimi i Bronztë A' Design Award

Desafinado Stol është fitues i Çmimit të Bronztë A' Design Award, një njohje shumë prestigjioze që u akordohet dizajneve të shquara, të dalluara për krijimtari, shpikësi dhe mprehtësi. Fituesit e Bronztë janë objekte shumë të aftë dhe goditëse në krijimtarinë e tyre, që vërtetojnë përvojën e gjerë, imagjinatën dhe shkathtësinë e dizajnerëve të tyre. Desafinado Stol pritet të jetë një objekt shumë i vlerësuar, i admiruar e i dashur, jashtëzakonisht profesional dhe inovativ. Ky dizajn fitues i Çmimit të Bronztë A' Design Award përfshin praktikat më të mira në art, shkencë, dizajn dhe teknologji dhe shquhet për vëmendjen ndaj detajeve. Desafinado Stol i plotëson shkëlqyeshëm nevojat, prek dëshirat, magjepson ndjenjat dhe tërheq kureshtjen.

Behind the Design

Press Kit

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

Unique Properties
The Desafinado bench is conceived as a study in balance and restraint. Rooted in Scandinavian design, it relies on simple, straight lines and clear geometry. The low-lying proportions invite a relaxed posture, while the split between back and seat creates a visual tension. An intentional overhang balances the extended seat and back to opposite directions, turning structure into function.
Dimensions & Packaging
Materials:
Black Stained Oak
Seat in saddle leather

Dimensions:
Width: 130 inches or 39624 mm
Depth: 16 inches or 4876.8 mm
Height: 22 inches or 6705.6 mm
Seat Height: 12 inches or 3657.6 mm
Tags
Bench, Brazilian, wood, Balance, furniture
Production Technology
The bench is built almost entirely from a single material: European oak. Finished with a black stain, the wood emphasizes grain, mass, and shadow. This restrained material choice reinforces the clarity of the design, allowing form, proportion, and structure to define the piece without distraction.
The bench is complemented with a thin, hand-stitched seat cushion upholstered in authentic Brazilian saddle leather forced from local small business.
Inspiration
The piece draws from Scandinavian clarity, but it is grounded in Brazilian brutalist modernism. Its forms are direct and architectural rather than delicate or refined. The bench avoids excessive polish, embracing weight, presence, and material honesty. This subtle roughness distinguishes it from Japanese minimalism and reinforces its brutalist character.
Project Duration
Conceived in Miami in 2022, the project evolved through an intensive four-month prototyping phase and reached its final form in August of that year. The bench exists as a true one-of-one piece; all remaining prototypes were deliberately destroyed upon completion, reinforcing its singularity.
Operation Flow
Beyond simple seating, the Desafinado Bench invites multiple uses: a surface to recline or stretch, a platform for books and objects, or an architectural element that works as a space divider or low table. It shifts easily between function and presence, adapting to the way the body and the room engage with it.
Patents
Copyrights belong to Cass Saldanha, 2022.
This design is available for reproduction. Please contact the Designer if you have interest in discuss intellectual property and licensing the rights.
Image Credits
Cassiano Saldanha

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