Andorinha Setulo by Matthias Ambros is a highly esteemed winner of the very prestigious 2025 Moputso oa Silevera oa A' Design Award in Moralo wa Fenitjhara Competition Category.

SileveraFenitjhara· 2025

Andorinha Setulo

by Matthias Ambros

Client: Estudio Mezas

Moputso oa Silevera oa A' Design Award Winner in Fenitjhara Category

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Colors

The Design

About Andorinha Setulo

Andorinha e emela boenjiniere bo nepahetseng le bokgabane bo hlophisehileng. E ralilwe bakeng sa ho feto-fetoha le boiketlo, e sebedisa mekgwa e tsoetseng pele ya ho bopa lehong le kopantsweng ho theha sebopeho se bobebe se se nang likhoele. Khaolo ya yona e ntjha ya morao wa setulo e nolofalletsa ho tiiswa ho sa bonahale, e hlahisa sebopuwa sa pono sa ho fofa ha e ntse e netefatsa ho tšoarella le tshehetso ya ergonomic. Ka ho kopanya bokgoni, bokgabane, le kutlwisiso ya moralo wa Brazil, Andorinha e fana ka tharollo ya setulo e rarahaneng ebile e ikamahanya le libaka tse fapaneng.

The Recognition

About the Moputso oa Silevera oa A' Design Award

Andorinha Setulo ke mohapi oa Moputso oa Silevera oa A' Design Award, kananelo e hlomphehang haholo e fuoang meralo e phahameng ka ho fetesisa, e ntle le e tsosang maikutlo. Bahapi ba Silevera ke mesebetsi e khanyang haholo le e nang le boqapi bo ikhethang e bontšang botsebi, talenta le bohlale ba baqapi ba eona. Andorinha Setulo e lebelletsoe ho ba mosebetsi o motle, oa mohlala, o nang le boprofeshenale bo bonahalang le mehopolo e mecha e tebileng. Moralo ona o hapileng Moputso oa Silevera oa A' Design Award ke mohopolo o hlokomelehang haholo le o ratoang o tlisang molemo mme o sutumelletsang meeli ea bonono, mahlale, moralo le theknoloji. Andorinha Setulo ke mosebetsi oo batho ba bangata ba o lakatsang, o tsosang litakatso, o tlisang maikutlo a matle le o tsosetsang ho makala le ho hlolla.

Behind the Design

Press Kit

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

Unique Properties: The Andorinha blends engineering precision and contemporary aesthetics. Designed for versatility, it employs innovative plywood molding techniques to achieve a seamless, lightweight structure. The floating backrest design, made possible by an invisible fixation technique, enhances both visual elegance and ergonomic support. With a balance of efficiency, comfort, and adaptability, the Andorinha offers a refined seating solution suited for diverse environments.
Dimensions & Packaging: Andorinha – Technical Specifications

Dimensions: 550 mm (W) x 600 mm (D) x 820 mm (H)
Weight: 5 kg
Structure: CNC bending tubular steel, laser-welded
Seat and Backrest: Precision-molded plywood
Backrest Innovation: Two-stage molding process with an internal structural element embedded within the plywood, ensuring seamless fixation and enhanced strength.
Tags: Chair, plywood molding, ergonomic design, lightweight chair, Brazilian design, seamless fixation
Production Technology: The Andorinha was developed using a holistic design methodology, incorporating user research, AI-driven form exploration, and hand-drawn sketches. The tubular steel structure is CNC bended and laser-welded, ensuring precision and durability. The seat and backrest are plywood-molded, while the backrest features an innovative two-stage molding process, embedding a hidden structural element within the plywood, achieving seamless integration, superior strength, and a floating aesthetic.
Design Challenge: The Andorinha tackled challenges in innovation, feasibility, and concept. Its floating backrest required a new two-stage plywood molding to conceal structural elements. CNC-bent steel and laser-welded joints ensured efficiency. Limited data on advanced molding demanded extensive prototyping. Rooted in Brazilian design, it drew from the 2024 RS floods, symbolizing resilience. The name Andorinha (Swallow) reinforces its lightness, adaptability, and comfort
Research: The Andorinha was developed through user-centered research to create a versatile, ergonomic, and lightweight chair. Methods included interviews, surveys, sketch analysis, and prototyping. A 16-question survey with a São Paulo furniture store gathered insights on users, aesthetics, and production. The key breakthrough was the floating backrest, achieved through a hidden plywood molding technique, ensuring structural integrity and visual lightness.
Inspiration: Inspired by the graceful flight of swallows, the Andorinha represents lightness, adaptability, and connection. The design prioritizes ergonomic excellence and production efficiency, leveraging advanced plywood molding to create a floating backrest. The precise backrest cut allows for seamless integration, ensuring both structural integrity and refined aesthetics while embodying Brazilian design sensibility.
Project Duration: The project began in late 2023 with initial interviews, followed by conceptual studies in January 2024. The first prototype was produced in March 2024, with further refinements leading to the final prototype in June 2024. It will be exhibited at Fuorisalone 2025 in April as part of its official launch.
Operation Flow: The Andorinha is designed for effortless comfort and adaptability. The floating backrest provides natural postural support, while the curved plywood seat enhances comfort and ergonomics. The lightweight frame ensures easy handling, and its seamless design, free from visible joints, creates a clean, elegant aesthetic. A hidden structural innovation strengthens the chair without added bulk, ensuring both durability and visual lightness.
Patents: Estudio Mezas
Image Credits: Estudio Mezas