Desafinado Ìjókòó Gígùn (Bẹ́ǹṣì) by Cass Saldanha is a highly esteemed winner of the very prestigious 2026 Àmì-ẹ̀yẹ Idẹ A' Design Award in Àpẹẹrẹ Ohun-èlò Ilé Competition Category.
IdẹOhun-èlò Ilé· 2026
Desafinado Ìjókòó Gígùn (Bẹ́ǹṣì)
Client: SAL+Co
Àmì-ẹ̀yẹ Idẹ A' Design Award Winner in Ohun-èlò Ilé Category
Verified Award Winner
Verify Award Status for #180459The Design
About Desafinado Ìjókòó Gígùn (Bẹ́ǹṣì)
Desafinado jẹ́ ìjókòó gígùn tí a ṣe gẹ́gẹ́ bí ìwádìí lórí ìdọ́gba àti ìkóra-ẹni-níjàánu. Ìrísí rẹ̀ tẹ̀lé ìmọ́lẹ̀ àti ìṣekedere ti àṣà Scandinavia, pẹ̀lú àwọn ìlà tààrà àti jiọmétírì tí ó rọrùn, tí a so pọ̀ mọ́ ìwúwo àti ìtọ́sọ́nà tààrà ti àṣà modernism brutalist ti Brazil. Ìwọ̀n gíga rẹ̀ tí ó kúrú pe ni sí ìjókòó ìsinmi, àti pípín láàrin ibi ìjókòó àti ẹ̀yìn rẹ̀ dá ìfamọ́ra ojú sílẹ̀. Ìyọjáde tí a mọ̀ọ́mọ̀ ṣe dọ́gba ibi ìjókòó àti ẹ̀yìn ní àwọn ìtọ́sọ́nà tí ó lòdì sí ara wọn. A fi igi óákù ti Yúróòpù ṣe ìjókòó gígùn náà fẹ́rẹ̀ẹ́ pátápátá pẹ̀lú àwọ̀ dúdú, àti tímùtímù fẹ́lẹ́fẹ́lẹ́ tí a fi ọwọ́ rán nínú awọ gàárì ti Brazil ni ó parí ibi ìjókòó náà.
The Recognition
About the Àmì-ẹ̀yẹ Idẹ A' Design Award
Desafinado Ìjókòó Gígùn (Bẹ́ǹṣì) jẹ́ olùborí Àmì-ẹ̀yẹ Idẹ A' Design Award, ìdánimọ̀ olókìkí gan-an tí a fún àwọn àwòṣe tó tayọ tí wọ́n yàtọ̀ nípasẹ̀ ìṣẹ̀dá, àrékérekè àti ọgbọ́n inú. Àwọn olùborí Idẹ jẹ́ àwọn ohun èlò tó ní ìjáfáfá gan-an tí wọ́n sì ní ìṣẹ̀dá tó yani lẹ́nu tí wọ́n ń ṣe ẹ̀rí ìrírí gbígbòòrò, ìrònú àti ọgbọ́n àwọn olùṣàwòṣe wọn. A retí pé Desafinado Ìjókòó Gígùn (Bẹ́ǹṣì) yóò jẹ́ ohun tí a kà sí gidigidi, tí a gbóríyìn fún tí a sì nífẹ̀ẹ́, tó jẹ́ ti ọ̀jáfáfá lọ́nà tó ṣe pàtàkì tó sì ní ìmúṣẹ̀dá tuntun. Àwòṣe tó borí Àmì-ẹ̀yẹ Idẹ A' Design Award yìí ń kó àwọn ọ̀nà tó dára jùlọ nínú iṣẹ́ ọnà, sáyẹ́ǹsì, àwòṣe àti ìmọ̀-ẹ̀rọ jọ, ó sì tayọ nítorí àfiyèsí rẹ̀ sí àwọn àlàyé kékeré. Desafinado Ìjókòó Gígùn (Bẹ́ǹṣì) ń tẹ́ àwọn ohun tí a nílò lọ́rùn lọ́nà àgbàyanu, ó ń fọwọ́ kan àwọn ìfẹ́ inú, ó ń gbà ọkàn ó sì ń fa ìfẹ́ láti mọ̀ mọ́ra.
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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