Gera Umsebenzi Oyinhloko: Isihlalo by Alessandra Delgado is a highly esteemed winner of the very prestigious 2026 Umklomelo Wegolide we-A' Design Award in Ukudizayina Ifenisha Competition Category.
IgolideIfenisha· 2026
Gera Umsebenzi Oyinhloko: Isihlalo
Client: Alessandra Delgado Design
Umklomelo Wegolide we-A' Design Award Winner in Ifenisha Category
Verified Award Winner
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About Gera Umsebenzi Oyinhloko: Isihlalo
Umbhalo Wencwadi: I-Gera iwumklamo wokhuni ogqugquzelwa yifenisha yesimanje yaseBrazil kanye nokucaca kwesakhiwo okukhona emsebenzini kaGeraldo de Barros. Yenziwe ngokhuni lwe-jequitiba lwaseBrazil olunesitifiketi kanye nesikhumba semvelo, ayinazo izingxenye zensimbi noma izinto zokubophela ezibonakalayo. Ukuhlanganiswa okufihliwe kugcina ukuqhubeka kokubonakalayo, kanti iziphethu zesikhumba ezicindezelwe ziphendula emzimbeni. Ngokunciphisa izinto, ukuthola ngokunesibopho, kanye nokuqonda kwesakhiwo, umsebenzi ucacisa uphenyo lwe-ergonomics kanye nokuhlala okusimeme okusimeme.
The Recognition
About the Umklomelo Wegolide we-A' Design Award
Gera Umsebenzi Oyinhloko: Isihlalo iwinile uMklomelo Wegolide we-A' Design Award, ukwaziswa okuhloniphekile kakhulu okunikezwa imiklamo yeklasi yokuqala, emangalisayo nephawulekile. Abawinile beGolide yimiklamo emisha kakhulu, enombono ongaphambili futhi egqamile ebonisa ubuhlakani, ukuhlakanipha nobuchule babaklami babo. Gera Umsebenzi Oyinhloko: Isihlalo ilindeleke ukuba ibe yinto entsha edunyiswe kakhulu, ebeka isitayela futhi ebalulekile elethe inani elingakaze libonwe. Lo mklamo owinile uMklomelo Wegolide we-A' Design Award ungumgomo omangalisayo nohlonishwayo osiza kakhulu futhi osunduza imingcele yobuciko, isayensi, ukuklama nobuchwepheshe. Gera Umsebenzi Oyinhloko: Isihlalo idala imizwa ejulile yesifiso, ivuse intshiseko, ikhuthaze ukudala futhi iyasiheha.
Behind the Design
Press Kit
Credits, team members and technical details provided by the designer.
- Unique Properties
- Gera Chair redefines solid wood seating through structural minimization. Developed exclusively with wood and leather as load-bearing systems, it eliminates metal reinforcement and visible fasteners. The tensioned leather seat operates as a structural membrane, while concealed joinery ensures load transfer and rigidity. Weighing 4 kg, the chair achieves resistance through geometry and material behavior rather than mechanical devices.
- Dimensions & Packaging
- Dimensions W 525 mm x D 570 mm x H 830 mm.
Weight 4.0 kg.
The geometry was defined through ergonomic studies to ensure lumbar support and seating stability. The curved back rail follows the natural contour of the spine, while the structural proportions allow high resistance with reduced mass. The low overall weight facilitates transport, handling and spatial flexibility without compromising durability. - Tags
- Chair, Gera Chair, Wood, Dinning Chair, Wooden Chair, Sustainable materials
- Production Technology
- The chair was developed through structural reduction and load optimization studies. Certified Brazilian jequitiba was selected for its favorable density to weight ratio, fiber stability and bending resistance, allowing minimized cross sections without metal reinforcement. Mortise and tenon joints ensure axial load transfer and torsional rigidity. The seat, composed of two bonded natural leather layers, operates as a tensioned membrane fixed beneath the frame, distributing loads dynamically while maintaining a total mass of 4 kg.
- Design Challenge
- The primary challenge was achieving structural integrity through material behavior rather than reinforcement. Identifying a wood capable of sustaining reduced sections without compromising resistance led to the selection of certified jequitiba. Designing a suspended leather seat functioning as a structural membrane required extensive prototyping and geometric refinement. Achieving a 4 kg solid wood chair demanded continuous structural recalibration and concealed joinery precision.
- Research
- This is applied design research focused on structural efficiency through material minimization. The objective was to develop a lightweight, durable chair using only wood and leather as load-bearing systems. Methodology included iterative prototyping, ergonomic validation and material performance testing. Results demonstrate that geometry and tensioned leather behavior can replace mechanical components, achieving structural stability at 4 kg. The research advances sustainable, repairable furniture production through reduction-based design logic.
- Inspiration
- Gera Chair originates from an investigation into structural reduction in Brazilian modernism, particularly the constructive clarity found in the work of Geraldo de Barros. The project explores how geometry, proportion and material logic can generate resistance and comfort without auxiliary mechanisms. Rather than referencing form, the design references structural intelligence, translating modernist principles into a contemporary reduction-based seating system.
- Project Duration
- The project started in September 2024 in Sao Paulo, Brazil. It was presented as a prototype at Salone del Mobile in Milan in April 2025. Industrial development and final production adjustments were completed in May 2026 in Uba, Brazil.
- Operation Flow
- Gera Chair offers intuitive interaction. Weighing only 4 kg, it can be easily moved and repositioned. As the user sits, the leather gently adapts to body weight, enhancing comfort without adjustments or mechanisms. The curved wooden structure supports the back naturally. Comfort is achieved through the behavior of materials and form rather than mechanical systems, resulting in a simple and immediate user experience.
- Patents
- pendind patent number
- Image Credits
- Photografer Alessandra Delgado Design, 2025
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