Balanco Usofa by Daniel Coutinho is a highly esteemed winner of the very prestigious 2026 Umklomelo Wesiliva we-A' Design Award in Ukudizayina Ifenisha Competition Category.
IsilivaIfenisha· 2026
Balanco Usofa
Client: Daniel Coutinho Estudio
Umklomelo Wesiliva we-A' Design Award Winner in Ifenisha Category
Verified Award Winner
Verify Award Status for #182249The Design
About Balanco Usofa
I-Balanco iwusofa oyingxenyexenye oklanyelwe izindawo zangaphakathi zesimanje. Igama libhekisela ku-cantilever, umgomo wesakhiwo osetshenziselwa ukunciphisa isisindo esibonakalayo salolu hlobo lwefenisha. I-Balanco ihlanganisa isisekelo esilengayo esimbozwe ngendwangu, umhlane wokhuni oluqinile kanye netafula eliseceleni lelitshe lemvelo elihlanganisiwe phezu kwesisekelo sensimbi. Izindawo ezibonakalayo zokusekela zincishisiwe, ngakho umthamo omkhulu ubonakala ulula. Ukhuni oluqinile, ithusi, itshe, ilineni, isikhumba kanye nevelvethi kwakha umehluko phakathi kobukhulu bezinto ezisetshenzisiwe nokukhanya okubonakalayo. Ubude buphelele bungu-3500 mm.
The Recognition
About the Umklomelo Wesiliva we-A' Design Award
Balanco Usofa iwinile uMklomelo Wesiliva we-A' Design Award, ukwaziswa okuhloniphekile ngokungajwayelekile okunikezwa imiklamo esezingeni eliphezulu, ebukekayo nethinta kakhulu. Abawinile beSiliva yimisebenzi egqamile kakhulu nedala kakhulu ebonisa ubungcweti obuphawulekayo, italente nobuhlakani babaklami babo. Balanco Usofa ilindeleke ukuba ibe ngumsebenzi omuhle wesibonelo, onobungcweti obuphawulekayo nezinto ezintsha ezijulile. Lo mklamo owinile uMklomelo Wesiliva we-A' Design Award uyinto entsha ebonakala kakhulu nethakazelisayo esiza futhi isunduza imingcele yobuciko, isayensi, ukuklama nobuchwepheshe. Balanco Usofa iyinto enomhawu omkhulu kuyo evusa izifiso, ilethe imizwa emihle futhi ivuse ukumangala nokuxakeka.
Behind the Design
Press Kit
Credits, team members and technical details provided by the designer.
- Unique Properties
- The structure was conceived to minimize visible support points, reducing the perception of weight in a large-scale piece. The contrast between dense materials and the resulting formal lightness establishes a distinctive structural language. The intentional misalignment reinforces its identity, while the cantilevered side table, supported by a metal base, enhances the sense of suspension and lightness.
- Dimensions & Packaging
- Modular system composed of a suspended upholstered base, structural solid wood backrest, and integrated natural stone side table with metal support.
Total length: 3500mm Depth: 920mm Seat height: 430mm Total height: 665mm Side table: Total length 700mm:Depth: 700mm - Tags
- structural lightness, contemporary furniture, Brazilian design, modular sofa, noble materials, structural cantilever, sophistication, authorial design, material contrast, elegance
- Production Technology
- The structure was designed with strategic load distribution and visually minimized support points, allowing the suspension effect while maintaining structural integrity. The upholstery uses multi-density foams and coverings in linen, leather, and velvet, applied using advanced upholstery techniques. The combination of structural engineering and construction precision transforms high-density materials into a visually light and continuous expression.
- Design Challenge
- The challenge was to transform a large-scale piece into a visually lightweight volume, requiring structural refi nement, iterative prototyping, and precise control of proportions and materials. The result demonstrates how engineering and design work together to redefi ne structural perception in contemporary furniture.
- Research
- Applied research in furniture design focused on the relationship between structure, materiality, and visual perception. The objective was to investigate how structural cantilever and material combinations could reduce the perceived weight of upholstered pieces. The methodology included formal analysis, material experimentation, 3D modeling, and prototyping. The results show that balancing structure and materials redefi nes visual perception, contributing to new approaches in contemporary design.
- Inspiration
- Architectural and structural references guided the development of a solution that explores visual suspension as a design language. Throughout the process, the investigation of the interaction between solid wood, brass, stone, linen, leather, and velvet guided the search for material balance, where the contrast between physical density and visual lightness defi nes the expression and identity of the piece.
- Project Duration
- The project was developed over two months at the brand’s studio in Sao Paulo, Brazil. The process involved conceptual investigation, structural development, and material experimentation, focusing on the integration of visual lightness, stability, and balance between different materials, resulting in a solution that combines technical rigor and contemporary expression.
- Operation Flow
- The sofa integrates the seat and side table into a continuous composition, where the cantilevered element expands its functionality without compromising visual lightness. The structure was conceived to reduce the perception of weight, creating a sense of suspension. Unlike conventional solutions, the solid wood backrest is treated as an essential part of the design, allowing the piece to be freely positioned and appreciated from all angles within the space.
- Image Credits
- Image 1: photographer: Fernando Crescente Fotografia, Balanco, 2026, Image 2: photographer: Fernando Crescente Fotografia, Balanco, 2026, Image 3: photographer: Fernando Crescente Fotografia, Balanco, 2026, Image 4: photographer: Fernando Crescente Fotografia, Balanco, 2026.
Video: Fernando Crescente Fotografia, Balanco, 2026.
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