Desafinado 長凳 by Cass Saldanha is a highly esteemed winner of the very prestigious 2026 A' Design Award 銅獎 in 傢俱設計 Competition Category.

銅傢俱· 2026

Desafinado 長凳

by Cass Saldanha

Client: SAL+Co

A' Design Award 銅獎 Winner in 傢俱 Category

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Verified Award Winner
Verify Award Status for #180459

View at A' Design Award Press Release Award Badge

Colors

The Design

About Desafinado 長凳

Desafinado係一張長凳，設計上探究平衡與克制嘅美學。造型跟隨北歐設計嘅清晰簡潔，以直線同簡單幾何構成，並結合巴西粗獷主義現代風格嘅厚重感同直接感。低矮嘅比例令人坐得放鬆自在，而座面同靠背之間嘅分離設計就營造出視覺張力。刻意設計嘅懸挑令座面同靠背向相反方向取得平衡。呢張長凳幾乎全部採用歐洲橡木製造，配以黑色染色處理，座面再配上一塊以巴西馬鞍皮革手工縫製嘅薄坐墊，令整體設計更臻完美。

The Recognition

About the A' Design Award 銅獎

Desafinado 長凳是 A' Design Award 銅獎得主，這是授予以創造力、獨創性和敏銳見長的傑出設計的極具聲望的認可。銅獎得主是技藝嫻熟、創意驚人的作品，印證了其設計師豐富的經驗、想像力與機智。預計Desafinado 長凳將成為一件備受推崇、令人欽佩且被珍愛的物品，兼具顯著的專業性與創新性。這件贏得 A' Design Award 銅獎的設計融入藝術、科學、設計和技術領域的最佳實踐，並因注重細節而出類拔萃。Desafinado 長凳出色地滿足需求，觸動渴望，迷住情感，並吸引好奇心。

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