Among the 1179 designs that participated in the competition, we are pleased to announce the following 9 designs as the prize-winners; 8 designs that have been through strict examinations for each offered prize and 1 design that has been selected by Be Sure Editorial Staff.

Prototypes of the prize-winning designs will be exhibited at “Interior Lifestyle 2003,” which starts on June 17. Among the 8 Gold Prize,visitors’ votes will determine User Grand Prize at the exhibition site.


＜GOLD PRIZE＞
■ACTUS PRIZE ■CIBONE PRIZE ■ZERO FIRST DESIGN PRIZE
■TIME & STYLE PRIZE ■HUG PRIZE ■POUR ANNICK PRIZE
■BREZZA PRIZE ■LA MAISON D’EPICE PRIZE
＜BE SURE PRIZE＞

Asako Omata
Designer

＜Title＞　　L SOFA

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“L Sofa” is a piece of furniture that consists of 4 Ls in 2 sizes with the height of seats and desk as the basic module. Those Ls can function as seats, a desk, a holding screen in different scenes, creating various spaces. “L Sofa” uses genuine iroko with steel rails jointing the Ls.

●Reason for Selection

Among the designs that participated in the competition this time, there were not so many ideas to try to solve the problem that urban consumers have against small living space, especially the space for a living room, with the appliance, SOFA. Among those few, Ms. Omata’s design is full of the sense and ideas of an architect who tries to think how to make a limited space, which the city life permits, simple, comfortable and functional. It well meets “Value Image” that ACTUS proposes to provide.
●Judges’ Comments

Because there was a demanding condition, which was that a prototype should be able to be prepared in a short period of time for the possibility of its commercialization, the selection itself seemed to be rather easy. However, since the time between the selection and its sample-up was scheduled rather short, we felt that it would be a big challenge to reflect the designer’s intention (material & parts, functions) well enough.
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Yael Mer　
Student (a resident of Israel)

＜Title＞　Tａｎｇｅｎｔ

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I tried to realize a unique and luxurious shape with “Skinny Material”. Polypropylene that I used this time was very interesting material, which enabled me to make various forms by cutting and holding. “Tangents” and “Arcs” are solid but yet in a structure that gently enfolds a human body. To give a touch of elegance, the armchairs are covered with plastic sheets on which geometrical patterns are drawn.

●Reason for Selection

Through this design, we saw an exceptional talent. The originality that has never been seen and the use of material - it is a wonderful design. Breaking the concept of sofas, this design proposes a new lifestyle. The message and influence to the society ? this design makes us wish to work with Mr. Yael Mer to see his future potentials as a creative artist.
●Judges’ Comments

Among many elaborate designs, it was indeed a hard and painful task to select one. We, CIBONE, thank every participating designer, however, for giving us such a precious and meaningful time and we would like to proceed with many other projects in the future together with talented artists.


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Todd Bracher
Interior Designer (a resident of France)

＜Title＞　Libri lounge

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Aimed at a functional but yet beautiful sofa that also effectively uses space. To read or just to relax, it is a perfect lounge sofa.

●Reason for Selection

Honestly speaking, this sofa gave us the strongest impression. Softness, urethane material, structure of the back and seats, upholstery, etc. ? an idea that does not follow the conventional concept of sofas, smart seat lines, functionality which is created in the structure… Not only it is beautiful to the eye, but also it is a design that allows people to freely explore new usage, i.e. new lifestyles and expand their imaginations. As a new style that eliminates waste, we would like to introduce this design to the market.

●Judges’ Comments

We were looking forward to seeing the designs reflecting the theme, “Beautiful Sofa” created in different perspectives. As a result, we realized that there were so many different designs and free ideas in the world. There were several quite attractive designs that might do if the theme and the condition of “commercialization” had been different. Some designs seem to be one-shot things, but through laughter and surprises, we spent an enjoyable and fruitful time on the selection.

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Shinji Ishikawa
Student

＜Title＞　Cell Sofa

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While sitting on a sofa, how do people spend their time? Reading books, talking to people and having some coffee… Sofas are very important places for relaxation and communications. This sofa has walls and a ceiling, and furthermore the ceiling has lighting. Sitting on the sofa, you will be able to experience a space isolated from the surrounding area.

●Reason for Selection

The criteria of selection include many factors such as design, material, beauty, commercialization and the combinations of all these. While the interior designs, the architecture and the environment which surrounds these are drastically changing, we have chosen a design that addressed to us how a sofa should be as a thing and expressed its new existence.

●Judges’ Comments

It was a wonderful opportunity for us to see domestic and international designs, proposals, expressions as well as approaches to designs, ideas and how things should be from many different angles, which, we believe, will lead us to our future. It would be our pleasure if we could continue to assist such a flexible and open ?minded competition in the future.

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Hiroki Sakai

＜Title＞　ME　KU　RE　sofa

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I started the design with the question, “what does that ‘beautiful’ means in “Beautiful Sofa”, which was the theme for this competition. “Beautiful” can mean many things in many different forms, but I feel irresistibly erotic beauty in a “distortion” or a “gap” that a perfect thing shows for a moment. “ME KU RE” has been designed to express such a sensation.

●Reason for Selection

The first impression was good. The design is simple but well considered. Depending on the positions, placements and combinations, the variation would be developed, which might make it quite a unique design and this possibility became the key to the selection. It also has a playful touch, which will be well integrated with HUG shop products.

●Judges’ Comments

There were many designs that were good in design but difficult to produce. We also noticed that there were some designs that looked like school assignments. Through this kind of opportunity, let’s make the Japanese designs more fun! We express our thanks to all the designers who participated in the competition and Be Sure Editorial Staff.

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Todd Bracher
Designer (a resident of France)

＜Title＞　Ｒｅｄ　ｌｉｎｅ　ｓｏｆａ

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Designed for “Compact Living” as the theme. To sit, use the low back, and when you put your head on the side arm, you can lie down to relax. A design that is minimal but highly potential has been pursued.

●Reason for Selection

Most remarkable are its beautiful form and gentle lines hidden in straight lines. As a chair, a sofa and a daytime bed, the potential of the designer’s expressive power is richly displayed. Most appealing are the warmth that cannot be simply sorted out in the minimalism drawer, the graceful standing figure and the unobtrusive presence. This design motivates us to see more of the designer’s works.

●Judges’ Comments

After examining over 1000 sofa designs, what remained in our mind was the question, “well, can we make them?” Designs, production techniques, materials and costs that which are linked to all these - none of these important factors can not be left out to make commercial products. We would like to leave this as our message.


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Kazutoshi Miura
Product Designer

＜Title＞　Dolce

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This Low Sofa titled Dolce, which means “sweet” in Italian, expresses a sweet and sexy form made of the natural material, cane. As a device to create a placid and mellow space, the design gives delicate curves in which you can have a comfortable and relaxing time.


●Reason for Selection

It has been long since the concept “minimalism” came along. After the straight-line interior, the 50s, the 60s and the 70s styles are running rampant. We met this design when we were seeking for the next atmosphere/form. We found the idea to create this organic form with BREZZA’s main material, Water Hyacinth quite exciting. The use of the sofa for multiple purposes and the totally relaxing form are the major reasons this sofa has been selected for the prize.
●Judges’ Comments

This design intensifies our desire to create sofas that match the Japanese spaces without influenced by the international trends.
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Kong，Duck　Young
Interior Designer (a resident of Korea)

＜Title＞　MY ZONE

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Depending on how close the relationship between two people sitting on the same sofa is, the space necessary between them differs. If they are strangers, they will need a certain distance and if they are intimate, such a distance will be an obstacle. I have designed a sofa that allows two people sitting next to each other to relax, no matter what relationship they have.

●Reason for Selection

When we come back home from the crowded and noisy world, it is a sofa that creates a comfortable and relaxing time and space. In some way, the necessary distance from other people depends on the closeness to them, but a sofa that keeps a certain distance from other people seems to help lessen the urban stress. This might be the feeling common to all the countries in the world where their populations are concentrated on big cities.
●Judges’ Comments

The Japanese interior design industry, which is quite young in history, has started to show its own styles, not just imitating the designs in Europe or the United States. This is also suggested in the huge number of participants in this competition. Among them, there are many designs that seem to be seeking for private healing spaces. Is it simply the designer’s personal desire or a reflection of the current era?

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Masashi Kido　
Student

＜Title＞　Cｌｏｕｄ　Sｏｆａ

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Because the theme was “Beautiful Sofa”, I tried to make a simple but unique design, eliminating various external factors based on my concept of beauty: “simple & minimal.” The whole thing is a cushion and you sit there wrapped by it. It has been named as “Cloud Sofa” from the sitting position and its form.

●Reason for Selection

First - it gives a dream, Second - it has originality, Third - it will make an interesting “beautiful sofa.” All the editorial staff agreed that it is worth trying as an experiment to see if the design can lead to an actual product. If a product is complete as the design shows, it will be definitely a unique sofa. We are looking forward to seeing its prototype.

●Judges’ Comments

First of all, we would like to express our thanks to all the designers who participated in this competition and all the people from the shops. We thank each of you for your assistance. We were all very excited to feel so close the great interest in the interior designs and the overwhelming enthusiasm for expressing the individual creativity! In fact, we had a very hard time to select a design between “cloud sofa” and the one made of acrylic fiber for Be Sure Prize until the last minute. Selecting a sofa that meets the theme, “Beautiful Sofa” was fun as well as a tough task, all of which gave us a very good experience.


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