Gold Furniture Design · 2023
Laguna Armchair
by Aciole Felix
- A' Design Award 2023 Gold Winner in Furniture Design
- Awarded April 15, 2023
- CLIENT: Uultis
- Estimated Number of Design Views: 152,268
- Verification code 5957F986BC · Verify this award
About Laguna Armchair
Laguna is a low lounge armchair. The frame is firm and the seat is deep and enveloping. Laguna combines several materials in one piece, including hardwood, metal, upholstery fabric and natural cane. The mix of materials allows many finish combinations, so the armchair can suit different interior styles. The black wood frame and the rounded caned back refer to Brazilian midcentury furniture. The armrests are set high to support the arms in an open and relaxed sitting position. Laguna is produced in Brazil.
Positioned within the distinguished lineage of organic modernism that bridges mid-twentieth century design innovation with contemporary craft revival, this armchair by Aciole Felix demonstrates exceptional synthesis of material intelligence and formal refinement. The work engages meaningfully with traditions of wooden furniture construction that honor the inherent properties of natural materials while advancing them through fresh compositional approaches. The designer appears to draw upon the warm humanism characteristic of furniture emerging from tropical regions, where the dialogue between dense hardwoods and woven natural fibers has generated distinctive seating typologies over generations. Technically, the piece reveals sophisticated understanding of joinery and proportion, with the splayed leg configuration providing both structural stability and visual dynamism that prevents the substantial seat form from appearing static or heavy. The integration of hand-woven cane within the backrest demonstrates commitment to artisanal processes, each intersection of the natural fiber creating minute variations that distinguish handcraft from industrial production. The chromatic restraint proves particularly effective, allowing material textures and structural relationships to command attention rather than competing with applied color. The curved armrest rails execute a particularly successful passage, their horizontal extension providing practical support while their gentle arc softens the overall geometric impression. One might observe how the design balances opposing qualities throughout: transparency against solidity in the cane-and-wood relationship, warmth against coolness in the amber and grey palette, architectural clarity against organic curvature in the overall silhouette. The work invites contemplation of how furniture might simultaneously serve functional purposes while contributing aesthetic presence to interior environments, suggesting that the boundary between utilitarian object and sculptural form remains productively permeable.
Press Kit
- Unique Properties
- This armchair is impressive at first glance, but what draws the most attention is the unparalleled comfort. Its structure is firm and the seat is extremely enveloping. Its main differential is the use of different materials such as: wood, metal, fabric and natural fiber. With this diversity of materials in the same piece, there are infinite combinations. Which makes it possible for this armchair to fit into any decor.
- Dimensions & Packaging
- Dimensions
Height: 27 in (68.58 cm)
Width: 35 in (88.9 cm)
Depth: 33 in (83.82 cm)
Seat Height: 16 in (40.64 cm)
Materials and Techniques
Cane,
Hardwood,
Upholstery
Place of Origin
Brazil
Date of Manufacture
2022
Production Type
New & Custom (Current Production)
Estimated Production Time
3-4 weeks - Tags
- (armchair) (woodwork) (chairdesign) (furniture) (chair) (chairdesign) (furnituredesign)
- Production Technology
- The production of this piece is carried out by the HERVAL group, a large Brazilian furniture manufacturer. Receives the sub-brand Uultis, which is intended only for signed furniture with a high standard of finishing and quality.
- Design Challenge
- The manufacturer has a very large amount of tools for working in wood, metal and upholstery. In this way, the work on the product design took place more freely. Being able to explore the possibilities of production to the maximum.
- Project Duration
- The project started in the first half of 2021 and entered the prototyping phase only a year later. In June 2022 it was launched at a small exhibition in Milan at Fuoresaloni and only in February 2023 did it officially launch on the market at the largest furniture fair in Latin America, ABIMAD. The development took place in the city of Brasília, where the designer created the piece, and in the city of Dois Irmãos, where the factory is located.
- Operation Flow
- This is a low lounge chair. The feeling when sitting is of comfort and security. At the same time, the armrest keeps the arms high and makes the user feel that open-chested, proud feeling.
- Research
- The development of this piece initially took place through a close partnership between the manufacturer Uultis and the external designer Aciole Félix. From that moment on, several briefing meetings were held and the project itself began with the development of several products. In the first presentation meeting, the lagoon armchair was chosen. This one still had a very early design. It took another six months of detailing to reach the final design of the piece. During the process, several online meetings were held where every detail from the style to the most suitable production processes was discussed. The way to present the product was always done through digital 3D models. Modeling done in 3D modeling cad software. For the finishing details, fabrics and wood the presentations were enriched with high quality renderings made in Keyshot software. After a year of development, the manufacturing took place in a natural way, reaching perfection in the details and being 100% faithful to the 3D project.
- Inspiration
- This lounge armchair has a direct conection to the Brazilian midcentury furniture. The elegant structure is made in Grating Upholstered and Black Wood Frame. The "LAGUNA" armchair is a great example of a design with perfect proportions. The lines are disposed of in such a way as to create a sense of balance and safity.
LAGUNA have a impeccable woodcraft and attention to detail. The name came from the Italian's lakes and refers to the round and closed areas in the chairs back side. - Image Credits
- all images: uultis / 2022
Colors of Laguna Armchair
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