Minima’s Free form bench responded to the “Future Public Spaces” brief using complex geometry
Bespoke timber lighting and furniture design, minima, has scooped first prize in the annual dti National Furniture Design Competition’s established designer category.
This was recently announced by Minister of Trade and Industry, Rob Davies, at the V&A Waterfront’s Watershed which hosted the competition during Design Indaba week.
“This is a true honour for us and we thank the dti for their support. The competition encourages designers to extend themselves and create new and innovative thinking to everyday design,” says designer Jacques Cronje.
The competition’s 2016 theme, “Future Public Spaces”, invited students and established designers to submit a seating and waiting solution for public spaces, government institutions such as airports, health institutions, municipalities and other government entities that interact with the public in one way or another.
Minima’s entry – a free form bench designed using complex geometry and minima’s signature clip together profiled ribs system – was shortlisted for the award in October 2015.
“It can comfortably seat two people and either stand-alone as a piece or be arranged in continuous seating. It also lends itself to creating pause or resting clusters in larger waiting and open areas,” explains Cronje.
More and more people are turning to minimalism – at home, work or play – in response to our over-connected and busy lives. Minima sees itself as part of the local movement, creating bespoke Scandi-inspired timber lighting and furniture.
Minima launched at Design Indaba in 2014 and has since gone on to furnish national and international corporate and consumer spaces with its unique style and clip together system. Made using cnc cut birch plywood, minima effortlessly clips together without the need for glue or screws. It is also lightweight and flat-packable, making it attractive to customers living abroad or out of urban centres. With 17 pieces in its range, minima can be customised in both size and colour to suit any commercial or residential interior space. It was founded by Jacques Cronje, a specialist timber architectural designer whose work appeals to clients with an eye for minimal and clean design.
As part of its win, minima will exhibit the bench at the upcoming Inspire trade show taking place in Johannesburg in June.
