Introduction
Buildner is excited to reveal the results of its third annual Architect’s Chair Competition, which once again attracted outstanding design submissions from around the world. As the competition continues to grow in influence, it remains a key platform for exploring the intersection of architecture, design, and craftsmanship.
Buildner is also pleased to highlight the publication of its first two books each featuring 60 or more standout projects from the first two competitions:
Chair design serves as a powerful medium for architects to test ideas, refine material sensibilities, and challenge conventions. From aesthetics and ergonomics to material innovation, the competition encourages designers to push the boundaries of furniture design while staying rooted in architectural principles.
This year’s submissions were evaluated by an exceptional jury composed of leading figures in architecture, product design, and furniture design. The panel included Boris Berlin, a renowned designer and founder of multiple design studios including Boris Berlin Design, KOMPLOT Design, and ISKOS-BERLIN Design, known for his experimental approach to materials and technology. Anne Brandhøj, a Copenhagen-based furniture designer, brings expertise in sculptural woodwork and material exploration. Sarah Hossli, a Swiss product designer, contributes a strong focus on the social and ethical implications of design. Alexander Lervik, one of Scandinavia’s most prominent designers, is recognized for his innovative, technology-driven work, including museum-exhibited pieces. Lorenz Noelle, a Swiss product designer, emphasizes form reduction and material integrity in his work. Natalia Sanz Laviña, a Spanish architect based in Tokyo, co-leads YSLA YamamuraSanzLaviña Architects, blending cultural influences into her designs. Harrison Stallan, an architect at OMA in Rotterdam, merges urban-scale thinking with furniture design, currently developing a line of sustainable furniture. Takeshi Yamamura, co-founder of YSLA, is an accomplished architect and professor in Tokyo. Fabien Roy, a Swiss architect and designer, explores the intersection of craft, technology, and sustainability, with his award-winning work exhibited internationally.
The jury evaluated each entry based on functionality and comfort, aesthetics and signature style, materiality, craftsmanship and construction, and versatility.
Buildner and its jurors extend their gratitude to all participants for their outstanding contributions and congratulate the winners, whose work represents the highest standards of precision, creativity, and innovation.
The Architect's Chair books
Buildner is also pleased to announce the availability of two beautifully curated books showcasing exemplary chair designs from our previous competitions. Each volume features outstanding projects, celebrating innovation, craftsmanship, and architectural ingenuity. Available in both printed editions for your library and digital PDF versions for convenient access, these publications offer invaluable insights and inspiration for architects, designers, and furniture enthusiasts alike. Explore and order your copies here: Buildner's Bookshop
We sincerely thank our jury panel
for their time and expertise
Boris Berlin
Founder and Partner at Boris Berlin Design
Denmark
Anne Brandhøj
designer at Bly Studio, Anne Brandhøj
Denmark
Sarah Hossli
Product designer
Switzerland
Alexander Lervik
Designer
Sweden
Lorenz Noelle
Product designer
Germany
Natalia Sanz Laviña
YSLA YamamuraSanzLaviña Architects
Japan
Harrison Stallan
OMA
Netherlands
Takeshi Yamamura
founder of YSLA YamamuraSanzLaviña Architects
Japan
Fabien Roy
Fabien Roy Studio
Switzerland
Enter the next competition edition
Take a seat and make a statement!
1st Prize Winner +
Buildner Student Award
Buildner Student Award
Risus
Canada
Jury feedback summary
The Risus Side Chair is a wooden chair designed with a refined silhouette, inspired by the curves and angles of existing seating forms that were digitally scanned to enhance ergonomics and structural stability. Its trapezoidal shape provides better weight distribution, while the Douglas fir wood from British Columbia highlights natural grain patterns.
A thoughtfully designed, well-crafted piece that merges digital precision with traditional woodworking expertise. Its ergonomic refinements and sustainable material choices add value to its functional and environmental considerations. Further explorations into adaptability, stackability, or multi-purpose use could elevate its versatility without compromising its minimalist elegance. It suggests a well-thought-out seating experience, but I am a little concerned about the statics in the legs: it seems like they will need a beam in between.
Anne Brandhøj / Buildner guest jury
designer at Bly Studio, Anne Brandhøj, Denmark
Beautifull aesthetic and well proportioned parts. A minimalist chair that is quite different from existing wooden chair with this unique backrest. However, the connections and structure seems under evaluated to withstand a human body. The upper parts that maintains the backrest should have been simply an extension from the frontal legs. It would have been much more resistant. In addition, the thin plank of Douglas fir seems fragile. Douglas fir is really a beautiful wood, but it has some issues with resin pouches and reacts to humidity differences.
Fabien Roy / Buildner guest jury
Fabien Roy Studio, Switzerland
This chair project is nicely harmonious and friendly and has, with some constructive elaboration, the potential to become a good, even comfortable product.
Boris Berlin / Buildner guest jury
Founder and Partner at Boris Berlin Design, Denmark
The Risus side chair combines material, design and craftsmanship in an impressive way: The use of the wood, clear shapes in a well thought-out construction, stability thanks to the trapezoidal shape and a reduced, coherent overall design. The use of Douglas fir brings out the colors and grains in an elegant way. It's also great how detailed the joints have been finished with wooden dowels. You can literally see the context in which the chair exists.
Lorenz Noelle / Buildner guest jury
Product designer, Germany
The design idea is clear and favorable. However, I would have liked to see more work done on the fact that the legs, backrest, and other parts are divided into sections, which means that they are not integrated. For example, this could have been achieved by reducing the number of parts.
Takeshi Yamamura / Buildner guest jury
founder of YSLA YamamuraSanzLaviña Architects, Japan
Buildner's commentary, recommendations and techniques review
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The presentation is clean and effective, using three equally sized renderings or photos that immediately draw the reviewer’s eye. A slight variation in lighting and background colors adds subtle engagement, while the third image does an excellent job of showcasing the chair’s joinery and materials—an essential detail in a competition focused on craftsmanship.
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7/10 Linework
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8/10 Quality of drawings
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8/10 Balance of color
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9/10 Layout
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7/10 Hierarchy
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6/10 Annotation
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8/10 Text
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8/10 Clarity of story
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8/10 Clarity of diagrams
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8/10 Quality of overall presentation
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2nd Prize Winner
Tom
Canada
Jury feedback summary
The Tom chair is a sculptural seating piece characterized by bold colors and organic, rounded shapes. Designed to stand out, its abstract form gives it a playful, almost creature-like presence. Constructed with a laminated wooden frame, it is upholstered by hand using polyurethane foam and covered in a velvet fabric blend of wool, polyester, and nylon. The combination of materials ensures durability and flexibility, allowing the fabric to conform smoothly to its curved shape.
The Tom chair is a playful and sculptural take on seating, bringing personality and vibrancy to its form. Its organic, creature-like shape and bold color choices create a strong visual presence, making it as much an art piece as a functional object. The soft, upholstered structure enhances comfort, while its unconventional design challenges traditional chair typologies. A bold and charismatic reinterpretation of everyday seating.
Harrison Stallan / Buildner guest jury
OMA, Netherlands
A bold and artistic reinterpretation of seating, merging sculpture with furniture design. While its functionality may be secondary to its visual impact, its craftsmanship, materiality, and playful interaction make it a standout piece in contemporary design. I could also see it at an ergonomic seating option as you can move around - and I am sure that kids would love it.
Anne Brandhøj / Buildner guest jury
designer at Bly Studio, Anne Brandhøj, Denmark
It is a very nice, warm and playful object. Honest in the intention and its description - no false explanations, no greenwashing.
Boris Berlin / Buildner guest jury
Founder and Partner at Boris Berlin Design, Denmark
It is an interesting idea to go beyond the concept of a chair. In the presentation, the photo of two chairs stacked on top of each other is attractive, but I would have liked to see a vision of how it would be used as well.
Takeshi Yamamura / Buildner guest jury
founder of YSLA YamamuraSanzLaviña Architects, Japan
Iconic aesthetic. Functional but not sure about the comfort. About sustainability, the upholstery could be changed to a more natural material.
Fabien Roy / Buildner guest jury
Fabien Roy Studio, Switzerland
Buildner's commentary, recommendations and techniques review
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N/A Linework
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10/10 Quality of drawings
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10/10 Balance of color
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9/10 Layout
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10/10 Hierarchy
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7/10 Annotation
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8/10 Text
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8/10 Clarity of story
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8/10 Clarity of diagrams
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9/10 Quality of overall presentation
3rd Prize Winner
Balance Chair
Denmark
Jury feedback summary
The Balance Chair incorporates subtle movement to promote better posture and engagement. It features a forward tilt of eight degrees, encouraging an upright sitting position for improved focus, while allowing users to lean back into a stable resting position. Constructed from ash wood, it has a double-curved plywood seat for comfort and a 45-degree leg structure that integrates movement without compromising stability.
Thanks to the different seating positions, the chair can be used for a wide range of applications - whether around a dining table or in the home office. The standard components of a traditional wooden chairs were analysed carefully and modified accordingly. Although the chair has to withstand a lot of force due to the tilting function, it is visually light and has a friendly, welcoming character.
Sarah Hossli / Buildner guest jury
Product designer, Switzerland
The design is simple, focusing only on what the designer identified as a genuine user need, without overcomplicating elements that were already, in the history of chair, well resolved. I also appreciate the anthropological approach, as it tells us a lot about a society at a specific moment in time. In a subtle way, this chair reflects key social trends, such as evolving work habits, health concerns, and spatial layouts.
Natalia Sanz Laviña / Buildner guest jury
YSLA YamamuraSanzLaviña Architects, Japan
Basic but well proportioned. Simple and efficient, sustainable, one material solid wood. The main issue to me is the weak structure under the seat which is too fragile to manufacture it and launch it on the market.
Fabien Roy / Buildner guest jury
Fabien Roy Studio, Switzerland
This entry effectively reimagines the chair as an active piece of furniture rather than a passive object. While the innovation in movement is compelling, refining user adaptability and material sustainability could strengthen the design even further. Excellent craftsmanship and a strong conceptual foundation make this a standout submission.
Anne Brandhøj / Buildner guest jury
designer at Bly Studio, Anne Brandhøj, Denmark
It is a nice (though not unknown after all) and realistic concept, demanding a little more attention to enforcing the construction and elaborating the ergonomy of the seat and back shapes.
Boris Berlin / Buildner guest jury
Founder and Partner at Boris Berlin Design, Denmark
The design shows in an appealing way that chairs are not just about sitting still, but also about constant active movement. In a simple and clever way, the X-shaped chair base brings freedom of movement, stability and visual clarity to the wooden construction.
Lorenz Noelle / Buildner guest jury
Product designer, Germany
Buildner's commentary, recommendations and techniques review
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The project presents a strong primary image that instantly communicates the chair’s design and proportions. The clever use of a double image effectively highlights the two variations, making it easy to understand what sets this chair apart from others in the competition. Supporting this, the detailed photos do an excellent job of showcasing craftsmanship and material joinery.
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7/10 Linework
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8/10 Quality of drawings
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8/10 Balance of color
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8/10 Layout
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7/10 Hierarchy
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5/10 Annotation
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8/10 Text
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8/10 Clarity of story
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7/10 Clarity of diagrams
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7/10 Quality of overall presentation
Buildner Sustainability Award
Bäuer:innenstuhl
Germany
Jury feedback summary
The Bäuer:innenstuhl is a contemporary reinterpretation of the traditional "Bauernstuhl," a simple wooden chair commonly found in Alpine regions. Constructed from solid wood, it features an angular structure with a split backrest, maintaining a balance between rustic craftsmanship and modern aesthetics. The design embraces traditional joinery while avoiding metal fasteners and chemical treatments, enhancing sustainability.
We live in an era of overproduction and overdesign, so when a new product is created, I value that it offers more than a piece of furniture, but also a reflection. This chair does exactly that. It presents an alternative production approach that builds more than just an object, it builds a community and moves closer to a system that prioritizes reuse and repair over recycling. It embraces a broader understanding of sustainability taking in consideration its three pillars: environmental, economic and social.
Natalia Sanz Laviña / Buildner guest jury
YSLA YamamuraSanzLaviña Architects, Japan
The chair is a new interpretation of a traditional piece of furniture. This self-imposed task has been masterfully solved. the large surfaces generate a clear, clean shape. The wooden joint is emphasised by the geometrically reduced basic shapes, so that the user understands the concept without words. The joinery works without glue or other materials. Its sustainable character is very contemporary.
Sarah Hossli / Buildner guest jury
Product designer, Switzerland
A refined balance between heritage and modernity. Its strong sustainability approach, minimalistic design, and commitment to craftsmanship make it a standout piece in contemporary furniture design. Its clean lines makes it a little to generic.
Anne Brandhøj / Buildner guest jury
designer at Bly Studio, Anne Brandhøj, Denmark
It has nothing to do with comfort, the human body, etc. These issues don't bother its authors. But there are other important issues as tradition, construction, sustainability and so on. And they are perfectly addressed!
Boris Berlin / Buildner guest jury
Founder and Partner at Boris Berlin Design, Denmark
The concept is carefully considered and coherent from A to Z: From the reference of the Bäuer*innen-Stuhl to the topic of sustainability, the value of wood and to a workshop that promotes social interaction. Very well done!
Sarah Hossli / Buildner guest jury
Product designer, Switzerland
Buildner's commentary, recommendations and techniques review
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The three primary images at the top of the page provide a comprehensive view of the chair from multiple angles, ensuring that a viewer fully understands its structure, materials, and craftsmanship. The contrast between the chair and its industrial background creates strong visual interest without overwhelming the clarity of the design.
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9/10 Linework
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9/10 Quality of drawings
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9/10 Balance of color
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10/10 Layout
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10/10 Hierarchy
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7/10 Annotation
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10/10 Text
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9/10 Clarity of story
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9/10 Clarity of diagrams
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9/10 Quality of overall presentation
Honorable mentions
Shortlisted projects
SIMBIOSI
Switzerland nook chair
Tom
Plus Chair Type A
Banshee
Half Moon Chair
THE BOGOUI CHAIR
My Chair
Alice
Folding Chair
The H-AUX Chair
UNITY
CUBO Chair
OMERO STOOL
Notch Chair
CNR Chair
Pōwhiri Stool
Flavia Chair
Jo_int
RE:TIMBER
Orbis
Bäuer:innenstuhl
Risus
KAWA CHAIR
THEU
Ligna Chair
Balance Chair
The Svelte
NAVAN CHAIR
Locus Chair
LEHNchair
BOW CHAIR
The Swathe
Gemina
twizler
Nopal
Venice Chair
ARKA
STAIRLOUNGE
nest
This project makes a strong visual impact with its bold, single-image approach. The use of a large, strikingly colored yet simple composition ensures the design is both memorable and enjoyable to engage with. However, a few refinements could enhance its overall presentation. Read more First, experimenting with a color other than black for the primary image might improve cohesion. While black is dramatic and provides a strong presence on the sheet, it contrasts significantly with the other imagery, creating a sense of inconsistency. A more integrated color choice could help unify the visuals. Second, the text hierarchy could be adjusted for clarity. The bold "Production" heading draws immediate attention, but the introductory text—where the project's purpose is explained—should be just as prominent. Adding a similar title to the introduction and increasing the font size or bolding key points would better guide the viewer’s understanding. Lastly, the text alongside the production images would benefit from stronger organization. Right now, it lacks hierarchy and feels secondary. Introducing subtitles, bold keywords, or italicized key commentary would help structure the information and highlight the most important takeaways. These refinements would elevate an already compelling and visually striking presentation.