The Festival of Wood is announcing the
international (Prime)Chair design
competition. A professional jury will
select two design solutions, which
will be presented as prototypes at the
2025 Festival of Wood Awards Ceremony.
Alongside each first prize, the jury will also
choose two honourable mentions in each
category, which will be showcased visually at
the opening event.
The competition is open to creative and
imaginative individuals aged 18 and above.
When we think of Kočevska, a picture of
a magnificent forest landscape comes to
mind—untouched nature, rich in wildlife,
where the bear, wolf, and lynx reign
supreme. But Kočevska is more than that. It
holds a special secret: its seemingly endless
forests jealously guard their exceptionally
valuable treasures. These silent and
mysterious corners of ancient nature are
among the few remaining virgin forests in
Europe. Slovenia has 14 virgin forests, and
nearly half of them are in Kočevska. This
region’s forest heritage includes six virgin
forests, covering a total area of nearly 219
hectares. The largest among them, Krokar,
was added to the UNESCO World Heritage
List in 2017.
www.kocevje.si
www.kocevsko.com
The Festival of Wood is announcing open
submissions for the 11th International
Industrial Design Competition for two
wooden chairs, as a tribute to the virgin
forests of Kočevska.
AWARDS
KEY DATES
| EXPRESSIVE CHAIR
A TRIBUTE TO THE RICHNESS
OF THE KOČEVJE FORESTS
Awarded to a chair that expresses, in an
expressive, artistic, and symbolic way, a deep
connection with the untouched nature and
the silence of the Kočevje virgin forest.
→ Cash prize of €1,500 (pretax)
→ Prototype production of the chair
→ Certificate
→ Free accommodation in Kočevje (October
16–18, 2025)
→ Participation in the 2025 Festival of Wood
awards ceremony
→ Expert-guided tour of the Krokar virgin
forest
| INDUSTRIAL CHAIR
FOREST DESIGN FOR
THE FUTURE
Awarded to a chair based on similar
general principles as the expressive chair
but adapted for industrial production and
commercial appeal.
→ Cash prize of €1,500 (pretax)
→ Prototype production of the chair
→ Certificate
→ Free accommodation in Kočevje (October
16–18, 2025)
→ Participation in the 2025 Festival of Wood
awards ceremony
→ Expert-guided tour of the Krokar virgin
forest
KEY DATES: Competition opens: May 16, 2025
Deadline for questions: August 14, 2025
Submission deadline: August 26, 2025
Jury selection: September 8, 2025
Award ceremony: October 16, 2025
