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.
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1st Place + Buildner Student Award
Risus
Olivier Lacroix, in collaboration with William Deschamps
Canada
“This is our first competition. I decided to participate along with William because of my interest in both design and architecture and the great opportunity it gives to gain international visibility. It’s also an opportunity to receive constructive criticism and advice from a jury renowned in the field of design and architecture. For the two of us it’s an occasion to further reflect on our practice and on the objects we believe are worth creating.
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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.
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2nd Place
Tom
Reggy St-Surin
Canada
“As a young designer, I believe participating in competitions is a great way to build a portfolio and put myself out there. Also, sometimes, it involves a monetary prize that I simply see as capital to reinvest in my practice and future projects.
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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.
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3rd Place
Balance Chair
Niklas Fiedler
Denmark
“Competitions provide a platform to push creative boundaries, experiment with new ideas and engage in critical discourse within the field of architecture. They also provide opportunities to gain visibility and network with like-minded professionals.
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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.
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Buildner Sustainability Award
Bäuer:innenstuhl
Nicklas Coombe Potter, Esra Heuermann
Germany
“Competitions offer us a valuable opportunity to receive feedback from expert juries, helping us refine our work. They also serve as a platform to showcase our projects and contribute to the broader design discourse. By participating, we can share our values and perspectives, engaging in meaningful conversations about the future of design.”
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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.
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HONORABLE MENTION
STAIRLOUNGE
Sang Mook Lim, Minji Cho
United States
“We participate in architecture competitions to explore design as a tool for dialogue—between disciplines, between scales, and between people. Competitions allow us to step outside the constraints of professional practice and experiment freely with ideas that reflect the emotional and communal impact of design. Pursuing conceptual work that might not yet have been built in the world or re-designing the existing ideas encourages innovation, while still being grounded in real-world issues. Whether it’s reimagining everyday objects like furniture, competitions push me to reflect on the evolving role of design in society and how it can meaningfully respond to change.”
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HONORABLE MENTION
ARKA
Nina Pawliszyn, Luca Fontana
Italy
“We participate in architecture competitions because it’s fun. We enjoy challenging ourselves by exploring typologies that we wouldn’t usually have the opportunity to design.”
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HONORABLE MENTION
NAVAN CHAIR
Omid Shafigh Khatibi, Keenan David Boliek-Poling, Kristin Ross
United States
“Architecture competitions provide a unique environment that challenges us to push the boundaries of our creativity and innovation in design.”
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HONORABLE MENTION
RE:TIMBER
Oleksii Zolochevskyi, Nataliia Zolochevska, Kateryna Belinska
United States
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HONORABLE MENTION
CUBO Chair
Min Joo Noh
United States
“Amidst the busyness of daily life, I sometimes forget why I wanted to pursue architecture. Competitions, however, always remind me of that reason and reignite my passion.”
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HONORABLE MENTION
My Chair
Davide Apolloni
Italy
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SHORTLISTED PROJECTS
