Every year, Archiproducts, the world-renowned online platform for architecture and design, celebrates the most innovative and ground-breaking creations in its vast collection. This year, the highly qualified international jury awarded the Archiproducts Design Award in the Outdoor category to Manutti’s DUO rocking chair.
DUO, created by designer Koen Van Extergem, perfectly illustrates what Archiproducts means with ‘culture of project’: products that are intrinsically connected to their production processes. Marked by simplicity and transparency, DUO reveals the creative process that went into its design and production.
“My main inspiration for DUO was traditional craftsmanship and modern metalwork”, explains Koen. “The goal was to create a light, innovative chair that is characterized by the visual quality of transparency. The contrast between the hand-woven rope and the aluminium frame juxtaposes stability and fragility. And as a rocking chair, DUO has a decidedly playful aspect of movement that is perfectly in tune with modern life.”
“I am deeply honored to receive the Archiproducts Design Award, which acknowledges the intention I always had with DUO: to create a product that feels at home in the modern world but that is also firmly rooted in traditional craftsmanship.”