How many ideas fit in a seat bucket?

For the fifth time Bene recently invited ten selected firms of architects and ten design studios to a creative dialogue. This year the pre-Christmas competition took place for the first time under the name SEAT ART. The seat shell of the Rondo chair by Bene represented the basic material and the question to participants was: how many ideas will fit into a seat shell?

Rondo is a sculptural shell chair which was designed in 2004 by Bene Design (Christian Horner, Johannes Scherr, Kai Stania) and has since spread halfway round the world – in offices, restaurants and at home. The chair features two shells of laminated wood, organically shaped and intelligently joined together. Ten selected firms of architects and ten design studios were invited to give their ideas free rein – and to create something new with the curved sections of wood. Re-design, transformation, enhancement, deconstruction – everything was permitted.

The expert jury was made up of design editor Amelie Znidaric (assistant editor in chief of 'Die Presse' / 'Schaufenster'), architecture critic Wojciech Czaja ('Der Standard') and designer Johannes Scherr. The award presentation took place at the Bene showrooms in Vienna on 27 November 2008.
The jury was especially impressed by the generally high quality of the entries which had been submitted: "The intensive occupation with the subject was remarkable – both in terms of concept and in production. There had obviously been a major investment in both time and from a budget point of view."

First place went to Gharakhanzadeh Sandbichler Architekten for their entry, a film. Under the title "BEN E.", which personifies the subject, they focus on the question at the core of the competition. The Rondo seat shell sets off on a journey to discover its identity, asking "Do you know what I am?". The versatile piece of furniture staggers through a number of comic and practical situations and in the end has an identity crisis - but with a happy ending.
The verdict of the jury was: "The most consistent realisation of the aims of the competition, with a well-produced film."

"I told you from the start that destroying a classic is risky", is the title of the object with which solid architecture won second place and which impressed the jury as a contribution to the design dialogue. The classic as a burning topic for designers – what actually makes a classic? – and also for collectors. A debate which ranges far and wide, with lots of pitfalls!

Third place went to Felix Keller. His "cradle" arose from an occupation with the subject of work and family – and with all the adjustments which are made necessary by the arrival of a child. The result is a formally coherent cradle, which strikingly reflects the characteristics of the original Rondo. The jury all agreed that they would be prepared to place a baby in it.

All the entries which were submitted will be on view at the Bene showrooms in 1010 Vienna, Renngasse 6, until 31 January 2009. Opening times: Mon. – Thurs.: 8.00 – 17.00 hrs, Fri. 8.00 – 15.30 hrs.