The purpose of the competition
The Festival of Wood invites open applications to the 10th International Contest Primal Chair. The grand jury will select 3 authors or groups of authors who will be presented at the award ceremony during the Festival of Wood 2024.
Participation in the contest is open to all designers, students, and authors worldwide and above 18 years.
When thinking about Kočevsko a picture of a magnificent forest landscape with intact nature and a diverse animal world with bears, wolves, and lynxes emerges in one’s mind. But Kočevsko has another special secret hiding in endless forests as a precious pearl. These are silent in secret remnants of primeval nature in Europe, in fact, the few rare virgin forests in Europe. Slovenia has 14 virgin forests, 6 of which are in the region Kočevsko on the surface of almost 219 ha. The largest is the virgin forest Krokar which was put on the UNESCO World Heritage list in 2017.
The Festival of Wood invites open applications to the 10th International Industrial Design Contest of a wooden chair as a tribute to the primeval forests of the Kočevsko region.
By taking part in this design competition, you get a chance to materialize your design idea in the primeval forest – contemporary human relations. The aim is to create a simple, functional, and ergonomically designed chair, which will, in addition to its primary function, raise awareness of the user (contemporary person) about the importance of coexistence between man and nature.
Awards
First award:
Money prize 1000 euros (pre-tax) prototype production + free board costs at the Bearlog Hostel during the Festival of Wood 2024 (3 nights) + guided tour to the brink of the virgin forest of Kočevsko + certificate.
Second award:
-prototype production
-certificate
Third award:
-prototype production
-certificate
Important dates:
Call for entries: 24th May 2024
Deadline for entries: 26th August 2024
Selection of winners by the grand jury: 6th September 2024
Award ceremony: Festival of Wood 2024, 16th October 2024, Kočevje
The Contest is invited by
Festival lesa, z.o.o., so.p.
Registration fee
49,00 € (VAT incl.)
Partners
Regional Institute for Tourism Kočevsko, Municipality of Kočevje, Kočevski les Timber Management of Municipality owned forests, Gimnazija in Srednja šola Kočevje, Business incubator Kočevje
Judging criteria
The entries will be evaluated according to the following 4 aspects:
1. design aspect; innovativeness, functionality, aesthetics, feasibility
2. material selection; taking into account the use of wood as a primary material
3. marketing stance; usefulness and market applicability
4. presentation; clear and high-quality presentation of entry presentation
Every member of the grand jury will evaluate each entry according to one of the five aspects by the individual judging criteria. The jury’s decisions are final and cannot be appealed.
The Grand Jury members:
Prof. Janez Suhadolc
Architect, designer and carpenter, retired professor at the Faculty of Architecture in Ljubljana
Prof. Salih Teskeredžić
Architect and product designer, a professor at the Sarajevo Academy of Fine Arts, cofounder and creative director of the Gazzda brand, and winner of multiple international design contests.
Nikola Radeljković
Founder and member of the Numen/ForUse group, artistic director of the brand Nunc, and a guest teacher at numerous design schools.
Prof. Rok Kuhar
Architect and product designer, Head of the Industrial Design Department at the Academy of Fine Arts and Design in Ljubljana, cofounder of Studio Raketa works in the field of graphic and product design.
Primož Jeza
Architect and designer, assistant professor at the Faculty of Architecture and at the Academy of Fine Arts and Design in Ljubljana, founder of the design studio PRIMOZJEZASTUDIO, author of the book Interier Primož Jeza 9+1, winner of many design contests.
Doc. Mojca Perše
Architect and interior designer, assistant professor at the Department for Interior Design and Vice-dean for Artistic Activities at the Faculty of Design in Ljubljana, Head of the Laboratory for Creative Industries at the Faculty of Design in Ljubljana.
Natalija Lapajne
Museum counselor at The Museum for Architecture and Design, member of the interdisciplinary workgroup for adding the works of Jože Plečnik to the UNESCO list, author of exhibitions (Ne)uresničeni parlament, Igra igrače, and Niko Kralj.
Tomaž Sešler
Founder of the company Rexdesign d.o.o.. An expert on the works of Niko Kralj, who has revived many of his nearly forgotten creations.
Albin Škalič
Carpentry engineer, CEO of the company Murales.
Andrej Palman
Carpentry engineer, an expert associate of Business incubator Kočevje.