'one fine day' architects from Düsseldorf, led by Professor Holger Hoffmann, win TROX FOCUS DESIGN AWARD

2nd prize:ID AID, Stuttgart, 'BLOW-OP'

3rd prize (1): HPP Architects, Düsseldorf, 'XARTO AIR 3D'

3rd prize (2): BERGHOF & HALLER Architecture, Frankfurt/Main, 'Migrating Birds' (Zugvögel)

Professor Tobias Wallisser | LAVA, Stuttgart and Berlin:

 

'This design has impressed us with a whole range of unique ideas. One idea is to leave the classic 60 x 60 cm field and to extend the apertures as an ornament across a larger area of nine fields. The second idea is to not just arrange holes but to change a hexagon in such a way that it mutates into a star and allows for ever different ways of interpretation. What results is a very rich ornament that allows for ever new perspectives even at second view. In other words, there is a very valuable optical feature in a variable field configuration, which allows for a very special effect in the ceiling. This means there are different levels of dimension which have been combined in a unique way: Integration into the ceiling as an overall object and integration of the diffuser into a single tile, and finally the combination of an ornament resulting from closed area vs. aperture.'

Corinna Kretschmar-Joehnk | JOI-Design, Hamburg:

 

'This concept relies on playing with the perforation. The apertures have been developed along a diagonal line in such an unusual way; their shape seems to be changing, resulting in a new dimension. During the evaluation process we analysed the look and feel of the submission from various perspectives. When attached to the ceiling, the front plate seemed to actually protrude into the room, what we found really exciting. In the second variant, the dimension seemed to evolve from a right angle; it looked very attractive in the context of the room. We architects don't really want any visible diffusers in a room – this entry meets this criterion since it blends in nicely and homogeneously with the perforated ceiling. The front plates of the diffusers which are installed here and there in the ceiling change the overall look of the ceiling towards the room and create a dynamic image.'

3rd prize (1)

Burkhard Fröhlich | DBZ, Gütersloh:

 

'The 3rd prize goes to a very beautiful design. The source of inspiration of this work are tiny air bubbles, similar to the soap bubbles we all know, which move weightless and fairly uncontrolled around the room and yet they serve to create an image. This has obviously been achieved with both the square and the circular plate.  The structure of the holes becomes an orderly structure of apertures of different sizes which assume a smaller format towards the edges and a larger format towards the centre. It results in an attractive and harmonious overall structure of the plate, and one can well imagine what the layout of the ceiling looks like when several of these plates are installed. Whether the apertures suffice to supply the required air volume remains to be seen, just as the technical and design integration of all other elements such as lighting, fire protection, acoustics, etc.' 

Professor Dr. Alexander Gutzmer | BAUMEISTER, Munich:

 

'The other entry, which has also received a 3rd prize, is a very poetic, almost lyrical, and in any case narrative design. It was inspired by Alfred Hitchcock's movie 'The Birds'. There is something playful and funny about the entry - I think this is quite possible with a design for an award competition. What I liked was, on one hand, the courage to actually work with pictures - quite in contrast to the designs of the other winners -, and on the other hand the concept of height. The architects didn't use just any pictures but chose quite deliberately the bird motif. This design may not be feasible for every type of building but it involves a great deal of creativity, and we liked that very much.' 

Selected photos