FLORENCE, ITALY - A Florence master graduate created an innovative piece of urban furniture as an entry to the 2022 Ro Plastic Competition curated by Milan’s Galleria Rossana Orlandi. The creator of the vigorous bench system is Egyptian designer Mohamed Hassan, a recent graduate of the Master of Furniture Design held by FIDI in Florence.

Hassan’s creation, aptly entitled ‘Conda’, was given honorable mention in the Urban and Public Design category which was open to both students and industry professionals. Made up of straight and curved segments that interlock, the system formulates a robust urban furniture made fully from recycled plastic. Coming from a traditional family of furniture fabricators in Egypt, Hassan also found himself compelled to address sustainable goals of the production process. The concept seeks to simplify assembly by reducing the design to a single cast element of one material.

The bench system alleviates the need for reinforcement or secondary fastener components by creating cast interlocking sections.  “The continuous form with higher and lower parts create pockets to hold items while sitting” Hassan explained. "Designed with a friendly appearance the system interlocks with simple puzzle shaped connections” The effect of movement and motion is achieved through a series of flush interlocking segments. The bench system can be configured in unlimited possibilities of dynamic configurations.

The unique piece was visualized by Hassan during his time at FIDI, under the tutelage of professor arch. Leonardo Rossano. FIDI’s one-year Master of Furniture Design program is now in its tenth year. Hassan was formerly a graduate of the American University of Cairo, regarded as one of the most avant-garde design schools in Egypt.

About Arch Leonardo Rossano: Rossano teaches furniture design courses at the FIDI, and his unique style has been described as ‘working with forms that are fresh and innovative while using a variety of materials, everything from bent plywood to aluminium and steel’. Born in Taranto in 1963, Arch Rossano graduated from Florence University with a degree in Architecture in 1991. He has worked in collaboration with renowned architect Claudio Nardi, taking part in various design projects including boutique design for Italian fashion houses Dolce and Gabbana, Gianfranco Ferre and Valentino. Since 1998 he has worked as a freelance professional designer of furniture and furniture complements for fair stands and company communications. He has designed furniture pieces manufactured by companies including TRUE Design and Lapalma.

About The Florence Institute of Design International. FIDI is an international school of in Florence, Italy with courses of interior design, graphic design and furniture. For more information visit www.florence-institute.com

Photos by Gianluigi Di Napoli