Winner
German Design Award 2016
The “Executive Desk S-4” by Felix Schwake was awarded the German Design Award 2016. The project exemplifies a design approach that understands architecture, function, and spatial calmness as interconnected tasks.
At the center of the design is not the visibility of technical functions, but their complete integration into a clear geometric order. Technology, cable management, storage, and work materials are organized in such a way that the visual calmness of the workspace remains intact even during everyday use.
The desk therefore follows a fundamental understanding of architecture as a background for concentrated work. Design should not generate additional visual unrest, but instead create conditions in which concentration, clarity, and use become naturally possible.
The integrated sideboard assumes essential functional tasks. Printers, computer technology, cabling, files, and work materials remain fully integrated into the construction while still being immediately accessible. Cable routes are guided through the interior of the furniture and do not appear externally.
The reduction to clear proportions and calm materials does not serve formal rigor alone. Rather, it creates a working environment in which materiality, light, and spatial order define the atmosphere. Functions remain present without becoming visually dominant.
The project consciously positions itself between architecture, interior design, and functional art. The desk is not understood as an isolated object, but as part of a larger spatial order that influences both perception and ways of working.
The German Design Award particularly recognized this connection between reduced design, technical integration, and enduring spatial quality. Architecture is understood not as a short-lived visual appearance, but as a lasting spatial experience within everyday life.
The work of Felix Schwake consistently investigates how material, function, and atmosphere can be brought together to create calm and concentrated environments.