Inwabu Bench
Prize(s):
WINNER 2026 PRODUCT DESIGN / Furniture & Lighting
Company Name:Studio Kalki
Lead Designer(s) Name(s):Nikhil Sunil Tricam
Design Team / Other designer(s):Nindya Bucktowar
Manufacturer Name:Studio Kalki
Distributors Name:Studio Kalki
Photo Credit:Nikhil Tricam
Project Location:Durban, South Africa
Design Status:Commercialized
Website: View
Product Description:
The Inwabu Bench, named for the isiZulu word for chameleon, is a functional sculpture that explores the intersection of industrial structure and organic skin. Through marrying a precision-engineered steel subframe with a tactile, handmade and hand-glazed ceramic exterior, the piece creates a unique "living" object that responds to the light and movement of its environment. No two Izinwabu (plural in isiZulu) are the same, with each terracotta tile rolled, cut, textured and glazed by hand, the uniqueness of each piece is celebrated.
The Inwabu Bench, named for the isiZulu word for chameleon, is a functional sculpture that explores the intersection of industrial structure and organic skin. Through marrying a precision-engineered steel subframe with a tactile, handmade and hand-glazed ceramic exterior, the piece creates a unique "living" object that responds to the light and movement of its environment. No two Izinwabu (plural in isiZulu) are the same, with each terracotta tile rolled, cut, textured and glazed by hand, the uniqueness of each piece is celebrated.
Product Innovation / Specification:
The soul of the Inwabu Bench lies in its material duality. The powdercoated steel subframe provides the structural strength required for public or private use, allowing for the highly minimalist yet sensuous profile. This industrial rigidity is entirely enveloped in a skin of handmade clay tiles. Curved tiles, created by mechanically controlling the drying process of the clay to ensure that shrinkage happens along the radius of the curve, form the focal point of the bench. These pieces are highly technically challenging, as clay wants to return to its original form when drying - in this case, a flat slab. The wet clay is cut to size, with an allowance for 10-20% shrinkage during drying, and molded over a radius. Damp cloths are placed over it to slow the drying process, while weights control the shrinkage. Too much, and it'll crack. To little, and it returns to flat. This process ensures that no two surfaces are identical, echoing the natural camouflage and iridescent skin of the chameleon. The choice of terracotta is a deliberate nod to Southern African ceramic traditions, elevating an ancient earthcraft into the realm of contemporary architectural furniture.
The soul of the Inwabu Bench lies in its material duality. The powdercoated steel subframe provides the structural strength required for public or private use, allowing for the highly minimalist yet sensuous profile. This industrial rigidity is entirely enveloped in a skin of handmade clay tiles. Curved tiles, created by mechanically controlling the drying process of the clay to ensure that shrinkage happens along the radius of the curve, form the focal point of the bench. These pieces are highly technically challenging, as clay wants to return to its original form when drying - in this case, a flat slab. The wet clay is cut to size, with an allowance for 10-20% shrinkage during drying, and molded over a radius. Damp cloths are placed over it to slow the drying process, while weights control the shrinkage. Too much, and it'll crack. To little, and it returns to flat. This process ensures that no two surfaces are identical, echoing the natural camouflage and iridescent skin of the chameleon. The choice of terracotta is a deliberate nod to Southern African ceramic traditions, elevating an ancient earthcraft into the realm of contemporary architectural furniture.
Product Sustainability Approach:
The Inwabu Bench is designed with a focus on high-durability, low-impact materials: Unlike solid metal or plastic seating, clay tiles act as a thermal buffer. The mass of the ceramic maintains an even surface temperature, making it a comfortable seat in any climate. The hand-glazed vitrified finish provides a non-porous, UV-stable shield. The Inwabu’s ceramic skin is impervious to sun damage and corrosion. The bench is designed for longevity and repair. Should a tile be damaged, it can be replaced individually without discarding the entire piece.
The Inwabu Bench is designed with a focus on high-durability, low-impact materials: Unlike solid metal or plastic seating, clay tiles act as a thermal buffer. The mass of the ceramic maintains an even surface temperature, making it a comfortable seat in any climate. The hand-glazed vitrified finish provides a non-porous, UV-stable shield. The Inwabu’s ceramic skin is impervious to sun damage and corrosion. The bench is designed for longevity and repair. Should a tile be damaged, it can be replaced individually without discarding the entire piece.
Local and Regional Impacts of the Product:
The entire Inwabu bench is made from locally-sourced products, ensuring industries in our immediate vicinity and locality are supported and upskilled. The use of terracotta, sourced from a farm in our local countryside, ensures continued work for inhabitants of the village in the proximity of the facility, employed there.
The entire Inwabu bench is made from locally-sourced products, ensuring industries in our immediate vicinity and locality are supported and upskilled. The use of terracotta, sourced from a farm in our local countryside, ensures continued work for inhabitants of the village in the proximity of the facility, employed there.
Company Name:Studio Kalki
Lead Designer(s) Name(s):Nikhil Sunil Tricam
Previous Awards Won:
Nikhil Tricam _2012 - Part of winning team for new NMMU Business School (the Workplace Architects). _2013 - FYDA international awards : top 10 internationally, award of honour _2014 - First place: ID5 ‘Durban Urban’ : (Visual Arts) _2014 - Published in UIA Journal [Article : Tomorrow’s Archtitect] _2017 - First place : DBR/ Kencada competition for a new school in Lamu, Kenya (with Nindya Bucktowar) _2018 - Published in SA Artist [Feature : Nikhil Tricam - Finding Perspective in the City] _2018 - TV interview aired on MELA SA [Feature : Nikhil Tricam - Architect] _2018/ 2019 - Selected as part of Red Bull Amaphiko design team, for 2019. _2022 - Selected as part of AHEC : Future Heirlooms designers [along with six of SA’s top designers] _2022 - Winner : Nando’s Hot Young Designer 2022 (with Nindya Bucktowar) _2023 - Awarded Battersea Power Station Interactive Mural Project in London, UK (with Nindya Bucktowar and Clout SA) _2024 - Residence of the Year - House & Garden Designer of the Year Awards - Elaleni Forest House (with Julia Rutherfoord Architect) _2024 - Scape100 Listing - Scape Magazine (with Nindya Bucktowar as Studio Kalki) _2025 - Shortlisted for Cape Town Furniture Week - Design of the Year (with Nindya Bucktowar as Studio Kalki)
Nikhil Tricam _2012 - Part of winning team for new NMMU Business School (the Workplace Architects). _2013 - FYDA international awards : top 10 internationally, award of honour _2014 - First place: ID5 ‘Durban Urban’ : (Visual Arts) _2014 - Published in UIA Journal [Article : Tomorrow’s Archtitect] _2017 - First place : DBR/ Kencada competition for a new school in Lamu, Kenya (with Nindya Bucktowar) _2018 - Published in SA Artist [Feature : Nikhil Tricam - Finding Perspective in the City] _2018 - TV interview aired on MELA SA [Feature : Nikhil Tricam - Architect] _2018/ 2019 - Selected as part of Red Bull Amaphiko design team, for 2019. _2022 - Selected as part of AHEC : Future Heirlooms designers [along with six of SA’s top designers] _2022 - Winner : Nando’s Hot Young Designer 2022 (with Nindya Bucktowar) _2023 - Awarded Battersea Power Station Interactive Mural Project in London, UK (with Nindya Bucktowar and Clout SA) _2024 - Residence of the Year - House & Garden Designer of the Year Awards - Elaleni Forest House (with Julia Rutherfoord Architect) _2024 - Scape100 Listing - Scape Magazine (with Nindya Bucktowar as Studio Kalki) _2025 - Shortlisted for Cape Town Furniture Week - Design of the Year (with Nindya Bucktowar as Studio Kalki)
