Wine Credenza II: A Fusion of Art and Functionality

Designer Han Sung-Jae's Award-Winning Creation

Wine Credenza II is a result of Sung-Jae's contemplation about the essence of culture and the increasing quantitative improvements in our lives. The design aims to provide users with the pleasure of choosing from various wine bottles and the playful experience of manually rotating the wines. The table also serves as a platform to place the chosen bottle of wine.

The unique properties of Wine Credenza II lie in its interactive nature. Users are not just passive observers but active participants in the process. The act of turning the handle and choosing the wine becomes a medium of communication between the artist and the user. The design is not just visually appealing but also directly usable.

The Wine Credenza II is crafted from walnut wood and birch plywood. The interior gears, chains, and other structures are made of stainless steel and brass, while the holder's cover is glass. The steel frame of the holder is marked using a laser engraving machine. The main wood part of the table is made by bonding each layer of cut wood and sharpening the edges with a grinder and sander.

The design measures 1330 mm x 570 mm x 1040 mm and is tagged as a table, credenza, wine storage, wine credenza, and wine locker. The stainless steel wine cover keeps the wine cold, while the walnut table blocks external light. The design was created in Seoul between January and May 2015 and was exhibited at the Sarah Myerscough Gallery at Design Miami Basel in June 2016.

Creating the Wine Credenza II was not without challenges. The most significant challenge was the rotating part. Sung-Jae had to study the mechanism of the rotating part and handle. After creating several models, he focused on fixing the wine holder to ensure it did not shake while working. User-friendliness was also a key consideration in the design process.

The Wine Credenza II was awarded the Golden A' Furniture Design Award in 2018, a testament to its outstanding design and functionality. This award is granted to marvelous, outstanding, and trendsetting creations that reflect the designer's prodigy and wisdom. They are venerated products and bright ideas that advance art, science, design, and technology, embodying extraordinary excellence and significantly impacting the world with their desirable characteristics.