The event, run in association with the Spanish Wood Importers Association, involved 123 pre-selected pieces of work from 12 major design schools.
Two categories – “A piece of kitchen furniture” and “A piece of furniture for meditation, contemplation and relaxation” – were judged by a panel which included three leading Spanish designers.
Charlotte Debarle’s Lupi kitchen chair won first prize in the kitchen furniture section. A student from the Barcelona-based European Institute of Design, Ms Debarle used American white oak for her design.
Richard Catalina from Madrid’s European Institute of Design selected American red oak for his Triple Relax project, which won the second category.
His piece is designed for multiple uses, ranging from a chaise longue to an armchair to a horizontal surface for “total relaxation”.
“The winning designs are testament to the beauty and versatility of American hardwood and they are a powerful inspiration for designers to use sustainable hardwoods from North American forests,” said AHEC executive director Mike Snow.
