Who are we?
Welcome to Strada Potaissa – The Different Flower Market, a vibrant and much-loved event in Cluj-Napoca inspired by the Street Delivery movement, where public space is reclaimed for creativity and community. Each summer, this charming cobblestone street in the heart of Cluj-Napoca is transformed by the Daisler Association into a dreamlike promenade – lined with flowers, buzzing with life, and worthy of any travel magazine or postcard.
The Daisler Association, the team behind this competition, is a Cluj-Napoca-based NGO with a clear mission: to creatively reclaim and reuse public space through bold and unexpected initiatives – like Strada Potaissa itself. It’s no wonder that, in just a few short years, Strada Potaissa has become one of Romania’s best-known flower markets – and the street itself, one of the most beautiful public spaces in the country.
And it’s all thanks to the spark of creativity.
Why a design competition?
We’ve always loved involving people in our projects right from the idea stage – when everything is still just lines and dreams. As we began planning our tenth edition in 2026, we realized we needed custom-designed tables, benches, and chairs – elements that would seamlessly match the unique atmosphere we’ve crafted over the years.
We’ve collaborated with design and architecture students before – but this time, we’re raising the stakes. The winner of this competition will receive an unforgettable prize: a trip to Japan, the Land of the Rising Sun, to experience the world’s most talked-about event of 2025 – the Osaka World Expo!
What we require?
The Challenges of Practical Implementation
The project’s goal is to create objects that respect the established culture of the festival while remaining practical enough for hands-on construction in a workshop before the 10th edition of the event (2026). These objects must be economically feasible and structurally sound, while also being thoughtfully integrated into the context. The balance between functional pragmatism and a subtle understanding of the surrounding environment is key, ensuring that these elements seamlessly blend together in the design of the three objects.
The assembly process will use straightforward construction techniques, relying on readily available materials, without compromising the objects’ character. The creativity of each team will be crucial in exploring how these resources can be utilized to craft innovative and user-friendly designs.
The project aims to create an engaging and fitting environment for The Different Flower Market. The festival’s spontaneous character will be enhanced by objects that not only define the event but also elevate its essence to new heights.
Minimum Requirements
The competition focuses on designing a set of objects that facilitate interaction among visitors. These objects should primarily function as chairs, benches, and tables, but with an intuitive design that allows for uses beyond these basic functions.
Circularity and Resilience
Designing these objects is the sole responsibility of the designers. It is crucial that the furniture is conceived with an understanding of how resources are transformed, crafted, used, and ultimately recycled. The objects should have the potential for a second life beyond their initial purpose.
Objects that use low-carbon manufacturing techniques, incorporate recycled materials, or feature innovative designs are preferred. Consideration should also be given to the „hidden life” of these objects: while they will be on display and in use during the 10th edition of festival (2026 and beyond), meaning only once a year, what happens to them afterward? Can they serve a new purpose, or will they simply be stored away until the next edition, and then the next, and then … ?
What are the key elements?
On topic… and to the point!
What?
The design brief aims to enhance the Strada Potaissa’s festival experience, The Different Flower Market. The projects should seamlessly integrate pragmatism with sensitivity, blending the essence of the place with the festival’s atmosphere, ultimately supporting the smooth execution of the cultural events on the festival agenda.
Key considerations include:
Community – The ability to reframe the brief critically by exploring how the projects can contribute to the growth of the existing community surrounding the festival. The goal is to transform the space into one where the commercial activities of exhibitors are complemented by street food culture, outdoor concerts and screenings, various artistic performances, relaxation areas, small playgrounds for children, and so much more.
Ergonomics – How the design contributes to the spatial and functional layout of the entire project.
Quality of Representation – The graphic quality and models will serve as key indicators of the feasibility of the proposed objects.
Sustainability – The project’s sustainability, as outlined in this brief, is an essential factor.
Usability – When designing your chairs, tables, and benches, we encourage you to explore nonconventional assembly methods – solutions that avoid using screws altogether. Your design should be easy to assemble and disassemble, durable, and safe – while showcasing ingenuity in both function and form.
Financial aspects – Your proposed design solution (including the creation, manufacturing, purchasing, or crafting of all elements) must stay within a total budget of €6,000. This amount should cover everything needed to accommodate up to 70 people – in any configuration or way those people might use the furniture (seated, gathered, eating, relaxing, etc.). We encourage smart, sustainable, and cost-effective choices that don’t compromise on design quality.
Efficiency – Because storage and transport are key logistical considerations, the entire set of products must be designed to fit within a maximum of 3 cubic meters when packed for storage or transport. This includes all chairs, benches, tables – or any other pieces – needed to support up to 70 users, whether sitting together at tables or spread across benches and seats. Think modular. Think stackable. Think clever.
The project MUST be approached in teams of two students. Each team is encouraged to find and propose a solution that is both sensitive and, somewhat paradoxically, pragmatic, for the space that forms the subject and object of this brief. The proposed solution will be evaluated by the jury, with each student equally responsible for both the quantity and quality of the final outcome.
How?
Download the full brief here >
When?
July 30th 2025 – Launch of Competition
August 12th 2025 – First Q&A Session with the organisers, live on Google Meet/Zoom – Please check Fb/insta for Links and further communication
September 4th – Second Q&A Session with the organisers, live on Google Meet/Zoom – Please check Fb/insta for Links and further communication
September 19th – Last day of Competition
September 20th&21st – Jury Meeting and selection of winning project
September 22nd – Announcement of winning competition
October 1st to October 13th (a suitable 7 days timespan in this proposed time interval) – Trip to Japan and visit of the OSAKA WORLD EXPO
How to apply?
Download the competition brief to understand the stakes and limitations.
Entry in the competition is subject to sending all the following materials in a physical (not digital) form to the offices of the Daisler Association:
- A. Prepare the following drawings A1 Landscape format, which includes :
1. Object 1 drawings (chair) – Scale 1:10/5
2. Object 2 drawings (bench) – Scale 1:10/5
3. Object 3 drawings (table) – Scale 1:10/5
- B. Project description (a maximum of 3500 characters, including spaces) with financial analysis of proposed built quantities and costs – with purchase sources specified.
- C. All team members must include in the sealed envelope a valid proof of enrollment (e.g., student ID copy, enrollment certificate, or official letter) showing they are currently in the 2nd, 3rd, or 4th year of a design, architecture, or landscape architecture program within the European Union.
- D. The 3 Models (3D printed or handcrafted) of the furniture pieces, scale 1:5.
Everything should be mailed together (sent by post or courier on your expense) to
400090, Cluj-Napoca, Romania, 11th Universității street – DAISLER ASSOCIATION.
All project deliverables are to be mailed so that they get to Cluj-Napoca no later than 19th of September 2025 to The Daisler Association’s Cluj-Napoca HQ, at the expense of the competitors. All projects MUST be approached in teams of 2 (two) students.
The Prize?
The winning team (maximum 2 people) will receive a fully covered trip to Osaka, Japan, in early October 2025, to experience the unforgettable Osaka World Expo!
Here’s what’s included:
- Round-trip flights from any international airport in Europe to Osaka
- 5 nights’ accommodation in a 3-star hotel
- Entry tickets to the Osaka World Expo
Important details:
All participants must have valid passports and be above the age of 21.
The prize does not cover transportation to/from the nearest departure airport, nor does it include per diem or daily spending money.
Travel will be arranged directly with the winning team shortly after the competition concludes
Please note that connections to/from the airports of origin and destination as well as per diem is not covered by the prize.
The jury?
Will be announced soon, here. The only thing that we can tell you at this moment is that the jury chair is the president of the Daisler Association, Andi Daiszler.
To ensure fairness and impartiality, each submission must remain anonymous.
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A unique alphanumeric code (e.g., AB1234) should be placed in the top-right corner of your drawings (in landscape format), and sticked to every 3D Model you send.
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Inside the envelope with the project description there should be also your names. This envelope will be opened only after the first leg of jurization process.
Anonymity
Eligibility
This competition is open to students in their 2nd, 3rd, or 4th year of a Bachelor’s program, as well as to those enrolled in any year of a Master’s program in design, architecture, or landscape architecture at accredited universities within the European Union.
All projects must be submitted by teams of two students.