For the sixth annual AZ Awards, our intrepid jury narrowed the field from over 800 submissions, received from dozens of countries, to select just 48 finalists that stood above the rest. In addition to presenting the AZ Award winners, Azure recognized these projects, products and concepts with Awards of Merit.

Has plastic ever looked so sexy? In profile, this chair by Ronan and Erwan Bouroullec evokes the occupant’s shape: arching ever so slightly off a fluid frame, the narrow backrest curves forward before flaring into a full-width base. Various seat options transform it into a polypropylene task chair, an upholstered dining chair, or a leather desk chair with forward-sloping armrests. Named for the Paris neighbourhood where the designers have their studio, Belleville would look right at home on a bistro patio overlooking the city.

Designers: Ronan and Erwan Bouroullec, France

Manufacturer: Vitra, Switzerland