BIRI WALLPAPER has been produced non-stop at the Semb farm in Biri since 1938. The raw material used is oat straw from grain production, woven together with coloured threads to produce wallpaper which can be pinned or attached to the wall.

This wallpaper currently graces the walls of numerous buildings, including Oslo City Hall and the UN building in New York. GANGAR takes its name from a traditional folk dance. Its colour range has been taken from the straw's own colour spectrum.

Jury`s verdict

This wallpaper combines functionality and aesthetics in a unique way. With GANGAR the designer has produced a wallpaper with an added aesthetic dimension, while also continuing Biri's wallpaper collection. This product is able to combine handcraft with timeless design in a surprising form, making it clearly stand out on the market. The wallpaper is suitable for different kinds of interiors.

It has a major advantage over other wallpapers in that you cannot see the joins on the wall. It has ideal environmental features as the straw is a waste product, showing that good, deliberate choices have been made. Its design is almost minimalist where the colours are expressed through rhythm in combination with light and shadow effects. GANGAR makes you want to dance in sheer delight at the fact that straw can be so beautiful. The wallpaper gives us more rhythmic patterns than just a 2/4 beat. A successful, stylish product.

Company: Biri Tapet AS

Project group company: Veverske, Gerd Grønstad, Biri Tapet - Veverske, Tone Lundberg, Biri Tapet - Daglig leder, Ingeborg Semb, Biri Tapet

Design: Norway Says AS

Project group design company: Espen Voll, Norway Says - Andreas Engesvik, Norway Says - Hallgeir Homstvedt, Norway Says - Torbjørn Anderssen, Norway Says

Award / year: Award for Design Excellence - 2009

Category: Textile and clothing design