Neat Table by designer Christophe Pillet for Kristalia Residential, 2011
This new collection of tables is ideal for any space and use: from the office to home areas. It has an aluminum structure, an integrated cable holder, and a marine plywood top faced with epoxy-lacquered sheet metal.
The thin silhouette and trestle legs give it a lightweight appearance that won't overwhelm the space, accompanying chairs or art.
Leg finish:
Aluminium with white lacquer
Finish of top:
White painted metal sheet
Checking out the NEAT table at Salone del Mobile, Milano 2011:
Designer Christophe Pillet:
Professor of the Practice of Architecture, Sheila Kennedy, and a group of Design, Architecture and Engineering students from MIT have designed solar-energy storing modern wood rockers on which you can lounge and chat or charge. Smartphones, cell phones, mp3 devices, laptops and other gadgets can be connected via USB. What's more, the soft rockers are designed with a solar powered ambient light that gives them a soft glow in the dark.
above: Image by SOFT ROCKER TEAM: Sheila KENNEDY, MIT Professor of the Practice of Architecture; James BAYLESS, KVA UC Intern; Kaitlyn BOGENSCHUTZ, KVA UC Intern; Wardad INAM, MIT PhD Candidate, Electrical Engineering; Jungmin NAM, GSD March I 2009, KVA Designer; Shevy ROCKCASTLE, MIT Smarchs 2011; Phil SEATON, MIT March 2012; Matt TRIMBLE, MIT March 2009, RADLAB; Adnon ZOLIJ, MIT BS 2010, Electrical Engineering
Soft Rockers description and video from MIT: Recharge yourself and your electronics while relaxing with friends outdoors in Killian Court. The MIT SOFT Rockers are smart, clean energy charging stations disguised as outdoor rocking lounge furniture. Unlike conventional ‘hard’ urban infrastructure, The SOFT Rocker leverages its environment in a dynamic manner by using the human power of balance to create an interactive 1.5 axis 35 watt solar tracking system. Soft power electronics designed for this project charge the 12 ampere-hour battery and store solar energy harvested during the day. Put your body weight in play with an interactive, real time energy harvesting feedback loop that senses how you orient the rocker to the sun. Charge or run any USB device from speakers to cell phones and bring your friends to enjoy cool lighting loops at night for social gatherings.
The leaf-like loop form of the SOFT Rockers explores how standard softwood panels can be mass-customized to adapt to the latitude and sun angle of any site using parametric design software and automated fabrication with a lightweight Kuka robotic arm. The SOFT Rocker combines hi-tech and low-tech design strategies: it produces electricity but engages the body and works like furniture “by hand”; it mixes sun tracking and social dynamics; it is a site specific object and a flexible form family of ‘soft’ wood construction. The SOFT Rocker blurs distinctions between pleasure and work and recasts power generation as an integrated and distributed public activity rather than a centralized, singular off-site project of ‘engineering’.
SOFT ROCKER TEAM: Sheila KENNEDY, MIT Professor of the Practice of Architecture James BAYLESS, UC MArch 2014, KVA Intern Kaitlyn BOGENSCHUTZ, UC BS Arch 2013, KVA Intern Wardah Inam, MIT PhD Candidate 2015, Electrical Engineering Jungmin NAM, GSD MArch 2009, KVA Designer Shevy ROCKCASTLE, MIT SMarchS 2011 Phil SEATON, MIT MArch 2012 Matt TRIMBLE, MIT MArch 2008, RADLAB Adnon ZOLIJ, MIT BS 2010, Electrical Engineer Vicor, Inc.
MIT gives special thanks to: • Vicor, Inc. Applications Engineering provided power electronics support. Picor, a subsidiary, provided Cool-O-Ring controllers for battery/load interfacing. • Global Solar, Inc. Technology Development Team provided advance samples of Gen II flexible photovoltaics. • LightTape, Inc. Assisted with manufacture of custom electroluminescent lighting materials • Peter Murray at Fine Finish, Inc., in Waltham, MA.
above: The Wallace Pet bed designed by AvroKO can be used as storage, too
Manhattan based AvroKO is a full service integrated design and concept firm that develops environments, lifestyle brands and products. Retail store design, hotel design and restaurant interiors are just a few of their many disciplines. Their own initiated projects include such hip New York eateries as Public and The Stanton Social, and hotel designs for the Starwood group to name a few.
above: the four principals at AvroKO; Greg Bradshaw, William Harris, Kristina O'Neal and Adam Farmerie
But amongst the talented group's designs lies a small line of furniture called The Transport Series. The collection was inspired by cars and motorcycles from the early 20th century and includes a lounge chair and ottoman, a desk lamp, an adjustable table, a stool and even a pet bed, most crafted of cold-rolled steel, walnut wood and leather.
Sophisticated and clubby, with industrial touches from the Machine Age, the furnishings are simultaneously masculine and elegant.
The Mad Horse Table by Israeli architect and designer Samuel David Ben-Shalom. Limited edition. Made to order. Available through Talents Design in Tel Aviv.
Belgium-based designer Peter Donders, who specializes in 3D Design, Modelling, Prototyping, Manufacturing & Visualisation, Furniture Design & Development has just released his newest chair in his Morphs collection. Using various software programs Peter designs his pieces on the computer in 3D and then fabricates them for the real world.
above: designer Peter Donders atop his carbon fiber stone, another piece in his Morphs collection
Shelly, is a beautiful single chair cast from one entire piece of aluminum and has an elegant fluidity with an interplay of organic curves that makes it stand out from other functional chairs.
Aluminium chair, cast in 1 piece in a 3D printed sand mould.
The chair consists of only 1 single surface (shell) with a minimum thickness of 8mm.
Weight +/- 12 kg
Dimensions: H : 962 mm W: 579mm D: 667mm Price on demand. If you are interested in purchasing the Shelly, contact him here.
Once again, the art and design studio CTRLZAK infuses Eastern philosphy into Western design like they previously did with their ceramiX project. Their latest coffee table and stool designs, the D/ZEN collection, consists of wooden blocks cut asymmetrically and balanced upon a symbolic silver cast twig leg. A reflective surface on the top or underside of the tables/stools is both aesthetically pleasing and functional.
The D/ZEN coffee table and stool by CTRLZAK was inspired by the spiritual and physical balance of Buddhist Zen practices. Archetypal forms that sustain objects and people, imperfect forms in perfect balance. The stick is man’s little touch, which supports nature but reminds us that everything is temporary.
CTRLZAK will present the new D\ZEN project in the upcoming Milan Design Week, the 12th to the 17th of April, 2011.
Don't forget to check out their wonderful CeramiX project, too.
