A couple of weeks ago we brought you The SapienStone Smart Slab that managed to heat food, cool drinks, and charge gadgets all at the same time without ever leaving your seat. Since then we’ve noticed just how many cool tables have been released recently.
Now these may not have as much practicality as the Smart Slab, but they more than make up for that with just how stunning and eye catching they are. The problem you are going to have is that you might not actually want to put anything on them and obscure their beauty.
The Lagoon
The Lagoon model is a coffee table designed and created by Alexandre Chapelin (La Table). He’s combines numerous materials including marble and wood to emulate a topographical image of an imagined ocean. Multiple layers create a translucent effect with hues of dark blue, aquamarine and more, as well as additional resin create the illusion of depth of the ocean in the table.
The Kwan Desk
This thoughtfully designed desk was made in response to our modern disconnect with nature. It aims to reintroduce the wild world outside the city to urban users first by changing the typically flat surface to one that mimics a natural landscape. Flat working platforms are designed to be placed on top of the artificial environment so the user is free to arrange to fit their needs to a certain extent. Just like in the real world, the layered design simulates the structure of the earth crust. For example, the working platforms are designed in certain proportions to the table surface, 5%, 10%, and 20%, just like the proportion of urban development. In turn, the user is reminded of the city’s footprint in nature and not the other way around!
Wave City
Inspired by the 2010 film Inception the Wave City table is a well balanced mixture of wood, steel and 3D printed technology with hand painted colouring techniques on landscape that undulates along an exaggerated wooden S-curve folding back onto itself at a load-bearing point in the middle, and supporting a glass surface atop for users to dine on.
The Ripple Table
After a career in aircraft construction, Lee J. Rowland decided to apply his knowledge in mechanics, design and manufacturing away from the industry, and the result is The Ripple Table. It is actually part of a series that feature design that resembles the ripples that are formed when something is dropped into water. The construction is so realistic and flawless that seems like time froze at this exact time, adding timelessness to a natural phenomenon that usually lasts for seconds. Precision polished to preserve subtle outer ripples and finished in bright nickel. Centre drops supported on hair like filament of carbon steel, electro-formed nickel droplets weigh in at a mere 300 milligrams.
The Planter Table
The idea of designer Emily Wettstein was to create a table with an interactive "runner" made of herbs that can actually be consumed at the table with whatever meal you are having. The table is made from reclaimed walnut and steel with a removable planter, and naturally everyone is made slightly different and unique.