'Grassworks' exhibition at the Aram Gallery

Until 31 October the Aram Gallery showcases ‘Grassworks’ – the most recent creations of Jair Straschnow. The Amsterdam-based Israeli designer developed a comprehensive collection of flatpacked furniture which are based on one single material – bamboo sheet laminate – and on the the manipulation of traditional interlocking woodworking techniques.

Dovetail joint by Jair Straschnow

A good example is Jair’s reworking of the dovetail joint, an old principle of slotting pieces of wood that have opposing sloped angles to wedge themselves against one another – without any need for screws or glue.

Assemly of the Dovetail Trestle

The beauty of Jair Straschnow’s pieces lies in the obvious logic of the construction which also enables the user to assamle the pieces intuitionally.

'Twisted Table' by Jair Straschnow

Assembly of 'Twisted Table'

to the Aram Gallery website

to the Aram Store

to the Jair Straschnow website

'Twin C' by Berhin Studios

This year the Swedish manufacturer Berhin Studios presented ‘Twin C’ a ding room table with a double sided table-top in black/birch, black/oak and black/walnut and foldable supports available in birch, tinted black, oak and walnut.

Foldable supports

‘Twin C’ is part of Berhin Studios Eco series, an initiative in the south of Sweden in the small community Tyringe, where the Berhin-plantation is located. Starting with the series ‘C Eco’, Berhin plants a tree for every piece of furniture produced.

'Twin C’ is part of Berhin Studios Eco series

more Berhin Studios products @ Architonic

more info about the Berhin Eco series

Base made of folded sheet metal

The Swiss manufacurer IGN is a partner company of the 80 years old wood processing company Müller Sempach. Under the IGN label the traditional manufacturer recently presented its first collection of high-qualitiy tables for office and home use.

My personal favourite is ‘Steel. Wings’, a dining room table which is composed of a solid timber table top and a filigree base, made of artfully folded sheet metal.

'Steel. Wings' designed by IGN Design-Team and Michael Stratmann

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'Essay' by Cecilie Manz

The Danish designer Cecilie Manz is known for her minimalist and unostentatious creations, which sometimes even seem to convey Japanese influences. Since she founded her studio more than 10 years ago prestigious manufacturers such as Nils Holger Moorman and Lightyears have been her clients. Recently the Danish manufacturer Fritz Hansen presented ‘Essay’, a dining room table created by Cecilie Manz.

'Essay' by Cecilie Manz for Fritz Hansen

The table’s clear and simple design, above all details like the gap between tabletop and base, makes the solid wood appear light and stylish.

‘Essay’ can be extended with black linoleum leaves, and several bases are possible. It is suitable both as a dining table and a work table.

'Essay' extended

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'Aki' by Alfredo Häberli for Fredericia

In Milan Fredericia Furniture presented this new set of chairs and dining room table. After the modular sofa ‘Sercas’ it is the second time Alfredo Häberli works together with the Danish manufacturer. The ‘Aki’ chair is an upholstered chair which comes in fabric or leather of every colour and quality in the broad Fredericia Furniture range – both chair and table are completely manufactured in Denmark. A constructive detail is the configuration of the chair’s legs – one of them with a wooden “back bone” that serves as the support for the upholstered backrest.

'Aki' chair by Alfredo Häberli

'Aki' table by Alfredo Häberli

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'wove' by EXH

The world is growing together: the Swiss architect Erich Diserens, who is former Associate of Herzog & De Meuron founded together with the young Chinese architect Xi Zhang EXH Design, their Shanghai-based architecture practice and manufacturing company, in 2006. Since then they built up a beautiful collection of furniture and are working on several architectural projects.

Their geometric table ‘Wove’ is made of wood with glossy lacquer (top) and steel (base) and can be used as a conference or dining table. The big version is formally composed of two bases and an according top.

The big version composed of two bases

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'Tenso' by Potocco

Potocco, founded as a small artisan workshop in 1919, is one of the manufacturers which describes the success history of the Italian furniture industry very well. Today Potocco S.p.A. is one of the most important chair producers in Italy and abroad.

'Tenso' lounge chair by Potocco

At this year’s Salone del Mobile Potocco presented ‘Tenso’ a new family designed by the Italian designer Mauro Lipparini. It consists of lounge chair, dining chair and a table. The statically smart structure enables a minimal use of material and gives clean transparency to the pieces.

'Tenso' dining table and chairs

more Potocco products @ Architonic

more novelties of the Salone del Mobile 2009

'Cuvert' by Jehs & Laub for Cor

At the imm cologne the German manufacturer Cor presented the new ‘Cuvert’ chair for the first time. Until now, the ‘Cuvert’ range by Jehs & Laub consisted of easy chairs, sofas and stools which unfold their inner values from a strict basic form. The table and chair continue with this design language in 2009. The upholstered seating furniture is determined by different trapezium surfaces, while the table with its solid wooden top stems from the triangle and the square. ‘Cuvert’ is available in fabric or leather covers.

'Cuvert' chair and table

'Cuvert' by Cor

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