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Malevich is a collapsible table designed to respond to different user moods and needs. |
| Flexible use of space is the fundamental idea behind the design of this table, which is intended to serve utilitarian, logistical, and aesthetic functions simultaneously. Having as a principle the material restraint and purity of form, the design quality is based on geometric folds and lines which result in an interconnection of different parts that all service the function. |
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| The versatility of the structure is pragmatic for compact portability and reshaping environments for contemporary living and working. Design allows the table to migrate between different settings and respond to moods and needs from dining and home-office within the domestic landscape. |
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| Nothing is without a purpose and the separate elements collaborate in order to establish a relationship between the parts of the assembly, initiating the tactile interaction with the user. |
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| Forms are joined together to create a lightweight yet extremely rigid structure. Task lighting feature is conceived as an interlocking element of the tabletop which when closed is flush with the tabletop surface. |
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| The plywood legs have been intended to give a sense of lightness and purity by differentiating in form from the tectonic surface. They are retractable in order to allow the table to be converted to a flat piece of minimum thickness, allowing further modular storage. |
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| Truss design strengthens the tabletop providing a lightweight structure. Stainless steel mechanism interlocks with the plywood legs when folded. Curvature on the plywood legs base acts as a handle for folding and unfolding them. |
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| Light turns on when arm is raised. Light arm rotates and "clicks" in standard positions. Angle is providing a slot for the user's hands in order to open the light arm and defines a uniform illuminated surface when the light is on. |
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| For the light feature it is used the LED technology, since apart the aesthetic requirement for minimizing the dimensions of the light arm, LED have been proven to be most effective and low cost as well as an energy saver. The power cord is detachable according to the user’s needs. |
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| Extensive studies were conducted in order to minimize the volume of the table once folded, through the interlocking of its main elements. |
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| The table is sent out in flat box thus reducing packaging volume in order to optimize logistics. It is extremely compact when folded and it saves space in storage and energy in transportation. |
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| The furniture assembly takes a minute and needs no tools or further construction by the customer. |
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| Three different finishing options define the relationship between the parts of the assembly. |
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| Besides the functional alteration the intention was to give the product a visual consolidation, emphasizing the reduction of materials and unification of forms, initiating the tactile interaction with the user. |
| The main goal of designing this piece of furniture was to develop a technique that could solve the problems of storage, transportation and assemblage. This began with the sustainable idea of looking at how to make the most from the use of space for living and working and how to transform these spaces to suit many types of use. |
The manufacturing process used for the legs is steam bending which is a low energy, low waste process using no toxic glues, just water. Steaming the wood also seasons it at the same as it is bent, using a fraction of the energy required in conventional kiln drying.
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| Having in mind always the use of low environmental impact solutions, beech wood and plywood are used with low VOC finishes and Bio Shield natural oil finishes, in order to reveal the textural qualities of wood construction. |
| 17. The dimensions of the table are 1800 x 900 x 740mm (L x W x H) open and 1800 x 900 x 60mm (L x W x H) when folded. |
Construction logic aims in economy, not only visually but also in production process, necessary in order to make this piece of furniture suitable for mass production.
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Overall design attitude translates to less shipping, less fuel, less pollution and less waste. The design draws inspiration from the tectonic artworks of Kazimir Malevich.
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| Editor's Note: This design is a winner of DA Industrial Design Awards. |
 REFERENCES/BIBLIOGRAPHY:
Nikolaos Karintzaidis is an award winning Architect and Designer based in Dubai |
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This article was added on Wednesday, 15th of June, 2016 at 10.48 am by author 
