Alfredo Häberli: One Slight Turn and So Much Joy

(jiří macek) Swiss designer Alfredo Häberli has introduced a new way of dining with the Aki dining table, which he designed for Fredericia, the Danish furniture manufacturer. If one simply turns the bearing structure by 90 degrees in relation to the tabletop, the head of the family suddenly ceases to sit at the head of the table. However, the democratic system of dining brings other interesting designer points.

Turning the structure, the legs move from the corners to the centers of the individual sides, i.e. to the shorter side of the table that is traditionally perceived as the head of the table. Moreover, the structure divides the surface into separate communication fields that the users neither have to be aware of (nor utilize) because they will still function well during meetings and dinners. Thus, the sides are directed towards the psychological centre, much like on a round table. When people seated at the table keep a minimum distance from one another or when the space between the table legs is determined for two chairs, this can be a very dangerous weapon.

From an aesthetical point of view, the concession of the bearing structure on the tabletop presents the most interesting feature. Thus, the two materials used for the table interweave in a very elegant aesthetical line on the table surface: the massive wood of the structure and the linoleum of the tabletop. The different character of both materials endows the table with its unique appearance, which is based on the traditions of pure Scandinavian design. Thanks to the principle of turning the tabletop against the legs, the table is reminiscent of a boat or yacht. It is even more surprising in the case of the upholstered chairs that accompany the table. For a while, it seemed as if we would not be able to find the right direction for the seating - nevertheless, we now have more space to move and support the communication structure of the table.

Alfredo Häberli also designed the Seracs sofa, which is most suitable for public spaces, for the traditional Scandinavian brand of Fredericia. Its length and segmentation can be easily changed by combining various elements. The sofa premiered at Design Week in Milan.

www.fredericia.com

< back