‘watson table’ by paul loebach images courtesy of paul loebach

brooklyn-based designer paul loebach premiers ‘some recent experiments’ at milan design week 2011. the collection consists of four new pieces, ‘watson table’, ‘sten chair’, and ‘can table and light’ which experiment with new forms and innovative use of material.

paul loebach: some recent experiments detail of leg meeting top

named after james watson, the american scientist famous for discovering the helical structure of DNA, the ‘watson table’ is the result of controlled material experiments. influenced by english furniture of the late 1600’s, the object features bold, structural legs that are reminiscent of open wood twistings. made from a wood and carbon composite, the table utilizes the inherent rigidity of carbon as a structural core, creating a symbolic composition of maximum strength with minimal materials.

paul loebach: some recent experiments (left) detail of contrasting finishes (right) leg

the ‘sten chair’, named for the british WWII machine gun famous for its reductive simplicity combines a carbon fiber skeleton with fitted wood components. employed in selected ‘connective’ areas such as the back and apron, the carbon here is used  for its rigid strength and characteristics which allow the simple wood parts to fit neatly into the moulded form.

paul loebach: some recent experiments ‘sten chair’

paul loebach: some recent experiments (left) detail of carbon back rest (right) side profile

paul loebach: some recent experiments detail of carbon connector

‘can table and light’, continuations of a previous design, focus on showcasing the parting line of a symmetric object.  made of moulded wood parts that assemble into two hollow halves, the table and light feature multiple forms – linear and geometric -that are joined together by a central spine.

paul loebach: some recent experiments ‘can table’

paul loebach: some recent experiments (left) ‘can table and light’ (right) ‘can light’