'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.



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.



(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.



'sten chair'



(left) detail of carbon back rest
(right) side profile



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.



'can table'



(left) 'can table and light'
(right) 'can light'