kleinergleich5 lightweight wooden table by ruben beckers
image courtesy ruben beckers
german designer ruben beckers has developed ‘kleinergleich5’ (less than or equal to 5), the lightest wooden table in the world. a winner of the [D3] contest at imm cologne 2014, the project features an intricate grid-like design beneath the surface to ensure a high structural load-bearing capacity. weighing half as much as benjamin hubert’s ripple table at 4.5 kilograms, the table uses layers and strips of wood for its construction, exponentially minimizing its weight. the legs are slotted directly into the voids within the underside, eliminating the need for a table skirt that traditionally acts as a stabilizer for all four corners.
the kleinergleich5 table won the D3 contest at imm cologne 2014
image courtesy ruben beckers
the design features an intricate grid-like structure beneath the surface to ensure a high structural load-bearing capacity
image courtesy ruben beckers
the table weighs half as much as benjamin hubert’s ‘ripple table’ at 4.5 kilograms
image courtesy ruben beckers
the project was led by professor jakob gebert at the kassel school of art and design
image courtesy ruben beckers
the legs are slotted directly into the voids within the underside, eliminating the need for a table skirt
image © designboom
grid-like design detail
image © designboom
table construction detail
image © designboom
D3 contest winner, ruben beckers at IMM colgone
portrait © designboom
IMM COLOGNE 2014 (23)
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Doubtful that practicality and heavy utility was his true objective. A couple of great grandmothers doilies, with the vase with flowers you suggested and it would look great in your double wide prefab. Functionality is in the eye of the beholder.
Yeah put it out on the patio and watch it fly away with the breeze
fail on the research: he didn’t actually win the contest. he wasn’t actually under the three first contestants, just nominated. anyway… the table looks nice, but good looks don’t go necessarily with practicism.
Bravo! The contrast between “table” and “lightness” is intriguing.
Having said that, what is the advantage of such lightness? Moving the table is definitely easier – maybe too much?
What about stability? Try put a flower vase on the table. If you walk past and touch the table, in absence of substantial mass the table will easily shift and the vase fall, as any other thing standing on it. You’ll spend your time putting the table back in its place. Imagine people sitting at the table, trying to eat, read or write: the table will bee too light and shift around by the slightest action…
So much energy in the wrong direction and a prize on top? Strange world indeed…