“Nakabini” Table
Here is our completed “Nakabini” table, inspired by the work of Japanese-American designer, George Nakashima and Italian designer, Franco Albini!
George Nakashima developed a practice that, according to his daughter, Mira, features design and craftsmanship where wood is not an inanimate object that is only a material. Rather, it is “another form of life which…’lives and breathes’.”
Franco Albini was more rational in his approach. Wikipedia suggests that “Mr. Albini merged Italian traditional artisanship with new forms of modernism through his contemporary furniture designs.” Although he crafted his creations exceedingly well, he used raw, inexpensive materials. His designs were both elegant and minimal.
Our goal was to merge these two styles by employing a rational, function-driven design process while at the same time respecting the ineffable, organic qualities of the wood and steel that make up the piece.
Vince Gillen supplied the beautiful handcrafted oak desktop. Filip Zagreb at Standard and Custom crafted the elegant steel and Baltic birch ply casework. Assistance with documentation of the Nakabini Table was ably provide by Fisher ARCHitecture intern, Isadora Concha.
The “Irwin Table”, also designed by Fisher ARCHitecture, can be found here.
Read More >Architect Designed Furniture
According to the Architects’ Diary, “The 20th century was a significant period, with influential Architects Who Designed Furniture like Eileen Gray, Le Corbusier, and Verner Panton. They occupied a unique intersection of creativity, functionality, and form. As we reflect on the architects who designed furniture which once embodied the spirit of tomorrow, we recognize that these classics still radiate with brilliance and timelessness today. These individuals seamlessly blend their architectural prowess with a keen understanding of the human experience to craft furniture that goes beyond mere utility. It becomes a reflection of design philosophy and innovation. These architects who designed furniture, blending art and utility, have become iconic in design history for their innovation, aesthetic appeal, and lasting impact on our perception and interaction with spaces.”
