For the first of our Invisible Layer Series, I want to share the story behind two monolithic concrete dining tables we designed and had made specifically for our client's home.
The design of these tables in itself is a process. It involves extreme attention to detail, multiple iterations, technical drawings, ergonomic considerations, prototypes, 3D modelling, and extensive collaboration to get it perfect. But that side of what we do is known and expected, so I'm not going to focus on that today.
The Challenge
There are many other elements that aren't initially obvious when designing and curating a space. One of the challenges on this project that we had to plan for from the initial concept, was getting our two custom dining tables from Brisbane, where we had them made, into our client's third story penthouse in Sydney and installed into position.
The larger table measured 3.6m and weighed 200kg without the legs.
Our Approach
Once on site, our installers could not carry the table tops up the stairs or fit them into the elevator, so a very specific approach was required and coordinated in advance. We reserved several parking spots alongside the property to position a crane as close to the building as possible.
On the day of installation, it was also pouring with rain and our margin for error felt minimal. We waited for a break in the weather and lifted the first table above the trees and over the balcony.
Meanwhile inside, full-scale templates were laid out on the floor to map the exact location of the legs and the table's final position. With pieces of this size and weight, it is far easier to place them correctly the first time than to attempt to move them after installation.
A team of six assisted our design team with the install. Every movement was calculated. A single misstep could have damaged the tables, the building or the surrounding landscape.
The Outcome
Once inside, each piece was positioned, assembled, inspected, and refined over several hours, adjusting the alignment until they were perfect. The result was what we had envisioned during the design phase: sculptural, effortless and resolved within the space.
The entire process took approximately five hours. Our client simply provided access in the morning and returned to her completed dining spaces, ready for her and her family to build memories around.
For us, considered design means understanding how every element is made, transported and ultimately lives within a space, beyond how it looks.
