Even though we live by the lake, myself and wife were interested in the idea of building a pool for our 7-year old to swim in. Essentially this meant we could keep an eye on the little fella while entertaining. Unfortunately, because access is really restricted and our plot is fairly small we were limited to a bespoke concrete pool. Essentially to create what we wanted would involve hiring a massive crane and that would incur astronomical costs. In the end we decided the project wasn’t financially viable so we ditched the idea. Instead we decided to buy some really nice garden furniture including a recycled table made from Indonesian boats. However, in the first instance we did contact Austin Maynard Architects to find out if their phenomenal Zero Waste Table was practical for outdoor usage (which it isn’t).
Over the years there has been a long standing tradition of renowned architects designing furniture. A few good examples are Adolf Loos, Le Corbusier, Alvar Aalto, Frank Gehry, and Eames to name but just a few. In many ways it seems a natural progression because most architects will be heavily involved in the interior design aspect of their projects. In fact, I featured a property devised by Austin Maynard Architects recently on Total Design Reviews called Mills, ‘The Toy Management House’, which perfectly illustrates this point. Essentially this ingenious concept incorporates an abundance of bespoke cabinetry that can be used for storage or adult seating.
Effectively the concept of the Zero Waste Table is pretty self explanatory. The table is produced on CNC machine from one sheet of plywood (measuring 2400mm by 1200mm), which is then cut into a set of unique shapes symmetrical along a central axis. Every single piece can be configured to assemble a table that looks aesthetically beautiful. In fact, the overall simplicity of the design is its key strength. One of my favourite features is the integrated slots that act as docking stations for books, devices or general household implements. It is pertinent to mention that Maynard Architects also decided to avoid using any chemical adhesives in favour of bolts to connect the different parts.
When the customer finally collects their bespoke piece of furniture they are also presented with a bag of sawdust (which is bi-product of the manufacturing process). The idea is for this to be then used in the garden or for cat litter to eliminate any waste.