Douglas Design Studio have been shortlisted for Table Award in The International Design and Architecture Awards 2021.

Inspired by Japanese screens, the slatted top Sven Table by Douglas Design Studio thrives in the outdoors, grounded in the weight of Iroko wood. This outdoor table is a bespoke design at their clients’ request stemming from a piece of Douglas Design Studio’s furniture line, with a view to take this inspiration outdoors and into the Californian climate.

This outdoor table was conceived in response to a specific design request. The client had fallen in love with a credenza from the studio furniture line and wanted to take the inspiration outdoors. The result is a sturdy, pleasingly simple outdoor table, perfectly matched to the climate and environment it was designed for. The main characteristic fascinating the client was the slatted, finger-jointed wood pattern. The relationship between the slats and the base makes for an intriguing contrast in its play with negative space.

To translate the credenza configuration to a table surface, some structural challenges had to be mastered. The semi-open, airy, slatted wood top is now supported by a black aluminium framework providing a lightweight muscular armature. A curved base softens the contrasting rectilinearity and adds visual tension and an intriguing contrast. The design constraints required both a rigorous use of material as well as precise planning in terms of spacing – similar precision was required in assembly, as gaps add up to nearly 12” of the table. The durable materials make it uniquely suited to an outdoor environment, even in extreme conditions. Creating the lightweight aluminium frame, though providing stability to the table, required some exact engineering. To further protect the wood weighty stainless-steel feet were introduced as a base for protection from environmental hazards, and the table receives a glass top to prevent items from falling through the slats.

To suit the California desert environment, Douglas Design Studio selected Iroko wood as the primary material. This rich and durable species does not swell, split or crack even in extreme temperatures or changing humidity levels. A custom colour stain ensured coordination with existing pieces and the entire space. With its sizable measurements of 16’L x 4’W x 30″H, the table seats 16-18. Attention to detail is reflected in its precision, as well as the balanced juxtaposition of weight and elegance. Both sumptuous and practical in nature, the Sven outdoor table illustrates the potential of taking an original design idea to a personalized level. The finished table looks incredibly light but is also astonishingly strong. The carefully spaced repetition of slats and legs gives the entire design a beautiful rhythm.

Douglas Design Studio

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