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| In spite of the fact that i had never completed Architectural School, i still hoped to someday open my own office. i started studying Architecture at a Technical College, and once i learned that the college was not "accredited", that means that the degree is absolutely worth-less to the Governmental Authority who "awards" the recipient with those precious rubber stamps, i decided to quit school, and learn Architecture from the ground up! (OK, so i won't go below the carpet!) Many offices would make an attempt to design thier own spaces, and this often included the furnishings. You tend to see alot of people using doors as drawing tables. |
| i built this table in 1987 intending to enter it into an upcoming furniture competition. |
| i call this design style "Native-American Technical". my chosen pallate was a deliberate mixture of modern industry with traditional Native American techniques of joinery. i thought it accurately expressed the State of Oklahoma, where i happened to be living at the time. The table top was intended to be adjustable like any other Drafting table, but my idea to use "tension" cables to hold the top at the desired angle was less than satisfactory. (This is one example where a "rigorous" understanding of Geometrical fundamentals might have helped me!) As you change the angle of the table top, the cables became somewhat looser. i may find a solution to the technical design by installing springs. |
| The white ivory "cue" ball ballances the table top, and acts as a "shoulder" joint. The steel tubes are electrical conduit held together by thick strips of cowhide. |
| The table looks a little top-heavy, but it turned out to be surprising stable. The spread of the legs mimic the bonding angles of two carbon atoms, giving it a very low center of gravity. The whole table was incredibly lightweight, the door being the single heaviest part. When i completed the table, i learned that the Magazine sponsoring the design competition had decided to cancel their annual contest, so i never was able to test the response of the design community. |
| Stay in School... ...and don't quit your day job! anonymous |