Folding Tavulinu Laterale by Max Niemiec

Folding Tavulinu Laterale by Max Niemiec is a highly esteemed winner of the very prestigious 2026 A' Design Award di Ferru in Disignu di Mubilia Competition Category.

FerruMubilia· 2026

Folding Tavulinu Laterale

by Max Niemiec

Client: Paul Maxwell

A' Design Award di Ferru Winner in Mubilia Category

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Verified Award Winner

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The Design

About Folding Tavulinu Laterale

Folding hè un tavulinu laterale chì serve dinò da scultura geometrica fatta per esse vista da tutti i lati. U tavulinu hè fattu da una sola lastra di legnu duru laminatu, tagliata in quattru pezzi è ghjunta torna longu à anguli acuti è ottusi, di modu chì a forma pare esse stata piegata. Chanfrini longhi affusati raffinanu i bordi sfaccettati. Ghjunture à caviglia, dime di falegnameria è metudi speciali di serraghju sò aduprati per l'assemblata. A lastra hè piegata trè volte, è ognunu di i quattru lati presenta una vista sfarente. Ogni dimensione misura 483 mm.

The Recognition

About the A' Design Award di Ferru

Folding Tavulinu Laterale hè un vincitore di u premiu A' Design Award di Ferru, una ricunniscenza prestigiosa attribuita à i boni disegni chì rispondenu à i requisiti prufessiunali è industriali aspettati da creazioni ben cuncipite. I vincitori di Ferru dimustranu una grande abilità, una alta specializazione, una cumpresa esperta è a capacità creativa di i so creatori. Si aspetta chì Folding Tavulinu Laterale sia una creazione assai apprezzata, ammirata è cara chì hè pratica è innuvatrice. Stu disegnu vincitore di u premiu A' Design Award di Ferru integra e migliori pratiche di u settore è hà caratteristiche tecniche cumpetenti ligate à u sapè fà è à u talentu. Folding Tavulinu Laterale hè rispettatu per a so meticulosità è hè cuncipitu per furnisce miglioramenti di a qualità di a vita chì aiutanu à fà di u mondu un locu megliu.

Behind the Design

Press Kit

Credits, team members and technical details provided by the designer.

Unique Properties: This side table design is a geometric sculpture meant to be enjoyed from all sides. It is made from one laminated slab, cut and joined back together on acute and obtuse angles, to give the impression that it has been folded into a table-like form.
Dimensions & Packaging: Width 483 mm x Depth 483 mm x Height 483 mm
Tags: folding, table, geometric, sculptural, side table, origami, taper, facet
Production Technology: The first step in the process is to make a laminated hardwood slab. Then the slab is cut into four pieces. The use of woodworking jigs and fixtures is necessary to cut the unusual angles and tapered chamfers. Dowel-type joinery and special clamping methods are used for the final assembly
Design Challenge: In minimalist designs a recurring challenge is finding the sweet spot between simplicity and complexity. Based on the initial design concept it was clear that the base and top of the table needed to be parallel planes. Two folds would have been the minimum to accomplish this but would have also been too simple to be interesting. Four folds would have been too complex and less structurally sound. The conclusion that this design required the slab to be folded three times provided the constraints and scope for the remainder of the design work.
Research: For this design the portion of the effort that was mathematical was far grater than in most other design projects. Although at first sight the folding table may appear elegantly simple, transforming this concept into reality was a highly complex trigonometric challenge. Each adjustment to the aesthetics required a long series of recalculations
Inspiration: The objective in this design was to create something that is both simple and radically new. The design process began with experiments folding a rectangular strip of paper. After transitioning from working with the flat plane of the paper to the thick wooden slab, the incorporation of the long tapered chamfers became aesthetically necessary - one of the most delightful elements of the design.
Project Duration: February 2025 - September 2025
Operation Flow: The folding table is best suited for use as a side table in an open space that provides as many unobstructed views as possible. Since it appears different from each of it's four sides, the front of the table depends on the preference of the viewer.
Patents: Application No. 30/046,172
Filed: February 3, 2026
Team Members: Max Niemiec
Image Credits: Brian Shumway