Folding Mensa Lateralis by Max Niemiec is a highly esteemed winner of the very prestigious 2026 Praemium A' Design Award Ferreum in Designatio Supellectilis Competition Category.
FerrumSupellex· 2026
Folding Mensa Lateralis
by Max Niemiec
Client: Paul Maxwell
Praemium A' Design Award Ferreum Winner in Supellex Category
Verified Award Winner
Verify Award Status for #180622The Design
About Folding Mensa Lateralis
Folding est mensa lateralis quae etiam sculpturae geometricae munere fungitur, ex omnibus lateribus spectanda. Mensa ex una tabula lignea dura laminata facta est, in quattuor partes secta et rursus per angulos acutos et obtusos coniuncta, ita ut forma plicata esse videatur. Longae orae gracilescentes obliquae margines multiplanas expoliunt. Iuncturae claviculares, formae fabriles atque rationes constringendi peculiares in compositione adhibentur. Tabula ter plicatur, et unumquodque e quattuor lateribus diversum aspectum praebet. Singulae dimensiones 483 mm metiuntur.
The Recognition
About the Praemium A' Design Award Ferreum
Folding Mensa Lateralis victor est Praemii A' Design Award Ferreum, honoris amplissimi formis bonis dati, quae postulatis professionalibus et industrialibus ab creationibus bene formatis exspectatis satisfaciunt. Victores Ferrei magnam peritiam, altam specializationem, intellectum periti et facultatem creandi auctorum suorum ostendunt. Exspectatur Folding Mensa Lateralis creationem multum aestimatam, admiratam et carissimam, practicam et novam fore. Haec forma Ferreo victa optimas industriae consuetudines integrat et proprietates technicas idoneas, cum scientia et talento coniunctas, habet. Folding Mensa Lateralis ob diligentiam suam honoratur et ad vitae qualitatem emendandam formatum est, ut mundum meliorem reddere iuvet.
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
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