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Folding Meza ya Pembeni by Max Niemiec

Folding Meza ya Pembeni by Max Niemiec is a highly esteemed winner of the very prestigious 2026 Tuzo ya Chuma ya A' Design Award in Usanifu wa Samani Competition Category.


ChumaSamani· 2026

Folding Meza ya Pembeni

by Max Niemiec

Client: Paul Maxwell

Tuzo ya Chuma ya A' Design Award Winner in Samani Category

Colors

The Design

About Folding Meza ya Pembeni

Folding ni meza ya pembeni ambayo pia hutumika kama sanamu ya kijiometri iliyokusudiwa kutazamwa kutoka pande zote. Meza hii imetengenezwa kutoka bamba moja la mbao ngumu zilizounganishwa kwa tabaka, likikatwa vipande vinne na kuunganishwa tena kwenye pembe kali na pembe butu, hivyo umbo lake linaonekana kana kwamba limekunjwa. Chamfa ndefu zinazopungua unene husafisha kingo zenye pande nyingi. Uunganishaji wa vijiti vya mbao (dowel), vifaa maalum vya useremala (jigs) na mbinu maalum za kubana hutumika katika uunganishaji. Bamba hilo limekunjwa mara tatu, na kila upande kati ya pande nne unaonyesha mwonekano tofauti. Kila kipimo ni milimita 483.

The Recognition

About the Tuzo ya Chuma ya A' Design Award

Folding Meza ya Pembeni ni mshindi wa Tuzo ya Chuma ya A' Design Award, utambuzi wenye heshima unaotolewa kwa miundo mizuri inayokidhi mahitaji ya kitaalamu na ya kiviwanda yanayotarajiwa kutoka kwa kazi zilizobuniwa vizuri. Washindi wa Chuma huonyesha ustadi mkubwa, utaalamu wa hali ya juu, uelewa wa kitaalamu na uwezo wa kibunifu wa waumbaji wao. Folding Meza ya Pembeni inatarajiwa kuwa kazi inayothaminiwa sana, kupendwa na kuenziwa, ambayo ni ya vitendo na bunifu. Muundo huu ulioshinda Tuzo ya Chuma ya A' Design Award unajumuisha mbinu bora za tasnia na una sifa za kiufundi zenye uwezo zilizounganishwa na ujuzi na kipaji. Folding Meza ya Pembeni inaheshimiwa kwa uangalifu wake na imebuniwa kutoa maboresho ya ubora wa maisha yanayosaidia kuufanya ulimwengu kuwa mahali bora zaidi.

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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