Desk

Abe Weissman

2016

L59”x W26”x H28”

Ipe, Steel

This desk is simplistically designed to accentuate the beauty and varied color and grain of reclaimed Ipe from the New Jersey boardwalk destroyed in Hurricane Sandy. The substructure is part of a series of furniture designed for urban environments and for people who move frequently. The design is simple and elegant, but extremely sturdy, able to withstand any kind of abuse. It is easily disassembled into only four parts that pack flat for transport and use standard hardware easily purchased if pieces are lost.

These are some concept proposals, as a continuation of my urban design series. Each piece is constructed out of planar sections of steel tubing and are assembled using nothing but ⅜” nuts and bolts. The designs are meant to be sold as just the metal frame, with custom made reclaimed wood sold separately. This is meant to make the furniture more affordable, allowing buyers on a budget to supply their own wood if desired. Each of these pieces is designed to use wood that is ¾” thick, so standard plywood can be used.

As a resident of Brooklyn I found myself often moving from apartment to apartment. The only furniture options that were available were cumbersome, cheaply made, and difficult to setup and breakdown. This concept came from the need for affordable furniture that fits my lifestyle, and the life of many of my peers. I see this line of furniture as one that will grow and change with the owner. Upon initial purchase, they might use a piece of plywood, but as their financial situation and tastes change they can easily replace the plywood with a beautiful piece of wood, whether it be a single slab of live edge wood from an old growth tree or reclaimed wood from a childhood home. Each piece of furniture will be unique to its owner and their life.