So You Think It’s A Table?

So You Think It's A Table?

A while ago I wrote about Plable by Yumiko Tanaka, a project that mixes childs play with social family eating at the dinner table.

Whilst at the graduate show for Goldsmiths University last year I got to play with a wonderful project by Sonal Patel who was at the same time as Yumiko having similair thoughts about our dinner table.

So You Think It’s A Table?
“Through extensive research I designed a table that acts in a way that encourages the relationship between adult and child, and that also stimulates the curiosity of a child and fuels their imagination by adding playful features that give them freedom of interpretation and that also addresses the needs of adults. A table for all, that draws people to it and gets used more and more. The table is a catalyst that acts as a stimulus to what is going on around it. I started looking at the importance of the table and what goes on around and underneath it - the relationships of a child and an adult, both of whom use the table.”

Some features…

So You Think It's A Table?
The Top (shown above) - For socialising and entertaining as a family or for grown ups or for adults and children to mix by drawing on the slate hot mats .

So You Think It's A Table?
Periscope - When the child is underneath they can spy on the world above by looking through the Periscope.

So You Think It's A Table?
Holes - Pop off the slate hot mats and you have your own stage to put on a performance or you could use them to interact with the world above.

So You Think It's A Table?
Peep Holes - When closed in underneath, in your underground bunker, you can slide down the panels and peep out of the little viewing holes.
Posting Holes & Letter Box - When the children are underneath, parents or anyone playing can post letters from the outside.
Secret Shelf - Hide your valuables under the secret shelf in the hollow leg. For small hands only .
Curtains - Create your own enclosure by hanging your blankets on the four curtain poles around the table.

So You Think It's A Table?
Drop Down Black Board - The double sided black board can be dropped down in play mode or clipped back up underneath the table when socialising.

Posted on February 18th 2008 under Furniture, Toys