Maker Reporter #42 - Anathema Design
THE “BIC” TABLE
At Anathema Design, we love a challenge — especially one-of-a-kind projects we have never done before! When we were commissioned, at the start of 2020, to design and build a unique conference table that combined the memory of 1920’s Philips industrial heritage with the modern high tech precision engineering of 2020 Brainport — we were, like: ‘Bring it on!’
Built for the boardroom of Brainport Industries Campus (BIC) business center in Eindhoven, the table measures 5m long x 1.6m wide and weighs over 400kg — certainly the largest table we have made to-date; not to mention the most complex in design details — hence the project being affectionately referred to as “the BIC-ass table”!
The chosen material is recycled oak farm beams to symbolize the ‘rough & heavy’ iconic old wooden workbenches, juxtaposed with the ‘slick precision’ of the high-tech industry circuit boards and electronics. The rough-edged old oak table top beautifully contrasts with the circuit board patterns CNC-ed in the table. LEDs were installed in the grooves which were then filled with epoxy. The circuit board pattern and the BIC logo softly glow as the meetings take place. The overall project was a lengthy and time-consuming process (you might have seen it in the workshop for a few months!), but in the end, it delivered a great result!
It was great to work on such a project in Microlab: it tested the limits of our equipment, muscles, and problemsolving abilities. Some of the members of our Maker Community also got involved in the process and often brainstormed with us on some of the more challenging design elements — especially for some complex electronics, epoxy inlays in tight geometries, and wood joinery — which we challenged ourselves to do for the first time. Best of all, it created real bonding moments in the workshop with many different members. We were certainly inspired by our fellow Microlab Makers and we hope we inspired them too!! Thank you, everyone!
At Anathema Design, we love to collaborate! Since our beginning in 2016, we have collaborated with clients and designers on a huge range of projects: from vanity tables to conference tables; bunk beds to baby beds, and staircases to bookcases! Our passion is to work as sustainably as possible, to upcycle materials, to take on unique challenges and find creative custom solutions, but above all else, to collaborate and inspire! We are there to guide our clients at all stages, from concept to completion. So, if you have a project in mind or an idea that you don’t know how to achieve yet, let us brainstorm together and make it come to life!
You can find Ioana most days in the workshop or in her studio on the ground floor (close to the Playground).
