Saarinen is famously quoted as saying that his tulip table was designed in order to "liberate the space" under the dining table from the clutter of legs and other supports...Wonder what he would think of this idea? We stumbled across these photos of Lüfken's former Pop Art loft in Lyon which features some avante-garde objets d'art alongside modern furniture and enviable wood beams and floors. But what really caught our attention was this suspended dining table...
Using four cables latched on to hooks in the wood ceiling beams, we're assuming that the table top is anchored somehow to prevent it from swaying back and forth. This idea is definitely off the beaten path as far as tables go, but it seems to fit within the attitude of the space.
Uneasy about the functionality of an suspended table? You could go with a suspended bed, like the one featured in Ab Chao's house tour.
P.S. Those oversized light bulb pendants are awesome, especially with those high loft ceilings!
[ Photos from Lüfken's Flickr ]
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I'd be really worried about the table swinging... and sending wine glasses and what-have-you flying!
Oh, and I can totally picture a child sneaking up on the table and using it as a giant swing!
I talk with my hands and arms moving and I could only picture sitting very still at this table or I'd be waving into the blasted cables. It would take all the fun out of a leisurely meal with friends. still don't understand why this would be better than legs??
I can't get past the lightbulb pendants.
I think the only way to get the table "anchored somehow" would to tether it to the floor, thereby unliberating the space under the table.
File under "impractical."
stay in school.
If the cables are mounted out farther than the edges of the table enough (angled outward) it would be pretty stable. it would not swing or sway.. even if you bumped into it. it might move a bit.. but not much.
-just like hanging lights outside of big old colonial houses. they use extra chains at angles so they don't swing in the wind.
Oh, and wouldn't the cables get in the way of eating, especially if you've got a large group clustered around the table?
The swinging of this table would be as annoying as having a table that is wobbly on one side. Everytime you lean on it, it moves....
Light bulb pendants are cool though.
Those look like blow up lightbulbs!
When I was growing up my mom actually tried this as a method of keeping ants off of the dinner table at our house in Hawaii. It didn't take the ants very long to figure out how to climb up the beams and down the ropes, and the table swung around quite a bit since we were a family with three kids. We didn't keep it like this very long, but it was a fun adventure and a lesson in the scientific method...It is too bad that my mom didn't think of angling the cables for stability.
Liberate the space under the table by crapping up the space over the table? Major PITA.
I love the armchairs and the head and foot of the table. What are they?
It's ugly and impractical and no matter how far out you mount the cables/ropes it's still going to move around unless you anchor it to the floor or anchor it to the ceiling with a solid rod/pole.
Now there's an idea...how about a table mounted to the ceiling with a central pole? That would be cool AND it would look much cleaner and be much more practical.
There is a reason the legs are at the bottom and your arms are free to move around. I like the concept and the look, but if fails the practicality test.
placement of cables is irksome... less irksome would be if they were moved a foot in from edge... I like my elbows on the table...
there are ways to love this
the heavier it is the less it will swing (that scares me)
I'd love a swinging platform bed
i would get annoyed with the cables.
forget the table-where can i get those gigantic lightbulbs?
My boss has a desk like this except instead of all four corners attached to the cable only 2 corners are and the other side is bolted to the wall with a small support beam running the length of the table (its pretty small so you can't really see it). His cables are mounted at a slight angle and I've never seen his desk move an inch. Maybe if you shoved it or something it would. But really if someone installed a dining room table like he did with his desk I think it would look really nice and would remove the boxed in feeling.
One word for those pendants . . . fugly!
I care less about the table than about those awesome lightbulb pendants.
I still prefer legs. All those cables look way too busy.
I like the sound of Monica's idea....
Monica's on it. She wins the prize.
That light would be fantastic in a massive room.
I think it looks really neat, impractical or not.
http://www.makemineeclectic.wordpress.com
Such an interesting idea! I'd be worried about the table swinging around too but it does look pretty cool.
Let me guess some of these commenters also hate white kitchens, and painted wood.