In a fascinating fusion of natural inspiration and cutting-edge technology, designers have created a remarkable wooden table featuring 3D printed legs scanned from real tree trunks. This innovative approach transforms traditional furniture making by digitizing organic forms found in nature and reproducing them through advanced manufacturing techniques, creating pieces that honor the beauty of natural irregularities while embracing modern production methods.
The floating appearance of the tabletop creates a sense of lightness and visual intrigue as if the rectangular wood surface is mysteriously suspended above a small forest of transparent tree trunks. This optical illusion adds a touch of wonder to the piece, inviting closer inspection and appreciation of the innovative techniques used in its creation. The contrast between the solid wooden top and the see-through legs creates a compelling visual tension that highlights both components.
Designers: Aki Hamada, Yanning Hou (Aki Hamada Architects)
The process begins with 3D scanning actual trees to capture their unique organic structures and irregular forms. These digital captures are then carefully edited to maintain their natural aesthetic while adapting them for functional use. The upper portion of each leg is cleverly morphed into a perfect circle, allowing it to rotate freely when attached to the tabletop. This thoughtful modification enables the legs to stand at various angles, creating the visual effect of a miniature grove of trees supporting the floating tabletop.
What makes this design particularly noteworthy is the material choice for the transparent legs. Made from cellulose acetate derived from wood fiber, cotton, and other natural resources, these components maintain a connection to their natural origins despite their high-tech creation process. The material is highly biodegradable, breaking down into water and bicarbonate when buried in soil or submerged in seawater after its useful life has ended. Even the plasticizer used is derived from natural, non-hazardous materials commonly found in food additives and space food.
The rectangular tabletop resting atop these transparent organic legs showcases another brilliant marriage of nature and design. Crafted from oak wood featuring natural holes created by insects, each tabletop possesses a unique pattern that cannot be replicated. Rather than discarding this “imperfect” wood as is common in traditional manufacturing, the designers have embraced these natural patterns as distinctive design elements that give each piece its own character and visual interest.
This furniture series represents a new paradigm in sustainable design where digital fabrication techniques are used to celebrate rather than eliminate natural imperfections. By applying modern technology to simulate natural irregularities and incorporating the work of living creatures in the production process, manufacturers can mass-produce truly unique products at reasonable costs. The result is functional art pieces that bring the serenity of the outdoors into our living spaces, fostering a deeper connection to the natural world even within built environments.
