KINZO creates inspiring conference table for Ernst ... - KINZO Berlin
KINZO creates inspiring conference table for Ernst ... - KINZO Berlin
KINZO creates inspiring conference table for Ernst ... - KINZO Berlin
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Press Release<br />
Highly functional <strong>table</strong> looks different from every perspective<br />
<strong>KINZO</strong> <strong>creates</strong> <strong>inspiring</strong> <strong>conference</strong><br />
<strong>table</strong> <strong>for</strong> <strong>Ernst</strong> & Young boardroom<br />
• <strong>Ernst</strong> & Young assigns <strong>Berlin</strong>-based design office <strong>KINZO</strong> to design oneof-a-kind<br />
boardroom <strong>conference</strong> <strong>table</strong><br />
• Dynamic shape, sophisticated static structure and functionality –<br />
handcrafted quality with silky, smooth surfaces<br />
• The chairman’s position <strong>for</strong>ms the “centre of gravity” - literally<br />
<strong>Berlin</strong>, 11 August 2010 – The management board of <strong>Ernst</strong> & Young, one of the<br />
world’s leading accounting and consultant firms, now meets on the top floor of their<br />
new branch in <strong>Berlin</strong> with stunning views of the German parliament – and an<br />
extravagant handcrafted <strong>conference</strong> <strong>table</strong> by <strong>KINZO</strong> (www.kinzo-berlin.de) to<br />
match: The young <strong>Berlin</strong>-based architecture and design office <strong>KINZO</strong> designed a<br />
<strong>table</strong> that echoes the curvy, slightly triangular room layout as well as the striking<br />
architecture of the building at <strong>Berlin</strong>’s famous Friedrichstraße. With its sweeping,<br />
dynamic and asymmetrical lines and bold structural design, this <strong>table</strong> seems to<br />
change its looks from every angle you look at it – clearly an inspiration to “think<br />
outside the box”! Depending on your perspective, it could remind you of a starship,<br />
a deep-sea ray or a hydrofoil. With its design, its smooth, silky surface feel and<br />
elaborated functional details this <strong>table</strong> nevertheless exudes the well-tempered<br />
dignity worthy of an executive suite – while avoiding the usual wood-and-leather<br />
stereotypes.<br />
By exactly following the room’s ground plan, the <strong>table</strong> makes the most out of the<br />
48 sqm, but leaves consistently ample space all around to enjoy the panoramic<br />
views across <strong>Berlin</strong>. Four flush-mounted “media tanks” swallow unsightly cables<br />
and provide power and network access <strong>for</strong> laptops and other devices. <strong>KINZO</strong><br />
designer Karim El-Ishmawi commented: “Apart from conventional meetings,<br />
telephone and video<strong>conference</strong>s, meeting rooms today are often used as<br />
temporary workplaces – especially <strong>for</strong> visiting executive managers from around the<br />
world. There<strong>for</strong>e the <strong>conference</strong> <strong>table</strong> <strong>for</strong> <strong>Ernst</strong> & Young is designed to enable a<br />
com<strong>for</strong><strong>table</strong> and ef<strong>for</strong>tless connection <strong>for</strong> internal and external media and devices.
The <strong>table</strong>’s shape allows many different seating arrangements that enhance<br />
communication - <strong>for</strong> two-party meetings as well as <strong>for</strong> ”round <strong>table</strong>” discussions<br />
and presentations. The slightly sloped <strong>table</strong> edge underlines the sporty elegance<br />
of the design; at the same time it prevents blood stasis in the <strong>for</strong>earm.<br />
<strong>KINZO</strong> achieved ample legroom <strong>for</strong> 15 persons so no one will bump into the <strong>table</strong><br />
legs – simply because there are no <strong>table</strong> legs. The handcrafted, beamless<br />
construction (length 412 cm, width 424 cm, height of 74 cm) consists of a<br />
combination of MDF and lightwood, which is rein<strong>for</strong>ced by steel sections and<br />
painted in matte-white. <strong>KINZO</strong> has taken a principle from structural engineering by<br />
fixing the <strong>table</strong>’s structure on a circular beam: the inner ring supports the<br />
cantilevered <strong>table</strong> surfaces. The balance point is cleverly placed to echo both the<br />
spatial and structural context: the inner ring is completely closed at the <strong>table</strong>’s<br />
“head” – the chairman’s seating position thus virtually <strong>for</strong>ming the <strong>table</strong>’s “centre of<br />
gravity”! (As a side effect, the <strong>table</strong> completely hides any view of the chairman’s<br />
legs and feet). Starting from the “heavyweight” chairman’s position, the <strong>table</strong> looks<br />
increasingly lighter and airier in connection with the opposing panoramic windows<br />
– a playful take on statics, that <strong>creates</strong> a very dynamic vibe: In this way, the<br />
<strong>conference</strong> <strong>table</strong> reminds you of a rocket that is just about to take off – and break<br />
directly through the glass front.<br />
Karim El-Ishmawi explains: “A successful consulting firm such as <strong>Ernst</strong> & Young<br />
wants to foster a creative, dynamic spirit and unconventional thinking. We have<br />
designed this <strong>table</strong> as a completely abstract object, purposely avoiding any<br />
traditional scales, patterns and shapes, to allow interpretation and inspiration <strong>for</strong><br />
the members of the board. From its pure <strong>for</strong>m, this abstract object could be<br />
anything – you could see it as a sophisticated bottle opener, as a high-speed<br />
jetfoil, a white deep-sea ray or a freeze frame of a space glider flying by at the<br />
speed of light.“ Indeed the board <strong>table</strong> looks differently from every perspective –<br />
sometimes oblong, sometimes wide, sometimes floating lightly and sometimes<br />
statically grounded. This one-of-a-kind piece was realized within a tight budget<br />
framework: an off-the-peg <strong>conference</strong> furniture system by one of the well-known<br />
brands wouldn’t have come much cheaper. In short: With <strong>KINZO</strong>, exclusive<br />
individuality, style and optimised functionality do not exclude cost consciousness.<br />
About <strong>KINZO</strong><br />
Founded in 1998 as a label <strong>for</strong> film, design, architecture, brand and event projects, <strong>KINZO</strong> has<br />
become internationally established <strong>for</strong> its unmistakable style and grown to be one of the<br />
ambassadors of <strong>Berlin</strong> design avant-garde. Starting from interior projects <strong>for</strong> shops, lofts and offices,<br />
fairs and exhibitions as well as design <strong>for</strong> events and film sets, the three architects and founders of
the company Karim El-Ishmawi, Chris Middleton and Martin Jacobs have become famous <strong>for</strong> their<br />
distinctive, sport and science-fiction inspired elegance. In 2008, <strong>KINZO</strong> successfully ventured into<br />
product design: Its office furniture programme <strong>KINZO</strong> AIR was awarded the red dot design award and<br />
nominated <strong>for</strong> the 2009 German State Design Price. <strong>KINZO</strong> AIR is manufactured and distributed by<br />
bau+art, <strong>Berlin</strong>. More in<strong>for</strong>mation on <strong>KINZO</strong> can be found at www.kinzo-berlin.de<br />
Press contacts:<br />
<strong>KINZO</strong> / Office <strong>Berlin</strong><br />
Karim El-Ishmawi<br />
phone +49 30 / 9700 4820<br />
info@kinzo-architecture.com<br />
Agency contact:<br />
Susbauer PR<br />
Daniela Kramer<br />
phone +49 221 / 120 123<br />
d.kramer@susbauer.de