KINZO creates inspiring conference table for Ernst ... - KINZO Berlin

The table’s shape allows many different seating arrangements that enhance
communication - for two-party meetings as well as for ”round table” discussions
and presentations. The slightly sloped table edge underlines the sporty elegance
of the design; at the same time it prevents blood stasis in the forearm.
KINZO achieved ample legroom for 15 persons so no one will bump into the table
legs – simply because there are no table legs. The handcrafted, beamless
construction (length 412 cm, width 424 cm, height of 74 cm) consists of a
combination of MDF and lightwood, which is reinforced by steel sections and
painted in matte-white. KINZO has taken a principle from structural engineering by
fixing the table’s structure on a circular beam: the inner ring supports the
cantilevered table surfaces. The balance point is cleverly placed to echo both the
spatial and structural context: the inner ring is completely closed at the table’s
“head” – the chairman’s seating position thus virtually forming the table’s “centre of
gravity”! (As a side effect, the table completely hides any view of the chairman’s
legs and feet). Starting from the “heavyweight” chairman’s position, the table looks
increasingly lighter and airier in connection with the opposing panoramic windows
– a playful take on statics, that creates a very dynamic vibe: In this way, the
conference table reminds you of a rocket that is just about to take off – and break
directly through the glass front.
Karim El-Ishmawi explains: “A successful consulting firm such as Ernst & Young
wants to foster a creative, dynamic spirit and unconventional thinking. We have
designed this table as a completely abstract object, purposely avoiding any
traditional scales, patterns and shapes, to allow interpretation and inspiration for
the members of the board. From its pure form, this abstract object could be
anything – you could see it as a sophisticated bottle opener, as a high-speed
jetfoil, a white deep-sea ray or a freeze frame of a space glider flying by at the
speed of light.“ Indeed the board table looks differently from every perspective –
sometimes oblong, sometimes wide, sometimes floating lightly and sometimes
statically grounded. This one-of-a-kind piece was realized within a tight budget
framework: an off-the-peg conference furniture system by one of the well-known
brands wouldn’t have come much cheaper. In short: With KINZO, exclusive
individuality, style and optimised functionality do not exclude cost consciousness.
About KINZO
Founded in 1998 as a label for film, design, architecture, brand and event projects, KINZO has
become internationally established for its unmistakable style and grown to be one of the
ambassadors of Berlin design avant-garde. Starting from interior projects for shops, lofts and offices,
fairs and exhibitions as well as design for events and film sets, the three architects and founders of