Stories

Riad Tables

A Design by Alvaro Catalán de Ocón & Francesco Faccin.

Riad table is an enhancement of the traditional manufacturing process and graphic motifs of hydraulic tiles. These concrete tiles emerged in Mediterranean Europe in the early 20th century as an industrial response to old mosaic floors. The drawings of Riad are inspired by traditional designs that can be found from the Alhambra of Granada to the Great Mosque of Damascus.

The idea behind this product is to decontextualise a construction material –the hydraulic tile– by isolating and objectifying it.

The result is a table for indoors and outdoor whose hexagonal shape offers the possibilty to reproduce a “raised floor” combining as many pieces as desired.

Great part of the designing process lies in resolving what is not visible to the naked eye.

It has been necessary to research more technical materials to lighten, reinforce and resize the product, as well as to intervene in its traditional manufacturing process in order to accurately place a metalic piece which works as a node to reinforce the object and, at the same time, to position the legs in perfect geometry.