Angelo M

Inspired by the work of Angelo Mangiarotti, well-known for his seamless concrete architecture, Belgian designer Leo Aerts has carved this table entirely out of marble. Contrary to its appearance, however, Angelo M is in fact two parts rather than a single monolith, comprising a top with a bevelled bottom edge and a conical base with the joint cleverly hidden underneath. Using a CNC machine to cut and finish the natural stone, the designer achieved an uninterrupted and befuddling silhouette, which seems to defy physics: Round- or oval-topped, it’s available in eight varieties of marble and in honed, polished, brushed, striped or sandblasted-and-brushed finishes. Angelo M also comes in dining-, side- and coffee-table sizes.

Project Angelo M Designer Leo Aerts, Belgium Manufacturer Alinea Design Objects, Belgium 

Limbus GreenFrame

Equal parts room divider, plant stand and floor lamp, this thin-framed yet eminently useful piece is the ultimate biophilic object. Conceived by Malmö-based Johan Kauppi, it began as a spinoff from an earlier design for a floor screen, which Kauppi deconstructed.

In essence, he imagined GreenFrame as a modern-day stand-in for a window with a garden view for workplaces that have neither. An LED strip recessed into the frame’s upper crossbar provides a light source, making it ideal for creating an indoor green space in rooms devoid of sunlight. Best of all, plants no longer have to be confined to window sills, giving space planners infinitely greater flexibility when it comes to fashioning bespoke office oases.

Project Limbus GreenFrame Design Kauppi & Kauppi, Sweden Manufacturer Glimakra of Sweden, Sweden 

UP

In terms of green cred, Denmark’s UP – the “circular kitchen” designed for Reform by Lendager Group, a leader in sustainable solutions – is, well, up there. A series of solid natural-wood cabinetry fronts and countertops, Lendager’s design is made of upcycled Douglas fir offcuts from Dinesen (the 120-year-old manufacturer of high-end hardwood flooring), which are subsequently finished in a light oil. Moreover, each piece is milled to fit Ikea kitchens, perhaps the most common cabinetry framework worldwide. For these reasons and more – think ease of transport and a handsome aesthetic – the Lendager-Reform collabo constitutes a new high for eco-design, demonstrating just how attractive offcuts can be, and giving designers and renovators the opportunity to reduce waste and optimize resources by using an effective green product. Talk about upping the ante.

Project UP Design Lendager Group, Denmark Manufacturer Reform, Denmark