Italian architect and designer Massimo Castagna looked to the world of physics for inspiration when devising his statement-making Molecola dining table for Lombardy-based furniture brand Gallotti&Radice.
Balancing transparency and lightness of form with sinuous fluidity and tactility, the Molecola dining table is composed with a 15-millimetre clear tempered glass top (in either round or barrel shapes) that sits effortlessly atop a standout modular base of connected arches.
Resembling the chemical bonding of atoms to form a molecule, the distinctive base of the Molecola dining table has a sense of unfolding and rhythmic movement that can be viewed from every angle thanks to its transparent glass top. Molecola’s base is made from moulded poplar plywood cylinders that are stacked and connected to one another by a solid Toulipier wood base; a strong and versatile wood, Toulipier dries quickly and is easy to work with, making it a popular choice for mouldings, milling, interior finishes and, as the case is here, furniture.
Once formed, the undulating base is then hand-finished using a mixture of natural stone powders that is applied with a spatula, giving the surface a textured and rippled effect. Four colourways are offered, each achieved through the combination of different materials: Brick is made from red cocciopesto, an ancient Italian building concrete made with pieces of recycled tiles and bricks; Charcoal utilizes bits of rich black Nero Assoluto marble; while Rope and Ivory feature quartz with ecru or white shading, respectively.
The round version of the Molecola dining table from Gallotti&Radice is available in two sizes and the barrel-shaped option comes in four sizes.
