maxime mellot builds turia table for meditative experiences

maxime mellot builds turia table for meditative experiences
photo © femke reijerman
all images courtesy of maxime mellot

‘in a society with a continuous focus on performance and permanent internet connection, pure moments of privacy become rare and precious. how can furniture invite us to take a break and enjoy an ‘unconnected’ moment?’ this mentality spurred dutch designer maxime mellot to offer an answer in the form of a construct called ‘turia’.

closeup of the fish tank and bird cage
photo © femke reijerman

presented during dutch design week 2014 as part of the design academy eindhoven graduate exhibition, the table has not been built for work, but for meditating as you admire the lives of birds, fish, and plants. by embedding iconic items such as a cage and aquatic tank into the tabletop, the focus almost automatically shifts from the obligatory ‘to-do-list’ to a pleasant pondering of nature. as the sea creatures nibble on the roots of the plant under water, the birds sing next to you while having a cup of tea or a snack.

photo © femke reijerman

designboom has received this project from our ‘DIY submissions‘ feature, where we welcome our readers to submit their own work for publication. see more project submissions from our readers here.