- NV What do you think about Elba as a material for product design?
- TS While it was my first time working with a material like this, I found it has a natural grain and character that I find similar to timber, and the joining and construction sequences are also similar to timber. The weight of each component and how each would be connected did present a challenge initially though.
- NV What was your reaction when seeing Elba for the first time?
- TS How bright the material actually is and the level of subtle detail present in the stone. Its unique aesthetic features formed the catalyst for the product’s overall direction. I wanted the material to be the driving feature and allow the work to express its characteristics.
- NV What are you hoping to achieve with this design?
- TS Through the table’s large recessed bowl, I hope Bacchus encourages the sharing of food and objects, and creates an intimate connection to the material and person. Its exaggerated proportions ground the table, giving it a permanent place in its environment.
- NV How is this volume new?
- TS The table is built from a series of connecting simple volumes. Each element expresses different qualities inherent in Elba. The unique combination of these volumes makes Bacchus a new take on a familiar household form — one that explores the way we use a table and the importance it has in a space.
Through his eponymous studio, Tom Skeehan produces commercial furniture, lighting and products with a uniquely considered, material-minded process. Designing and manufacturing in Canberra, Skeehan’s studio works closely with local vendors to ensure quality articulations of its designs, foster local support and the efficient sourcing of materials.
Also committed to education, Skeehan regularly presents talks and events encouraging community participation, sharing of ideas and most importantly, enjoyment — thus activating knowledge of just how great good design can be. His designs have been awarded and exhibited both nationally and internationally.