Close-up of a white mosaic tile surface with a hexagonal pattern and stepped edges

STEPWELL TABLE

A carved table that glows from the inside, inspired by Chand Baori - the 800 A.D. Indian stepwell dedicated to the goddess of joy and happiness

FOR COMPAC SURFACES

A modern square coffee table with a marble base and a cracked glass top, placed on a grey floor against a black background.

From the outside, the table appears like a monolithic slab of marble. On the inside, however, the beautifully detailed stair geometry gives the impression of intricately carved stone. The stairs consist of multiple 20mm layers of quartz put together as one. Every step is 5mm long and 3.5mm high.

To emulate the striking, translucent water at the base of the original well, experimentation was made with the translucency of the quartz material by adding light to the bottom of the table.

The Stepwell Table was created for the Wallpaper* Handmade Exhibition 2018 at Milan Design Week.

A modern square coffee table with a white marble base and a glass top, showing a partially broken section with visible damage.

THE ORIGIN OF THE MATERIAL - SCULPTURAL CARVING

The design of the table represents the origins of the stone material by creating something that looks like it is carved out of a solid piece.

Comparison of different excavation methods: mountain versus carved quarry, untouched ground versus carved stepwell, and marble slab versus carved sculpture.
A rectangular white marble table with a glass top showcasing a geometric hexagonal pattern, set against a black background and gray surface.
Close-up of a corner of a white architectural foam panel with a honeycomb pattern, placed on a brown marble surface.
White textured surface with a honeycomb pattern and a geometric grid section.
Diagram illustrating the layers of a modern shower system, including a drainage grate, waterproof membrane, insulation, and tile surface.
A machine cutting white plastic or metal strips in an industrial setting.

UNDERSTANDING THE MANUFACTURING PROCESSES

Coffey Architects visited the COMPAC HQ in Gandia, Spain in order to explore and understand the manufacturing processes.

Three people standing and talking inside a large industrial facility with machinery and metal structures.
A geometric white lattice sculpture in an industrial workshop.
Two isometric diagrams of a square object with a patterned top surface and marble sides, showing internal layers with different textures and colors.

LIGHT DRAWER AND CUSTOMISATION

Easy access to the light source is allowed via a drawer in the base. This also means that the translucent COMPAC Ice of Genesis quartz panel can be changed to another colour or material if required.

A square modern coffee table with a marble base, white honeycomb-patterned surface, and a central glass section with a gold-colored element and cracks.

LOCATION

Table

RESEARCH THEMES

Light, carved sculpture

STATUS

Completed in 2018

CLIENT

COMPAC Surfaces