What happens when materials typically hidden behind walls and inside mechanical systems become the centerpiece of a design?
For the conference room in our Downtown Los Angeles showroom, Studio Other set out to explore that question, transforming industrial materials, unconventional finishes, and unexpected forms into a custom 10-foot conference table.
Designed, engineered, and built entirely by Studio Other, the table challenges traditional ideas of what conference room furniture should look like, finding beauty in the materials and processes of industrial fabrication.
Finding Inspiration in the Unexpected
The design began with an exploration of organic forms, sculptural curves, and tubular structures. Rather than relying on conventional furniture components, our team looked toward an entirely different world for inspiration: industrial manufacturing.
The idea took shape through conversations about large-scale mechanical systems and the oversized steel tubing used to construct them. Working with industrial designer Victor, who brought experience designing motorcycles, the team began exploring the possibilities of massive steel elbows typically found in fabrication yards.
These components were never intended for furniture. Their scale, shape, and industrial character, however, presented an opportunity to create something entirely unexpected.
The challenge became one of translation: How could an oversized mechanical component be reimagined as something refined, sculptural, and thoughtfully designed?
Rethinking Materials and Form
At the heart of the design are eight-inch-diameter steel tubes, connected through sweeping curves that create the impression of one continuous line.
The table's tubular base introduces a bold, architectural presence, while its MDF surface provides a softer counterpoint. Rolled, rounded edges echo the curves of the steel below, creating a cohesive form that feels substantial yet approachable.
The material exploration extended to the finish. Rather than selecting a conventional decorative metal treatment, the team incorporated yellow zinc coating, an industrial finish typically used on mechanical components and brackets for functional purposes.
Usually concealed from view, the finish takes on an entirely new identity when brought into a design context. Its distinctive color and metallic character become intentional aesthetic elements, celebrating the industrial origins of the materials rather than disguising them.
The result is a study in contrasts: industrial yet refined, substantial yet fluid, technical yet tactile.
Engineering Function into the Design
Beyond its sculptural appearance, the table needed to perform as a functional conference room centerpiece.
At 10 feet long, the design required careful engineering to achieve stability while maintaining a minimal visual footprint. The team deliberately limited the structure to just three points of contact with the floor, preserving the clean, continuous lines of the tubular base.
To provide the necessary balance and weight, approximately 150 pounds of sand were added inside the tubing toward the ends of the table, creating stability without compromising its form.
Power integration presented another opportunity to rethink a familiar conference table feature.
Rather than interrupting the tabletop with a conventional power module, the team developed a rotating access feature that integrates directly with the tubular design. One of the steel tubes extends through the surface, where a circular, yellow zinc-coated component rotates open to provide access to power.
A discreet opening along the underside of the tubing allows electrical connections to travel through the structure, keeping the tabletop clean and free of unnecessary visual clutter.
What could have been a purely functional detail instead becomes one of the table's defining design features.
A Showcase of Design and Fabrication
The finished table is more than a place to gather. It's a demonstration of Studio Other's approach to custom design: questioning conventions, exploring unconventional materials, and finding creative solutions through engineering and fabrication.
Every element, from the oversized steel elbows to the soft edges of the tabletop and integrated power access, was considered as part of a unified design.
Now anchoring the conference room in Studio Other's Downtown Los Angeles showroom, the table offers a tangible example of what's possible when industrial processes meet thoughtful design.
By bringing design, engineering, and fabrication together, Studio Other transformed ordinary mechanical components into something entirely its own.
