Elements In Tension

The honest expression of function and structure is my goal in architecture, furniture design and sculpture. In a private residence a support truss is exposed and becomes a screen that defines levels within the house. In a sculpture called Ramp, a fin of steel grating supports a long truss. A nerve-like tension cable in the center of the truss ties these elements together. Maya Station is a huge environment of tension trusses formed by steel tubes and cables. In my trestle table designs, the tension ties are stainless steel, acting like tendons supporting the skeletal support beams.

Green Directions

The standard for environmentally appropriate products should include product necessity, lifetime and durability, material selection and recyclable qualities.
All of our furniture features wood from sustainable sources and structural steel is purchased as scrap drops whenever possible. Steel shapes are waterjet cut and nested to save material. Short run and custom fabrication is done in our shop using biodegradable solvents and cutting oil. Our coatings are all low VOC paints, natural oils, UV cured clear coats or powder coatings.

Efficiency As Heavyweight

My aim is always to minimize weight and limit waste. With this in mind, the design of a trestle table presented new complexities. A lighter weight table structure might resist applied loads but would lack the weight necessary for stability. With additional core weight the trestle footprint can become smaller and the cantilevered tabletop can be wider. Beam cutoffs braced with stainless steel tension rods are used as the structural components of the trestle legs.

The Expression of Structure

As an architect, furniture designer and sculptor, I’ve always been intrigued by the development of structures. From the spatial arrangement of cells and skeletal frameworks to the man-made relationships found in engineering and architecture, structure is the inspiration and reference for my work.