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8mm chair and 6mm table by AL_A for Moroso to be unveiled at the V&A Museum, Exhibition Road Quarter

Moroso has produced a unique collection of chairs and tables

Moroso has produced a unique collection of chairs and tables, designed by AL_A especially for the Exhibition Road Quarter project at London’s V&A Museum. The new building has been conceived by Stirling Prize winning British architect Amanda Levete and her practice AL_A. In collaboration with Moroso, Amanda Levete has designed a chair and table for the courtyard and café which references the architecture of the space.

The 8mm chair and 6mm table, developed with Feruglio Engineering, were created by laser cutting sheets of aluminium in the two different thicknesses that give the pieces their names.

The aluminium, which is typically used in aeronautical construction projects, is a very light alloy that is nonetheless able to withstand a great deal of mechanical pressure. After laser cutting into the shape needed to make each piece, the sheet is bent using a one-step process.

Finally, the metal surface is smoothed, to eliminate signs of the laser cutting, and anodised or powder coated in two colour variations chosen by AL_A: in natural silver anodised or a blue-white powder coating to match the tones of the courtyard’s porcelain tiles.

The 8mm chair and 6mm table were created to be an integral part of the architectural design of the V&A Exhibition Road Quarter, designed to subtly blend with the courtyard surface.

The form is pared-back and essential and has been enhanced with a series of diagonal cuts, reducing the weight of the chair and referencing the pattern of the courtyard’s porcelain floor as well as creating interesting shadow effects.

The chairs, which can be used indoors or outdoors, are flexible and comfortable due to the curved back which allows a degree of springiness. The tables can be combined to create a larger surface area.