Tensegrity
Coffee Table.

Refining the form

Research into Hamptons style and existing tensegrity tables was refined across seven CAD iterations before a final form was locked in.

At the client's request the design took a minimalist path. Thin stainless wire rope was chosen over marine rope, and a low detail glass top over a wooden one. The glass gives a clean view straight down into the internal tensegrity structure and the grain matched arc beneath it.

An early base cross beam was cut from the design. It overcomplicated the form and added weight and timber cost, so removing it kept the piece cleaner and let the tensegrity read more clearly.

Turnbuckle & brass anchor

The self engineered tensioning system is the heart of the piece, hidden entirely inside the timber to keep the form uninterrupted.

Each wire runs to a concealed brass puck anchor threaded for an M4 bolt, tensioned by a turnbuckle hidden in the frame. This lets every wire be tuned to eliminate wobble, then easily re tensioned or replaced later without touching the timber.

Sixty hours in oak

Sixty hours across two terms, from raw American oak through joinery, arc supports and final glue up.

The finished piece

An American oak, Hamptons style tensegrity table, finished professionally and delivered to the client. The tensegrity structure reads clearly straight down through the glass, and the grain runs seamlessly across the arc join.

Merit Award, Government House

The Tensegrity Coffee Table earned a Merit Award through SACE in 2026, one of the highest academic distinctions in the state. As a recipient I was formally invited to Government House, Adelaide, to receive the award in person.