Cosmos is the Furniture System infinitely expanding in space.
A modular furniture system that opens up to endless connections
and layouts: single desks, meeting tables, shared workstations and
equipped bookcases, all freely configurable and combinable with one
another while offering the possibility of including wiring, screens,
extensions and lighting. The design feature is the use of the least
amount of material possible. For this purpose, an innovative structural
concept has been developed: a slender, iconic and elegant solution
accommodating all the needs of cross-functional environments which
require a fluid use of the space. From a single and domestic table to
a system of solutions including shelving units, the design enhances
the system’s utility and adaptability across different environments
and uses – from the workplace to executive areas, from universities
and libraries to hotels.
The Cosmos Table and Furniture System, an initiative of the Design
and Innovation Unit of the Norman Foster Foundation, has been
created with the ambition of exploring the intersection of aeronautical
engineering and material innovation in furniture and product design.
Slender
The aesthetic of Cosmos grows out
of the outstanding strength of the spine
with its cluster of four ellipses that
branch, like a tree into the legs and top
supports. Following the maxim of ‘doing
more with less’ the system is typified
by the minimum number of components;
each one of which is homed to its most
slender profile.
Modular
Cosmos is a family of interchangeable
components. These allow the spine
to grow and double up, providing
an instinctive range of variations.
At the small scale the table is ideal
for domestic or executive spaces,
with its wider range of elements,
which are easily added or removed.
The system can be tuned for large scale
installations in the workplace - from
office and studios to high industry.
Experimental
The inspiration to stretch the structural
potential of metals and composites was
the slender profile of road racing bicycle
frames and the attenuated forms
of high performance sailplanes.
Through a process of 3D modelling,
structural software and 5-Axis CNC
machining, the system has been refined
in recyclable aluminium to reach
maximum slenderness, load bearing
capacity and lightness.
cosmos
“Cosmos explores the potential for state-of-the-art fabrication
and materials to create an elegant and flexible skeleton system
for the workplace and the home.”
Norman Foster
The Cosmos Furniture System marks a new step
in the collaboration between Norman Foster Foundation
and Tecno, and will continue to push the boundaries
of modern furniture design.
