I think that failed attempts are inherently interesting (In design we call failed attempts iterations). Why failure is so interesting I am not completely sure, they say you learn more from your mistakes than you do from you failures, in my case I believe this to be true. Rarely do we see this failed attempts showcased. Now for your viewing pleasure I present to you a failed attempt at designing a coffee table. The coffee table was to be birch and concrete with metal legs. The top of the table swings open with the help of a large hinge made from two concentric steel pipe sections. When the table is in the open position a vaporless fireplace(similar to theses http://www.ecosmartfire.com/) is revealed as well as cubbyholes for a whiskey bottle and two small glasses .
After I finished doing the initial rhino model of the coffee table I decided to do a few calculations because I was worried about weight. The coffee table contains approximately 4 cubic feet of concrete. Concrete ways 150lbs per cubic foot so in concrete alone that table was at 600lbs…..that is more than some grand pianos (and it doesn’t even include the whiskey!)
Conclusion this coffee table was a little too complicated and way too heavy…..in other words a failure.
So it is back to the drawing board.
I really like this table but at 600 lbs, too bad. I feel like it could be the beginnings of a cool idea though. As an iteration it said, too big; so what about smaller? As another iteration, there could be a really cool small table or pod like thing at the end of a couch at arm rest height that opened in a similar way to reveal the treasures within, kept nice and cool by the concrete and some sort of system for ice… on spindly legs, for special creature effects