An architect’s drive to design our surrounding environment does not stop at the exterior of a building; for many architects it continues down to the furniture, art and even the inhabitants clothing. Many famous architects have been known to dabble in other design disciplines, such as Frank Lloyd Wright, Marcel Breuer, and Charles and Ray Eames to name just a few. Some of the most iconic chairs of the last century were designed by architects, examples being The Barcelona Chair, The Plywood Molded Chair and The Tulip Chair.

Arc Table. Designed by Lord Norman Foster for Molteni&C.

Lord Norman Foster is most commonly known as an architect and a winner of the illustrious Pritzker Architecture Prize in 1999. His buildings are technical modern designs which use engineering in combination with the most basic physical strategies to create inventive, environmentally conscious designs. Foster’s most iconic building is the Swiss Re London headquarters at 30 St Mary Axe, commonly known as “The Gherkin,” whose shape and skin take advantage of passive cooling systems via its high-tech facade. In true architect fashion, Foster is creating furniture with his expansive knowledge of design.

The Arc Table is a glass top table with a shapely base made of a composite material made from cement and organic fibers. The inventive material is a waterproof, resilient, elastic material that lends itself to unusual shapes. Designed for Molteni&C, the Arc table is inspired by temporary fabric structures which are becoming a more permanent part of modern design as sports facilities and large public spaces are more in demand. Foster and Partners Arc table is an elegant, simple piece of furniture that is contemporary but timeless and can be matched with a wide variety of design styles.