Kabu: A Masterpiece of Craftsmanship and Design

Adriana Pardo and Yago Mendez's Award-Winning Console Table

The Kabu console table is a unique creation that stands out for its simplicity and balance. The designers, Adriana Pardo and Yago Mendez, have masterfully combined thickness with edging to highlight the beauty of the wood and the patterns created by its grains. The table, inspired equally by Nordic and Japanese aesthetics, boasts clean lines and a timeless design that can seamlessly fit into any space, regardless of style.

The table's creation process is a testament to high-quality handcrafting standards. The standout feature of the table is its curved shelf, which follows the line created by the legs, adding harmony to the design. The wood is laminated to a thickness of 3 to 4 mm, depending on the type, and then curved and glued onto a mould one by one. This laborious process enhances the handcrafted nature of the piece. The assembly is done using traditional cabinet-making techniques, with a splined joint for the boards and a mortise-and-tenon joint for the legs.

The Kabu console table is not just a piece of furniture; it is an artistic addition to any environment. Its form, lightness, and harmony enable it to communicate beyond its function, transforming it from an inanimate object in the room to a piece of art that adds to the aesthetics of the space.

The design and creation process of Kabu took place in Galicia, Spain, in 2014. It took seven months, from February to September, for the table to transition from an initial design to a final product. The process involved detailed research into the raw material, the wood’s torsion forces, thickness, and assemblies to ensure the durability and resistance of a lifelong product. This meticulous attention to detail is evident in the final product, which is a testament to the designers' commitment to quality and craftsmanship.

The Kabu console table's design and creation were not without challenges. The most significant difficulty was laminating the wood for the curved shelf. Most of the laminates broke down when placed on the mould for curving, requiring the designers to calculate the minimum thickness that would provide the necessary flexibility without breaking. Despite these challenges, the designers' perseverance and dedication resulted in a product that is not only functional but also a work of art.

In recognition of their remarkable design and craftsmanship, Adriana Pardo and Yago Mendez were awarded the Silver A' Furniture Design Award in 2018. The award is given to designs that demonstrate outstanding expertise, innovation, and artistic skill, and the Kabu console table is a deserving recipient of this prestigious accolade.