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6 Games Tables Worthy of Design-Lovers
Marty Supreme might have gone 0 for 9 at the Oscars, but it seems to have ignited a ping pong fever. And the design world is paying attention. In fact, table sports in general are undergoing an aesthetic facelift, with brands like Unifor, RS Barcelona and even Louis Vuitton getting in on the game. Here are five that we’d love to try out.
1. COLOSSO by Marc Ange x 11 Ravens
COLOSSO, a limited-edition billiards table by 11 Ravens, the Los Angeles brand synonymous with elevated ping pong setups, looks designed expressly for one of Marc Ange’s über-luxury interiors. “Conceived as part of a new series of creature-like game tables, COLOSSO reimagines billiards as both a stage for play and an extraordinary work of art,” the manufacturer explains. Its pedestal bases come in a curated selection of woods, finishes, stones and marbles—and its playing surface in a selection of 60 Kvadrat textiles that expand upon the standard green. It’s shown here in burnt sienna.
2. Made to Measure by Herzog + de Meuron for Unifor
It’s hard to imagine the principals of heavyweight architecture firm Herzog + de Meuron in a rapid-fire ping pong match. But their Made to Measure collection for Unifor boasts table tennis tables as part of a broader offering including regular tables and seating. All are united by wooden frames with 12-degree-angled legs.
“The supporting structure consists of four solid wood beams interlocking in three dimensions: a contemporary reinterpretation of the traditional castle joint,” the firm explains. “This structural matrix generates a scalable family of elements.” It’s as elegant as ping pong can possibly get.
3. Cleaf at Salone del Mobile
Spotted at Salone, Cleaf‘s exuberant Beyond the Lines laminate collection was used to clad a table tennis as part of a booth that “focuses on the intersection of sport and design, in an unexpected and playful way.” It made for a convincing application of the surfacing in a custom ping pong piece—if anyone is so inclined.
4. You and Me by Antoni Palleja Office for RS Barcelona
With a tag line like “The Art of Play,” RS Barcelona is dedicated to making table sports as stylish as they can be. The You and Me Standard is a ping pong table that comes in 21 vivid colors.
It’s both tournament sized and highly practical at that — with under-top compartments for balls and paddles — and minimal enough to be adaptable as a large dining or conference table.
5. AL13 by Luca Nichetto for RS Barcelona
While we’re at RS Barcelona, let’s also admire its new collaboration with Luca Nichetto. AL13 takes as its point of departure the periodic table of elements — specifically the symbol and atomic number of aluminum, which comprises the shell of this curvaceous pool table. AL13’s upholstery in soft leather completes the impeccable design.
6. Odysée by Estúdio Campana for Louis Vuitton’s Objet Nomades
There’s sometimes an urge to slam the full weight of your body against a foosball table to manoeuvre your mini soccer ball — not with this marvellous creature. Named after the legendary Greek king, Odysée introduces handcrafted luxury and telltale Campana whimsy into the barroom staple. The tiny player figures are sirens with Swarovski crystal eyes and the legs are covered in leather scales. “At its heart,” Estudio Campana explains, “lies a poetic suggestion: the ball as a pearl, embraced by finely pleated blue leather that envelops the entire piece.”
