Tense Collection by MDF Italia: the essence of the four-legged table
"Designing by simplifying, to extrapolate the essence." This is where Piergiorgio and Michele Cazzaniga started from when they created the Tense collection for MDF Italia. An extremely high-performance table system destined to become an icon of the four-legged table.
This is also one of the ultimate representations of the style and aesthetics of the two designers, who try to achieve maximum functionality with minimum use of material. And they succeeded in doing so with Tense, which showcases the "primary concept of the table idea, so authentic and minimal that it adapts to the most diverse environments."
Tense, as in the tensioning capacity of the components that allows for tabletops of large sizes, up to 4 meters long. The technology and fine design of the series by Cazzaniga is also accompanied by the simplicity of the shapes and mono-material finishes. It is because of this consistency that Tense succeeds in capturing the soul of the table, along with the profound contemporary feel that makes it suitable for any environment, whether domestic or professional. Useful for the latter, the table is also available in a version with 1 or 2 openings and an undertop tray. The project was born in 2009, and different sizes, finishes and heights were added on the occasion of its 10th anniversary: from dining table and coffee table, to bench and console table.
The heights, to be precise, are five in total. The dimensions are as many as thirty-six. And what about the materials? Tense Material Wood was created as a further variation of the original table and is available in three different finishes. Natural oak, with creases and veins that mark the passage of time and enhance the beauty of the wood. Carbonised wood, inspired by the Japanese technique of "burning" wood through the use of natural acids. Fine wood, with a smooth surface and warm, intense hues.
The materials are essential for the table to elicit an experience that is not only visual, but also tactile. Tense Material takes care of that, again, this time with stone and marble. The reconstructed stone finishes - in white calce, black slate, pink onyx, and yellow - are achieved through a mineral mixture of marble and quartz, applied by hand over the entire surface to create irregular textures and smoothing, so each table is inevitably different from the next. The marble version comes to life from marble powder, mixed with a binder and then laid out. In black ebony and white Carrara, the characteristics of the source material remain, while gaining an extreme lightness.
"Tense is an ongoing thought of mine," says Piergiorgio Cazzaniga just before explaining how Tense Material Marble was born. The starting point is always mixed marble powder, laid out by hand and polished. This is then joined by a series of lines, a system of inlays studied after "Kandinsky came to him" and his "point-line-surface" theory. On the surface, the lines intersect with a particular reference to the musical staff, thus drawing sounds and colors.
When the extreme lightness of Tense meets the brightness of the brass finish. Tense Material Brass is the most elegant, refined and contemporary version of the series, with more or less explicit references to the decorative styles of past times. The chiaroscuro effects and shades of the tabletop always ensure a warm and welcoming feel, as with the entire collection.
Unparalleled warmth and intensity, however, come from one of the latest finishes unveiled for the 10th anniversary of Tense: Tense Material Diamond, with its bright red hue. It is inspired by the Chinese lacquer technique, with color being applied, and clear polyester added to give a smooth, glossy effect to the surface. Its ability to reflect light and objects can only enhance the design of the collection.
From Kandinsky to the Lamé curves. It is the latter that inspired Piergiorgio and Michele Cazzaniga to renew Tense not only for its material essence but also for its formal one. Tense Curve takes advantage of the sinuous silhouette, designed to better suit the relationship between the people sitting around the table. Indeed, the round shape is the one that best enhances conviviality and close relationships, allowing all the people at the table to look into the eyes of one another.
"Intelligent beauty, the result of a way of thinking and know-how capable of conveying profound emotions by skillfully emphasizing the peculiarities of the materials used."
And in the case of Tense Outdoor, the material in question is the aluminum sheet metal with which the entire surface is made. It is the durable finishes designed specifically for outdoor spaces that allow the beauty and unique design of Tense to be transferred to outdoor spaces.
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