100 years of design: the Superstudio table is a symbol of the 70s

The Quaderna table (1970), designed by Supertstudio, is a symbol of 70s design and the material embodiment of the visionary idea of a mesh “super-surface” that envelops the planet – the Internet.

The Superstudio group are architecture students from the Academy of Florence who came together in 1966 to change the world and propose a new model of life at a time when criticism was the most important genre. Superstudio picked up the mood of a total renewal.

For 12 years of its existence, the most striking project proposed by Superstudio was a fantastic “super-surface”. The prophetic view of the surface of our planet as a “super-surface” replacing the object world with a grid turned out to be more than a viable idea. They assumed that this “super-surface” would provide an opportunity to connect to heat, electricity and solar energy.

They pondered the idea of a constant monument – a kind of reticulated magma that can envelop all things around. Black and white squares in Superstudio’s works have become a sign of constant regularity and stability.

“Mesh” furniture (and besides the table, the Superstudio team has come up with a complete setting for all occasions) can be considered an ideal expression of this main idea of the architects. The grid appears in the works of the creative association very often: it is present in collages, art works, clothing, uniforms, installations.

But, more importantly, the image of a black and white cell completely coincided with the image of a completely real, not fictional, architecture of that time. Mesh furniture was called the most architectural furniture in the history of furniture. The willfulness, the willfulness of black and white geometry revealed a strong theoretical concept.

These objects were seen by Aurelio Zanotta, owner of Zanotta, one of the most innovative businessmen of his time, with great taste and commercial flair. He always said: “We must get to the very essence of the subject and present it to the world in a pure and logical form. If all the characteristics are fair, if the model is executed correctly, we will get a timeless object.”

Aurelio Zanotta suggested Superstudio to produce this furniture in large editions, and not in experimental series, so much it captivated many. This is how Quaderna was born. A special laminate was used to cover tables and other items (designed by Superstudio, it was produced by Abet Print under the name Misura).

The objects formed an artificial landscape, the elements of which could be increased indefinitely. This abstract geometry in interiors still looks strong and simple.

Now the drawing is digitally applied to the laminate. The size of each cage, as before, is 3×3 cm.The size of the tabletop of the most popular table in this series, model 2830, is 180×81 cm, height 75 cm.