We’re not sure whether this will qualify as one of the most beautiful ping-pong tables currently on the planet, but the Pingtuated Equilibripong table is definitely one of the more special one’s we have come across so far. Created by design firm Akke’s Axel Yberg, the design came into being as an evolutionary investigation into the development of design into a form of functional art that can serve as a significant fast forward for the design of ping pong tables.
Based on the Theory of Punctuated Equilibrium proposed by Stephen J. Gould and Niles Eldredge which says that until rapid and rare events generate noteworthy alterations, most of the history of most species exhibits little evolutionary variation. We’re not sure how a having a ping pong table that can also double up as a dining table will jolt the design of the playing surface for the Olympic sport but the 400 man hours that went into its making do make their presence felt in the, er, resourcefulness of the design.
The 108″ L x 60″ W x 30″ H Pingtuated Equilibripong ping pong table is a one-of-a-kind piece that comes with an unfinished, industrial look contrasting with a high-gloss lacquer coated top surface. With a hollowed out heart, the table features a regulation Edison bulb in its center that may be distracting for anyone trying to play a real game of table tennis on the thing but adds to the bizarre scheme of aesthetics of the overall design. Retailing at $56,000, the Pingtuated Equilibripong table was fashioned out of reclaimed materials like Edison reproduction light bulbs, an aircraft cable, steel, mirror, glass, reclaimed plumbing fittings and pipes and a selection of reclaimed woods such as ash sassafras, holly, cherry, black locust, red oak, sycamore, black walnut, Chinese chestnut and mulberry.
Via: Gizmodo