Meet the Designer: An SF Architect’s Approach to Book Shelves
Instead of a coffee table book, what about a book coffee table? Bay Area architect, artist and fabricator Lisa Finster is now custom creating what she calls the “Book Table.” She takes people’s favorite and different sized books and precisely fits them between panels of poplar—much like putting together pieces of a jigsaw puzzle.
“I love incorporating things into my work that have significance to me – it's like I am building a home for something I love while giving it a reason to live on display, or to become something useful,” Finster says. “For me, the book table is like a functional memory capsule – it is a table made complete by a series of books from a formative time in my life.”
Finster made her first Book Table while studying architecture at the California College of the Arts 10 years ago. The original table consisted of 19 panels of wood, each planned to the thickness of a book with the shape of the book removed. Once done, she cored out the underside to make the table lighter and easier to move.
Finster grew up sewing, quilting and knitting, and always had a knack for working with her hands. She experimented with all sorts of materials, including resin, concrete, rubber and latex; but wood has always been her favorite. “In addition to its natural warmth and beauty,” she says, “I love how it can be manipulated and shaped in so many ways.”
Many of Finster’s ideas and concepts are influenced by architects from where she grew up— Southern California—including Greene & Greene, Richard Neutra, John Lautner, and Frank Lloyd Wright. “These designers didn’t stop their work when a building form was established and the walls were all located,” she says. “They had a hand in the design of every doorknob and light fixture, every bookshelf and handrail, and often the furniture as well. They were space makers.”
All of Finster’s furniture is custom-made to order, she says she is happy to work from a previous design or start from scratch. If interested in a customized Book Table, Finster can be contacted through her website.
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This is a genius idea! Looks great, especially for people with minimalist/clutter-free design styles.
Anyone else hate this trend. It is a clever one-liner that speaks of a disrespect for books, not a love of books. Books are living, and should not be locked incells. Our relationship changes with them over time, and this type of shelf just treats them like curtains or tiles that we install once and that fade into the background.
the books aren't locked away, they can be pulled out and enjoyed. if anything, i would think these books would get more eyeballs this way.
No, I don't hate creative ideas. Uh-uh, no.
You know you can remove the books, right? They are not permenately in there.
If anything it's putting books on a pedestal by giving them their own space to live and breathe. It's an homage to books that allows them to be showcased and you can still use them. Love the creativity and structure. It's beautiful!
Better not ever sell those editions.
allowing the books to dictate the form of the shelves is the opposite of disrespect. makes me wish i wasn't an architect so i could afford one. well done Ms. Finster.
Elegant, simple, brilliant.
What an astonishing idea! BRAVO! Just like having our good friends around the table, thanks to Lisa's ingenious creativity, our special "book-friends" are with us in an intimate setting, too! Right where we want and need them to be!
Sue, Chicago
January 18, 2012
What an astonishing idea! BRAVO! Just like having our good friends around the table, thanks to Lisa's ingenious creativity, our special "book-friends" are with us in an intimate setting, too! Right where we want and need them to be!
Sue, Chicago
January 18, 2012
I admire and respect ingenuity, but it seems very impractical to me. It looks like once the shapes are made, only the original books will fit. A bit of spilled coffee damages the books. Also, surprised that I I'm the first to mention Kramer's (Seinfeld) book that becomes a coffee table merely by spreading the attached legs. That was a joke.
Frank, Boston
I was thinking the exact same things (about book width/length/depth, and spilling all over them). It definitely is interesting, but I know I'd ruin many a book if I had it. Not a product for a klutz!
I think this table isn't for book lovers. If someone takes a book (or two) it will look odd. Why not make a functioning coffee table? A shallow wood box where books could lie flat, the covers would be very decorative and glass could cover the top? Books could still be accessed when needed and changed when desired. With the other design it only fits certain books....impractical for real people, OK for dilettantes.
I actually like the fact that only the original books will fit. I have plenty of books I like but might not keep forever; obviously I wouldn't spend money on having a table custom-made around them. But there are a few books that have changed my view of the world and that I plan to hold onto forever. Having a table like this made for those books would be very cool, a sort of tangible commitment. Agreed, though - don't actually put coffee on it! And keep it safe from your cat and toddler...
Yes, Frank from Bosotn...before I even clicked on the link, I thought of Kramer's coffee table book.
It looks as though you may have been inspired by the bookshelf done by Mike & Maaike.
Bill/SF