Set The Table

I just finished building a Chef's Table, designed by Ian Kirby or Elm restaurant in New Cannan CT. The table is made with 1/4 sawn American Walnut that was shipped to us through Wood Finders. To start the project Ian made a few mock ups while I rough dressed the boards so that we could see the colors and let the stress in the wood do what it may. Ian then came over to the shop so that we could lay out the top. We picked through the boards first to find the best face. We then arraigned the planks on saw horses and placed them in different order until we were happy with the grain orientation and the relationship of one board to the next. Ian went off back to his home and studio leaving us to glue up the top and prepare the skirting.
Meanwhile the metal worker Bobbie R got busy making up a sample leg so that we could determine how the leg would fit to the top. Once Bobbie brought the leg over we reviewed it, made some changes and let him go off and fabricate all 4 legs that we would need. These legs are rather robust as they are only held on at the corners of the table. One issue with welding metal is that it is hard to maintain tolerances that a furniture maker is looking for. Once Bobbie brought the legs back to our shop we ended up adding a series of set screw so that we could tweak the alignment. All in all everything worked out. Today I finished up the table by attaching the legs to the top and putting the table onto the ground. It stands well and does not budge. I know that people will be gathering around this table and having a grand feast. 
Take a look at the finished project or book your reservation and enjoy a meal on the table.

http://www.elmrestaurant.com/?cat=74

The Scolari Wing

One of my staff members mentioned that the Yale School of Architecture was preparing an exhibit of Massimo Scolari's work, and asked if I was interested in bidding on the project. I very quickly walked into my office and called the Director of exhibitions Brian Butterfield to discuss the project. Brian andI discussed the overall project and I presented to Brian my plan on fabricating the wing as a torsion box with the final ash skin being applied as a veneer. Brian accepted my plan and asked us to start preparing samples and start fabrication.

Massimo Scalari giving our sample one last look prior to his departure from our shop

Prior to starting the project in our shop Massimo flew to CT to review all of the preparations for the gallery show. One stop was to our shop so that he could review our samples and discuss with me how I planned to build and finish the wing. To prepare for Massimo's arrival at my shop, Dan and I made up a sample of the wing skin along with a few other samples for Massimo Scolari's review. On the day of the job review I was lucky to have Dan & Jim out installing other work as we spent many hours reviewing the construction, grain direction screw size and many other details.

Dan working one the wing frame.

The next time that Massimo Scolari would see the wing would be when he returns for the gallery opening on February 9th. We could only hope that I got the image and concept right. Dan Kirkstead was the main cabinet maker on the fabrication of the actual wings. We all were involved on different aspects as the project allowed. After many hours of building we finally got the opportunity to assemble both halves for the wing a few hours prior to delivery. It went together beautifully. All told the wing weights about 700lbs, there are 240 brass screws, 32 oak pegs, 320 square feet of ash plywood for the skin and more screws and glue holding everything together. We delivered the wing to the Yale gallery and their riggers hoisted the wing into place.

After the delivery I was given a tour of the previous models of the wing. There was one model made for the installation at Yale, there is one yellow high gloss model, two models for the real wing and I believe that may have been one other. You will have to go to the exhibition and count all the models your self. The show opens this coming Thursday February 9th at 6pm.

The final product delivered and assembled at the Yale school of Architecture Gallery

If you would like to see more of Massimo Scolari's work his web site is below:

http://www.massimoscolari.it/

For the gallery hours and upcoming shows please follow this link to the Yale School of Architecture. 

http://www.architecture.yale.edu/drupal/events/architecture_gallery