Marty Supreme he may have gone 0 for 9 at the Oscars, but he seems to have ping pong fever. And the design world is paying attention. In fact, table sports in general are undergoing a facelift, with brands such as Unifor, RS Barcelona and even Louis Vuitton getting into the game. Here are five we’d like to try.
1. COLOSSO by Marc Ange x 11 Ravens
COLOSSO, a limited edition pool table from 11 Crowsthe los angeles sign synonymous with the high settings of table tennisit seems expressly designed for one of Marc Ange’s über luxury interiors. “Designed as part of a new series of creature-like gaming tables, COLOSSO redefines billiards as both a stage for play and an exquisite work of art,” explains the manufacturer. The podium bases come in a curated selection of woods, finishes, stones and marbles – and its playing surface in a choice of 60 Kvadrat fabrics that extend to the standard green. Shown here in burnt sienna.
2. Made to Measure by Herzog + de Meuron for Unifor
It’s hard to imagine the leaders of heavyweight architecture firm Herzog + de Meuron in a quick-fire ping-pong match. But their Made to Measure collection for Uniform has table tennis tables as part of a wider offering that includes regular tables and seating. All are joined by wooden frames with 12-degree legs.
“The supporting structure consists of four solid wood beams interlocking in three dimensions: a modern reinterpretation of the traditional castle joint,” explains the company. “This structural matrix creates a scalable family of elements.” It’s as elegant as ping pong can get.
3. Cleaf at Salone del Mobile
Spotted in Salone, ClefThe exuberant Beyond the Lines laminate collection was used to clad a table tennis table as part of a pavilion that “focuses on the intersection of sport and design, in an unexpected and playful way.” He made a convincing application of the surface to a custom ping pong piece — if one is so inclined.
4. You and Me by Antoni Palleja Office for RS Barcelona
With a tag line like “The Art of Play,” RS Barcelona is dedicated to making table sports as stylish as they can be. You and Me Standard is a ping pong table available in 21 vibrant colors.
It’s both tournament-sized and extremely practical – with lower pockets for balls and paddles – and minimal enough to adapt as a large dining room or boardroom table.
5. Luca Nichetto’s AL13 for RS Barcelona
While we’re at RS Barcelona, let’s also admire its new collaboration with Luca Nichetto. The AL13 takes as its starting point the periodic table of elements — specifically the symbol and atomic number of aluminum, which forms the shell of this curved pool table. The AL13’s soft leather upholstery completes the flawless design.
6. Odysée by Estúdio Campana for Objet Nomades by Louis Vuitton
Sometimes there’s an urge to slam your whole body weight into a foosball table to maneuver your mini soccer ball — not this wonderful creature. Named after the legendary Greek king, Odysée introduces the handcrafted luxury and revelatory whimsy of Campana to the bar staple. The tiny player figures are sirens with Swarovski crystal eyes and legs covered in leathery scales. “in his heart” Campana Studio explains, “a poetic sentence is found: the ball like a pearl, is embraced by thin pleated blue leather that wraps the whole piece.”
