July 2008 • In Production
Up to the Task
Modular legs elevate Björn Kersting’s Crescendo C2 Maximus desk from child’s play to serious business.
By Belinda Lanks
As much as I delight in the latest injection-molded plastic chair, my favorite pieces of furniture remain humble flea-market finds: my dark-wood, cup-ringed café table has a sturdy timelessness that outshines any CNC-milled tabletop. That said, I’d gladly give up my beloved cup rings for Björn Kersting’s stunning Crescendo C2 Maximus desk. Handcrafted in Germany from black walnut, it combines the best of both worlds: the enduring quality of antique furniture with the clean lines and functionality of modern industrial design.
The table’s slender silhouette belies its complexity—it’s actually composed of nearly 400 pieces. In addition to being height-adjustable—it can go from a child’s workstation to an adult’s secretary—it has a built-in lectern and pencil stop, a removable shelf, and an internal storage compartment. “I wanted to create a piece of furniture that does everything without blatantly showing it,” the 32-year-old Kersting says. “When it’s a child’s desk, for instance, you don’t think it could be anything else.” Here he describes the ins and outs of the multifaceted design, available through his company, Stilvoll (www.stilvoll.de).
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Designer DIY
Philippe Nigro’s table legs pair as well with Ligne Roset’s luxurious wood tops as with an old barn door.
1. I chose black walnut for the grain and because it’s hard, which is perfect
for a desktop. It also happens to grow close to where I live, a small German town called Eberhardzell, near the Alps.
2. We made about ten prototypes, each with the legs at a different angle, but the table only works when the legs are at 42.5 degrees to the desk.
3. These modules can be taken out to lower the height to 20.7 inches (for a children’s desk) or added to raise it to up to 50.4 inches (for standing desk). Each piece is stamped with a number for every leg, so you get the grain just right.
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