Melting Pot Side Table by Dirk Vander Kooij

Making mistakes is human. Dirk vander Kooij slips up now and then as well. It just takes once adding too little raw material while producing an Endless chair to end up with a wastrel. A lot of waste is also left over after testing periods for new products. Over time his studio has gathered a container full of plastic bits and pieces. In the past the synthetics-guy would come around to pick it up for recycling.

Up to a point they realized that this was a unique material. They kept and sorted all of this waste; such big chunks clean and recycled plastic each with its own history, identity and color pattern, it is hard to find anywhere.

With this material in mind, Dirk designed the Melting Pot. Like a true chef de cuisine, they melt big chunks of chair or table into a very stylish little side table. The material that emerges is so dense that it practically looks and feels like marble.

The form of the Melting Pot side table is elementary, sturdy and practical. The table is made of a massive cone that perfectly fits the likewise massive round table top. Quite beautiful patterns of color emerge during the production process; no two specimens are the same.

The first four Melting Pot Side Tables (prototypes) during the Dutch Design Week 2013.

Melting Pot Side Table by Dirk Vander Kooij

Melting Pot Side Table by Dirk Vander Kooij

Melting Pot Side Table by Dirk Vander Kooij

Melting Pot Side Table by Dirk Vander Kooij