Folded Desk for Design Museum Ghent

Design Museum Ghent commissioned Casimir to design a counter for the new entrance of the museum. The desk is part of a series of special projects integrated into the new museum wing.

‘Folded Desk’, an almost 7-metre-long solid European oak piece of furniture weighing over 1,000 kg in total, is based on origami, a Japanese art technique for folding paper. Two gigantic 2D panels of solid European oak were folded into a 3D piece of furniture. The wood grain, which blends seamlessly from the vertical to the horizontal surfaces, suggests the act of folding. The lightness of the folds contrasts with the solidity of the material.

The result is a workspace suitable for both a standing and a seated host, as well as a reception area for visitors in wheelchairs. All the mechanisms required for the desk’s functionality are integrated into the rear wall of the storage compartment at the back of the desk. A simple exterior conceals a complex interior.