Named after the epic poems of ancient times, GamFratesi’s Epic Table for GUBI is a sculptural piece of furniture inspired by Greek columns and Roman architecture. Made in Italy from travertine stone, the monolithic form emphasizes the materiality of the stone, the natural beauty of its veins, and the vibrant texture of its unique patina – in which a new detail can be discovered with every use.
The Epic Table is a celebration of Italian travertine stone, in response to the growing desire for the honesty and authenticity of natural materials. The intrinsic value of stone encompasses a part of our land, our history and our origin – a history which becomes solid and sculptural in the Epic Table. The introduction of this little-known stone and the careful selection of colors and open textures keep its materiality alive in the final product.
Individual pieces are selected for the strength of their veining and striations, giving each table a unique expression of its own identity. A light filler and matte treatment on the tabletop and base protect the surfaces, while allowing its natural tactility to be experienced as if cut from the rock. Inspired by historical examples of travertine constructions such as the Colosseum and Saint Peter’s Basilica in Rome, and the 1970s revival of the material in Southern Europe, the table combines two simple geometric shapes, the circle and the hexagon, with references to the classical Greek column. This new expression showcases and enhances the material, while maintaining a formal simplicity.
The hexagonal column is an intelligent solution that enables a substantial expression to be efficiently constructed from minimal materials. Stone options in Neutral White, Vibrant Gray or colorful Burnt Red each create a focal point of differing intensity, bringing personality to private settings and naturalness and tactility to public interior spaces. The varying heights and diameters within the Epic Table Series mean a single monochromatic table can stand alone or be combined in dynamic clusters of varying height and color. Combining the tables with wooden, metallic or textile pieces allows for further contrasting groupings. The Epic Table is the result of a shared journey of discovery into travertine stone as a natural material.
A quest for the archetypal origins of the material’s use in design and architecture ran alongside an in-depth study of different stones, colors and finishes, before lengthy experimentation with proportions, weight and form revealed the harmonious balance between base, geometry and tabletop in the final product. Danish-Italian design duo GamFratesi have been working with GUBI since the inception of their studio and, with their own dual heritage, share GUBI’s ability to synthesize seemingly opposing ideas – the classic and the contemporary, the intellectual and the eclectic, the understated and the expressive, the manufactured and the unique. Constantly challenging the status quo while respecting what has gone before gives their collaborations an evolutionary quality that form the foundation of their relationship.
