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veneers could be readily matched,” added Markowitz. “Building
on my prior experience with lighting and the suggestion from
Phantom Hands that it would be nice if there was a dialogue
between the table and the lights, we also created two pendant

lights and a wall sconce.”
Markowitz started with the idea of a shape which was ‘cut
out’ of the legs of the table. The initial prototyping explorations
were made with the circular offcut cut from the table leg,
though the final pieces were ultimately made independently.
The cutouts resulted in two curved, petal-like shapes, which
came quickly and unintentionally, and I think it is my favourite spoke to the Wood Rose starting point given to Markowitz by
piece of the five. When the prototype was remade, I was Aparna Rao, Co-Founder of Phantom Hands. The challenge
asked to draw the shape in 3D so they could reference it for lay in intersecting these two shapes in different ways to find

cutting out the legs - I instructed them to use the prototype shapes that were strong, elegant, and worked to conceal and
itself as the reference, as the shapes I had drawn, and cut reflect the light source.
would be better than the shapes I drew on the computer. I
think this is an important element of my process laid bare. Banana Leaf Pendant
On remaking the piece, we cross-laminated the veneer into The Banana Leaf Pendant, named for its similarity to the
plywood internally to reinforce the structure of the shape to Banana Leaf, intersects two petal shapes along their long
give the piece additional rigidity,” added Markowitz. edges, creating a curved central spine that is very strong.

The bench is again looking to explore the strength of Each petal shape then flows out from this central spine in a
curves - both the seat and the legs are extremely thin and convex shape that diffuses the reflected light. A third petal
would never be able to take the structural loads if they were shape, suspended below the intersecting petals, hugs the
flat. The curvature and the laminating process allows these curved form above tightly and conceals the light source.
benches to become very strong with minimal material. Similarly, the design approach to the Butterfly Pendant
If you think of the seat as a curved beam, and the leg rotates these petal elements and joins them along their short
as a curved column, these two elements are incredibly edge, to create two bower-like concave forms reminiscent of
strong individually, but when connected they also naturally a butterfly's wings to reflect and diffuse the light. A petal is
resist racking forces. It is so strong that they were able to inverted underneath, which again conceals the light sources.

undermine the strength of the connection slightly to create a “While the lights in cherry and maple have been finished
floating detail between the leg and the seat, to give a sense to express their lovely natural tone, red oak is known for
of this lightness and strength. its porosity and excellent ability to be stained. I took the
“I wanted to have seating to complement the table, and opportunity to work with Phantom Hands to explore colour
didn't dare attempt a chair given the timeframe. American options, something that is a frequent area of exploration in
red oak was chosen for both the table and benches for its their other work. We settled on a colour that darkened the
warmth, with a connection to mid-century oak pieces, for its oak, reminiscent of the teak that is a familiar tone in their

strength in this structurally challenging application, and for collections and throughout India. Overall, these timbers work
the consistency of its grain/colour toning which meant that really well together with a gentle complementary contrast,”