Behind the design: Okha's Rational & Irrational side tables

What started as a meditative exercise for Okha designer Adam Court evolved into a pair of compact new side tables that explore the notion of simple forms and negative space. “I wanted to do the simplest table I could do in the most evolved way,” he explains.

The Rational and Irrational designs (available via the Cape Town interior design studio) are made of mild steel, oxidised and waxed multiple times to bring a delicate patina to the metal.

At first glance, the Rational table appears to be absolutely reductionist: a simple structure of vertical and horizontal planes. But its appearance belies a more complex character — it's light in appearance but heavy in reality.

The separate components also don’t quite meet at the edges, rather missing one another by millimetres. "The resulting dynamic is one of quiet visual arrest," comments Court. "It’s an assembly of elements, a visual Haiku, the fewest amount of syllables expressing the maximum possible,” he adds.

Irrational stands slightly taller than its counterpoint, with one marked difference: a play on negative space courtesy of circular precision cut-outs. "The rows of circular cut-outs reminiscent of roadside braille lend a Jean Prouvé feel," comments Court.

Again the industrial initial impression is misleading as it’s most certainly a luxury item.