< Back:

INTERIOR DESIGN

 

Thomas Mang has designed a side table for the Swiss manufacturer Röthlisberger which – beyond its functional purpose – serves as a sculptural object.

 

Solid wood, clean lines and a design that seems to defy gravity: LIGNA brings balance to life in a fascinating way.

 

To what extent can the form of a piece of furniture be reduced without it losing its presence? This question marks the starting point of LIGNA.

Thomas Mang approaches the design with an architectural perspective on proportion, statics and space. The individual elements form a finely balanced interplay in which each volume plays its own role.

 

Design with lightness

The tabletop, base and two freestanding elements rest against one another without any visible joints – combining the sensuous presence of the wood with surprising lightness.

The result is a side table whose character arises from the relationship between its parts. This balance not only supports the structure – it also shapes its design.

“I’m interested in how much simplification a piece of furniture can withstand before it loses its presence. At LIGNA, the aim was to visualise a balance that actually seems impossible.”

— Thomas Mang

 

Solid wood in the air

The name LIGNA is derived from the Latin word ‘lignum’, meaning wood. The material serves both as the structural foundation and the creative focal point of the design. The grain remains visible, lending the clean surfaces and edges a natural vitality.

The sensuous presence of solid wood contrasts with the apparent weightlessness of the structure. It is from this interplay that LIGNA derives its character: substantial yet light, minimalist yet expressive.

 

Architecture meets Swiss craftsmanship

LIGNA is the result of a collaboration between THOMAS MANG Studio and Röthlisberger. It brings together Mang’s flair for proportion and space with the expertise of a Swiss manufacturer that has been crafting furniture since 1928.

The side table is produced in the Röthlisberger workshop in Gümligen, near Bern. The craftsmanship in solid woodworking forms the basis for the precise realisation of the design.

LIGNA is released under Rö Editions, the manufacturer’s label for limited-edition furniture and objects.

 

Limited to 3 × 15 pieces

LIGNA is available in three material and finish variants. Each version is limited to 15 pieces.
• Oak: textured, with a brushed and natural-effect lacquered tabletop
• Black walnut: natural lacquered
• Silver fir: brushed, black-stained and lacquered

Dimensions: 50 × 50 × 52 cm (L × W × H)

Detail of the balancing wooden volumes of the black LIGNA side table
Three LIGNA side tables by Thomas Mang and Roethlisberger in different wood finishes on a lakeside jetty Black LIGNA side table in a dark corridor with artwork – interior design by famous architect and interior designer Thomas Mang
Black LIGNA side table with teapot – sculptural solid wood furniture by famous architect and interior designer Thomas Mang LIGNA side table in black walnut with teapot in front of an artwork – interior design by star architect and designer Thomas Mang
Black LIGNA side table in a long corridor – sculptural interior design by star architect and designer Thomas Mang Black LIGNA side table backlit on a wooden pallet in the workshop
Black-stained wooden volumes of the LIGNA side table by Roethlisberger and luxury designer Thomas Mang in seemingly floating balance Close-up of the wood grain on the black LIGNA solid wood side table
Detail of the stacked wooden volumes of the LIGNA side table in black walnut Detail of LIGNA tabletops in black and oak – solid wood side table by famous architect and interior designer Thomas Mang
Design sketch of the LIGNA side table by star architect Thomas Mang
Hands inspecting the solid wood volumes of the LIGNA side table at the Röthlisberger workshop Cabinetmaker crafting the LIGNA solid wood side table at the Röthlisberger manufactory
Craftsman sanding a wooden volume for the LIGNA side table at the Röthlisberger workshop