MASS Bar at Contract Furniture Specialist Tsunami Axis

At over 6.5 metres long, in a two tone black and white, the 100mm thick MASS concrete bar has a 3.95m self-supporting span, mounted on a steel sub-frame.  Designed by Forme Partnership, one third is coloured black and is locked into its longer white companion by a jigsaw-style joint.  There had to be two interlocking pieces because of the maximum length for a MASS casting.  The interlock sections of the two long moulds were cut using CAD water jet cutting technology.

The MASS black surface extends around a corner at a lower level, where the 1m long end piece is used as a coffee table.  The two levels are linked by a Z-shaped detail, allowing a drop-down fire partition to operate.

MASS operations director Chris Smith-Wright said: “We thoroughly enjoyed the challenge of this bespoke project. The versatility of our manufacturing process allows designers to create organic forms, such as the Tsunami bar, and other unusually shaped surfaces.”

“The bar unites the two halves of our expanded offices and the effect is striking,” says Bud Goldston-Banning of Tsunami Axis. “The contrasting black and white pieces of the bar form a strong contrast with the red of the kitchen. The bar is very well used, for client entertaining, ad-hoc meetings at elbow height, and to eat lunch off.”