Makara Collection - Coffee Table

This coffee table emerged from a shared desire to deepen our woodworking skills and design a piece that responded directly to how we live and work at home. Together with my friend and housemate, Aydin Genchsoy, we set out to create a table shaped by our everyday needs; one that would support sketching sessions, quick critiques, and a workspace that could transition easily back into a living room.

The double-layer tabletop was developed as a functional response: the upper surface acts as an active working plane, while the lower shelf provides an immediate place to move sketches, books, or personal items out of sight, keeping the space visually organized and adaptable. This gesture proved essential for maintaining a calm and flexible living environment.

We chose plywood for both practical and conceptual reasons. Its layered edge has a strong graphic quality that we both love, but it also reflects a form of democratic materiality; accessible, honest, and expressive without needing ornament. Working with it strengthened our understanding of joinery, tolerances, and the structural behaviour of sheet-based materials.

The project allowed us to shape our living space through hands-on making, letting the furniture reflect not only our needs but our evolving identities as designers.