Objects for Atheists, LKBP

Objects for Atheists is a furniture research project which synthesizes a historical study of religious aesthetics with an ethnographic study of online atheist groups. The resulting furniture, LKBP, pictured,  presents an inversion of aesthetic function; shelves are hidden in the back of a chest of drawers, becoming a secret to be discovered; and superseding the secretive nature of the drawers. This concept is positioned as a metaphor for the continual drive of atheists to uncover and expose the mysteries of science, religion and life.

The furniture is constructed from sustainably harvested bamboo with dovetail joinery, with no nails nor screws and very little glue. Four industrial strength spherical castors allow movement across the floor in all directions, so it can be rotated easily away from the wall to access the hidden bookshelf, or used free-standing as a movable partition. Drawer opening is friction-less, made possible by a novel rail and groove system from special polymers, in a very small containment space between the drawer and the case.

The design can be fully or partially disassembled for repair, and was inspired by historically durable furniture making techniques. It is designed with the intention and all the technical elements required to be functioning for  a very long time, perhaps hundreds of years.

Materials: two tone natural and heat compressed bamboo, copper knobs, polymer rails and steel bearings

The research thesis which inspired this furniture can be downloaded here.