Enzo Mari's "Autoprogettazione" via Apartment Therapy.

We just got our hands on the second edition of this book and have been loving each and every design in a different way. Some are more extreme than others and work best conceptually, but several designs reflect a refined utilitarianism that is unmatched in so much of what we see today.

In the 1950's Italian designer Enzo Mari was noticing that mass-produced furniture was starting to change people's tastes away from quality and craftsmanship, so he created simple designs, as a series entitled "Autoprogettazione," to help reconnect people with how things were made. During his 1974 exhibition he gave out a free catalogue with detailed instructions for making these basic, easy-to-assemble furniture pieces using standardized wooden planks and nails. All materials could be purchased cheaply from a hardware store. His hope was that a connection would develop during the construction, therefore making the end product that more much intrinsically valuable to the owner. After contracting two of these tables ourselves last fall, I have to agree, not only are they quite handsome (we get a lot of compliments), but I also find them to be a reminder of a special moment captured in the form of a table. More images available at here at Apartment Therapy.