A table normally has four legs doesn’t it? Sure, sometimes it has just one thick leg in the form of a base or column, or sometimes very large tables have more than just four. But to be structurally sound, it normally has four legs, doesn’t it? Well, not according to Ferruccio Laviani, an Italian designer who came up with something he calls the Three Table.

You can rightly infer from the table’s name that it has only three legs. What Laviani had in mind was to focus on the legs’ connection to the tabletop. Two thin legs on one side of the table are connected to a wider leg on the opposite side of the table via a connecting rod that is made of satined aluminum, same as the legs. All three legs and their connection have the same finish. It seems that this arrangement provides the necessary stability that all tables need.

What’s cool is that the table top seems to be floating atop the legs. This was achieved via the geometric design of the supporting structure. There are two versions of the Three Table. The first, having a layered laminate table top that is 2 cm thick was designed as a work table.

The second version’s table top measures just 1 cm in terms of thickness, and this one is more suitable for dining applications. Maybe restaurant owners looking for unusual yet stylish furniture could consider this for their collection of contemporary bar tables. Laminate table tops for both versions are available in black and white, so they are easy to match with chairs and other furniture.

The quest for simplification can take strange twists and turns. But if the end product functions well and looks good, then I’m guessing there’s no reason to complain.