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Cosmos is the name of a furniture collection inspired by bicycle frames that Tecno and Norman Foster Foundation launched at the 2024 Milano Design Week.
This modular system of tables and bookcases grew out of the Norman Foster Foundation’s materials research program. Manufactured by Tecno, it offers infinite possibilities for combinations, connections, and, therefore, organizing the layout of any space. Numerous configurations are possible, including desks, meeting tables, and accessorized bookcases.
Aiming to use the least amount of materials possible, the foundation developed an innovative structural concept involving slender designs made up of just a few simple elements. The elegant, flexible design of the Cosmos collection makes it suitable for many settings, from university campuses to hotels, libraries, offices, and private homes.
The first carbon fiber prototypes of the range were inspired by lightweight racing bike frames and developed with the support of experts from the aviation industry. Working in collaboration with Madrid’s FIDAMC (Fundación para la Investigación, Desarrollo y Aplicación de Materiales Compuestos), the Norman Foster Foundation team used state-of-the-art structural and 3D modeling software, and five-axis CNC machines to create a table with an ultra-thin profile and a high strength-to-weight ratio.
Further research conducted by a joint team from the foundation and Tecno then found that similar performance and appearance was possible by using a combination of aluminum and steel components.
Available in rectangular, square, circular, and oval versions, the table can have a glass or wooden top in a wide range of colors. The same variety of tones is available for the frame. The shelves of the floor-to-ceiling bookcase, which can be installed either against a wall or in the center of a room, are wood or metal.
Cosmos stands out for the use of a minimum number of interchangeable modular components, each of which has been designed to be as slender as possible. The crossbar that supports the table performs the same function as a spine. Comprising four elliptical elements that branch out towards the legs and upper supports, the modular system can be freely expanded.
Images courtesy of Norman Foster Foundation
