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Nama Home x Reef Watch create table that mimics a whale’s fin
The Balena Table is wide and flat enough to hold cocktail glasses and coffee mugs
Video: Nama Home
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Nama Home x Reef Watch create table that mimics a whale’s fin

The Balena Table is made out of recycled aluminium and takes direct inspiration from the vast aquatic ecosystem

by Almas Sadique
Published on : Jan 26, 2022

Indian design house Nama Home recently collaborated with Reef Watch Marine Conservation to produce a table that takes its design inspiration from the shape of a whale’s fin. “The oceans have subconsciously inspired me. It always intrigues me as it is such a vast and beautiful space,” says Namit Khanna, designer of the Balena Table and founder of Nama Home.

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Balena Table by Nama Home x Reef Watch Image: Nama Home

The Balena Table appears like a foreign object - like seashells or gemstones that one may have acquired during their outdoor visits and then preserved within their homes like a memento. Its presence reminds its users of the deep seas and the vast aquatic ecosystem, even as they lounge in living rooms, away from nature. This pulsating emotion is affirmed by Khanna’s own explanation about how his affinity for the sea has influenced his work as a designer. “As a scuba diver, I am pretty fascinated by the seas. Now that I look back at the stuff I have designed I can picture an entire story of a diver with an oxygen tank on his back (Scuba Drink Table) with oxygen (O2 Chair) in it who comes across a whale (Balena Drink Table) during the dive,” he says.

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The shape, form and name of the table were inspired by the Balena Whale and other aquatic creatures Image: Nama Home

Although the Balena Table appears like a bespoke decorative accessory made to adorn interior spaces, it can very well serve the purpose of a traditional table. The fin of the table is designed to be wide and flat enough to hold books, vases and sculptures as well as cocktail glasses and coffee mugs without getting woozy.

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The fin shaped table appears to be an element from the aquatic ecosystem Image: Nama Home

The name of the table comes from the name of the Balena whale, one of the largest whales. Instead of solely representing whales, the table also serves as a reminder of the deep blue seas and the sea creatures that reside in the nooks and crannies of the aquatic ecosystem. It is, therefore, fitting that this table, made out of recycled aluminium, was borne out of a collaboration between the contemporary design firm and Reef Watch, an organisation that works towards the preservation of the ocean and seas and the protection of marine life.

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The table carries the characteristic golden tinge that defines Nama Home’s products Image: Nama Home

“Through this collaboration 10% of the sales proceeds are donated to Reefwatch for marine conservation around the Andaman Islands. I also wanted to instill a sense of consciousness and mindfulness with this. Nothing like amplifying your message by teaming it up with a beautiful object. In short - whale there is a will, there is a way,” shares Khanna about his special collaboration with Reef Watch.

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Balena Table is made out of recycled aluminium Image: Nama Home

Nama Home is a multidisciplinary design studio that utilises metal to sculpt out furniture and lighting products. Based in India, the firm produces products that are minimal and that assuage the demand for contemporary everyday objects in the subcontinent. Their furniture pieces are defined by a characteristic golden tint, simple geometrical forms and subtle aura.

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