stone plus

2024

MotoElastico & xLab

Stone, steel, resin, fabric straps

Stone+ is a design research project that reimagines the potential of a structurally fragile Qatari stone through adaptive design strategies. Sourced from the Al-Khor quarry in northern Qatar, this sedimentary material was originally designated for architectural cladding in the Msheireb Downtown development. However, due to the stone’s irregular composition and natural impurities, it was ultimately deemed unsuitable for structural applications and left unused.

Rather than discarding the material, Stone+ proposes a series of constructive strategies to embrace and enhance its imperfections. The result is a collection of four modular tables, each pairing the stone with a secondary material that provides reinforcement, formal contrast, and new functional potential. The four variations—Stone + Metal, Stone + Stone, Stone + Resin, and Stone + Straps—demonstrate a spectrum of design interventions ranging from structural augmentation to aesthetic highlighting of fractures and voids.

Each piece in the collection is designed for flat-pack transport and simple on-site assembly, using only basic tools. This logistical constraint mirrors the conceptual approach: that fragile materials, once seen as a liability, can be transformed through thoughtful joining, layering, and adaptive technique. The project blends traditional material knowledge with contemporary aesthetics and fabrication processes—bridging geological heritage with urban futures.