OKHA Introduces the Sculptural LES AMIS Coffee Table

South African design studio OKHA continues its exploration of sculptural form and refined materiality with the LES AMIS coffee table — a striking piece built around the idea of companionship.

Designed by Adam Court, the table is composed of two distinct cubic volumes arranged within a single architectural composition. One element, a grounding titanium granite plinth, anchors the design with a sense of permanence, while the mirrored stainless-steel surface above reflects light and movement across the room.

Together, the two materials create a dialogue between weight and reflection, permanence and projection — a balance that sits at the heart of the design.

Companionship as a Design Principle

For Court, the starting point for LES AMIS was not simply form, but the relationship between objects.

“The starting point was companionship as a structural idea,” he explains. “I was interested in how two forms could remain distinct, yet only make sense through their relationship. The table is resolved through proximity, balance and reliance rather than through a single dominant gesture.”

The name itself reflects this concept. “Les Amis means friends, and that felt exact,” says Court. “The two volumes are separate in material and presence, but neither exists without the other. The design only comes into focus when you read them together.”

A Conversation in Material

Materiality plays a central role in defining the character of the piece. The granite element offers depth and solidity, while the mirrored stainless steel introduces a more dynamic quality, capturing and refracting light.

“Material is doing the real work here,” Court explains. “Stainless steel and titanium granite carry very different energies. One reflects and sharpens light, the other absorbs weight and time. Placing them together creates tension and clarity at the same time.”

Granite evokes a sense of timelessness — something grounded and enduring — while the reflective surface suggests movement and a forward-looking sensibility.

The Power of Negative Space

One of the most distinctive aspects of the design lies not in the materials themselves, but in the measured space between them.

“The space between the forms is as important as the forms themselves,” says Court. “That interval creates breath, shadow and movement. It allows the composition to feel alert rather than closed.”

This carefully calibrated gap introduces a third visual element within the composition, creating subtle shifts in shadow and depth as light moves through the room.

Architectural Form for Contemporary Interiors

Low and architectural in profile, the LES AMIS coffee table is governed by proportion, offset and alignment. The relationship between the two volumes creates three horizontal planes, resulting in layered surfaces within a compact footprint.

“The table is intentionally low and architectural,” Court notes. “The relationship between the two volumes generates three horizontal planes, which gives the piece function without disrupting the clarity of the geometry. The leg detail lifts the stainless element just enough to introduce lightness.”

The result is a piece that feels sculptural without being imposing — a quiet anchor within a room.

A Natural Fit for Open Living Spaces

LES AMIS is conceived for interiors where space, light and material contrast can be fully appreciated. Court suggests it works particularly well in salon-style living rooms or spaces with long sightlines, where its layered geometry can be read from multiple perspectives.

“It works best in interior living spaces with a sense of openness,” he explains. “Salon settings, long sightlines, linear sofas. It acts as a low topography rather than a single block, anchoring the space through proportion and material rather than scale.”

Continuing OKHA’s Design Language

The design also reflects a broader philosophy within OKHA’s work, where cool materials and precise geometry are used to create objects with quiet presence.

“Cool materials are central to how we design at OKHA,” Court says. “Stone and metal carry weight, temperature and memory. They register physically. LES AMIS is an expression of that material intelligence, where restraint and precision allow the object to hold presence without excess.”

With its interplay of stone, steel and negative space, the LES AMIS coffee table captures a distinctly contemporary approach to furniture design — one where balance, restraint and material honesty shape the story.

Credits

Images: Supplied