Bonaldo 'OCTA' Rectangular Ceramic Dining Table: An 8-Legged Structure Inspired by the Game of Mikado

A Dining Table Where the 'Base' is Designed with Eight Legs

OCTA reverses the conventional formula where the 'tabletop' is the protagonist in a dining table. The first thing that catches the eye is not the tabletop, but the base where metal rods intersect and gather like columns. In the rectangular composition, the ceramic tabletop intervenes as a restrained surface, organizing the structural rhythm. The reason this table reads so strongly in a space is not because of decoration, but because the 'way of supporting weight' itself has become a form.

Bonaldo's Approach to 'Tables'

The Italian brand Bonaldo operates an extensive collection spanning dining, living, and sleeping furniture, but among these, tables are the category where the brand's sculptural language is most explicitly revealed. While collaborating with multiple designers, it is characterized by maintaining the same 'furniture quality' through production expertise and material development. The designer partnership structure and collection direction introduced by the brand can be found on the official page: Bonaldo · Designers.

Product Background: Structural Experimentation Derived from 'Mikado'

OCTA is a table designed by Bartoli Design for Bonaldo, and its name comes from the Greek word 'okto (8)'. The core idea stems from the entanglement and balance of metal rods inspired by the game of 'Mikado (pickup sticks)'. In other words, the task of fixing what appears to be disorderly intersection into an 'ordered structure' was the starting point for the base design. This background is relatively clearly revealed in the project description released by the studio and in Bonaldo's product introduction: Bartoli Design OCTA · Bonaldo OCTA.

Design Points: Clear Role Division Between 'Complex Base' and 'Composed Tabletop'

The design of this table clearly separates the roles of two elements. First, the legs—rather than treating the number 'eight' through simple repetition—bind bent and welded rods to support each other, creating a 'column'-like mass. From a distance it appears light, but up close the joints are dense, creating a sense of stability that is convincing in the structure. Second, the ceramic tabletop functions as an 'organized surface' that receives the complexity of the base. Particularly in rectangular tables, ceramic reduces psychological burden regarding signs of use (thanks to the perception that the material is relatively resistant to heat and stains) and connects to the recent lifestyle of using dining tables like 'workbenches'. Bonaldo mentions on the product page that OCTA received the Good Design Award in 2013.

Installation Example

Based on the review, the delivery completion date is December 1, 2025, and this is a case where a glossy ceramic (Calacatta series) was chosen for the rectangular composition, emphasizing the contrast between the dark tone of the base and the pattern of the tabletop. Since the table's own form is quite strong, surrounding storage and lighting were coordinated with products featuring clean lines, leaving an impression of the table being organized as the 'central object'. The brightness from the large tabletop surface keeps the space from feeling heavy.

What Kind of Space Suits It

Because OCTA's 'sculptural base' determines the furniture's character, the effect is greater when the dining space is open-plan (connected to the living room). Conversely, in spaces with many decorative items, visual information can become overcrowded, so it is more stable to leave space around the table. The ceramic tabletop version becomes a rational choice for family dining tables where you want to reduce maintenance difficulty, or for users looking for a table that can serve as both a home office and work surface. Product information can be found on the product page.

#Bonaldo #OCTA #Octa Dining Table #Italian Furniture #Dining Table #Ceramic Tabletop #Rectangular Table #BartoliDesign #Metal Base #Structure Design #Contemporary Furniture #Mikado #Good Design Award #Dining Room Interior