MONOLITHS - OK POINT / STEP-UP KO: Concrete Ping Pong tables by Laith McGregor and Murray Barker

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Appreciation towards Murray Barker for providing the following description:

艺术家Laith McGregor与建筑师Murray Barker联手，为墨尔本莫纳什大学艺术博物馆打造了两个兼具艺术感和实用性的乒乓球台MONOLITHS。以混凝土为主体材料的乒乓球台上镶嵌着铜制的细节与喷砂钢网，粗犷中带着些许细致。设计师希望用简单的混凝土结构创造出极富重量感的整体体量。而作品最终也以一种略带神秘色彩的形式呈现在世人眼前，仿佛呼应着周遭的城市景观，同时其尺度也符合了其所应当满足的游憩功能的需求。被放置在一起的这两件混凝土作品伟人们创造了一个具有极高互动性的城市公共活动空间。而其上的铜制细节则继承了McGregor事务所特有的细节设计，以抽象的线条在乒乓球台面上写出了O、K两个大字。

Monoliths is a collaboration between Artist Laith McGregor and Architect Murray Barker. The collaboration has culminated in the creation of two sculptural outdoor table tennis tables installed for the Monash University Museum of Art (MUMA) in Melbourne. The tables are made predominantly of concrete with inlaid copper detailing and bead-blasted steel nets.

The initial concept was to create simple concrete structures with a heavy monolithic presence. The works are perceived as enigmatic sculptural forms, built to elucidate the weight of the object in relation to the surrounding urban landscape, and conforming to exact dimensions for recreational playability. The concrete objects are grouped together to create interactive gathering hubs in outdoor social spaces.

The design of the copper detailing followed on from McGregor’s studio practice and builds upon the regulatory line markings of the typical ping pong table. The use of the familiar motif of the acronym ‘OK’ formed the conceptual layout for each surface and the letters were refined to simple abstracted geometrical shapes housed within the table’s framework.

OK桌   The table ‘OK Point’

OK桌以金字塔般的底座和悬浮的台面组成。或粗糙或光滑，不同质感的混凝土表明形成了鲜明而有趣的对比。台面上的无数绿色鹅卵石颗粒的阳光的照射下微微泛着光芒，呼应着棕红色的铜线。

The table ‘OK Point’ has been constructed in two parts, the pyramidal base form and the floating mass of the playing surface. The table is constructed with an off-form concrete technique, with opposing sandblasted and smooth-formed finishes and a polished playing surface. Subtle green pebble aggregate is exposed on the surface to pick up on the expected green staining produced by the copper inlay.

▼ 图纸，drawing

KO桌   The table ‘Step-up KO’ 

KO桌则以黑色的氧化着色混凝土制成，混凝土板如阶梯般层层跌落。底座上以细绳制造出的网格带着粗野的气息，与球台光滑的黑色表面以及铜线形成了鲜明对比。底座上的小小凹槽可以供使用者临时放置啤酒，让人联想起在柏林室外带着啤酒玩乒乓球的过往时光。

The darker ‘Step-up KO’ is formed with black oxide tinted concrete, a stepped earthbound form, with the playing slab resting sarcophagi-like on the base. The early brutalist technique of rope- lined formwork has been used on the stepped surfaces, contrasting with the polished surface of black aggregate and copper. A small cut-out in the base is scaled to store tall beers, a nod to Berlin times, playing ping pong on outdoor tables but with no place for drinks.

▼ 图纸，drawing