London Design Festival 09: Norwegian designer Oscar Narud of OKAY Studio is showing a collection of furniture inspired by the keels on sailing boats at an exhibition called Norwegian Prototypes in London this week.

The collection, called Keel, is composed of two tables and a set of stools.

All the pieces feature knock-down construction techniques, inspired by the drop-down keel around which a sailing boat is built.

The stools have detachable front and back legs, which slot through the seat of the stool and are held in place by chunky wedges.

Keel Table 001 works on the same principle and is composed of a wooden tabletop and detachable legs, which are available in either the same finish or a painted contrast.

Norwegian Prototypes will be on show at East Gallery in Brick Lane until Sunday.

See all our stories about London Design Festival 2009 in our special category.

Here's some text from Oscar Narud:

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'Keel Table 001' & 'Keel Stools'

The principle with the detachable front-leg is inspired by the drop down keel used for smaller sailing boats.

The table and stools are completed by inserting the leg downwards through a gap in the table top and securing it with a wedge from underneath. Equally easy to set up and knock down to pack flat. The table and stools are part of a series exploring a range of furniture using a similar knock down construction.

Oscar Narud (b. 1978) moved to London in 1999 and following a B. A. (Hons) at Central St. Martins and an internship at Klaus Hackl Product Design in Munich, Germany he achieved his Masters Degree in Design Products from the Royal College of Art in London 2006. Since graduating Oscar has worked as a freelance designer for, among others, El Ultimo Grito and architect Nigel Coates.

In 2007, together with six colleagues from the Royal College of Art, he formed the design collective 'OKAY Studio', which has since grown into nine members. Working both with one off and mass production concepts, Oscar continues to exhibit his work both in the U.K. and abroad. Recently he has developed a strong interest in interior design and has realised interior design concepts for a London bar, a private residency in Norway, a creative Design Agency in London and an exhibition stand for the British Council.

NORWEGIAN PROTOTYPES 2009
EastGallery, 214 Brick Lane, E1 6SA
21-27 September 2009