Podia is an extremely flexible dining table system that allows for tables of almost any size and shape. The shape of the cast iron leg permits widths in excess of 1.20 meters as well as oversized round tables. There are no limits to the concept’s versatility, with free forms possible in addition to the classic square and round tables. This variety of shapes is possible because the cast iron legs are fitted to the outer area of the tabletop and because their T-shaped top plate eliminates the need for struts. Its clean and simple form allows podia to combine with virtually every chair. It also harmonizes perfectly with modern buildings made of glass, steel, and concrete.
This combination of cast iron leg and the solid wood tabletop is typical of horgenglarus and harks back to the traditional in-house designs from the 1920s and 30s. With its 45° profile and slightly cambered surface, the podia table leg takes full advantage of the technical possibilities of solid casting production. It is manufactured by the Giesserei Chur foundry using traditional sand casting. Every leg is treated with anthracite structured paint. The horgenglarus lettering is discretely cast into one side of the leg. The weight of the cast iron gives the table exceptional stability despite the slender legs.
Custom designs are a specialty at horgenglarus. The 30-mm-thick table tops for podia are individually crafted from solid wood to the specified dimensions. To ensure that the tabletop remains flat, a principle from the 17th century is employed: A groove is milled into every solid wood table top into which dovetail battens are set. Thanks to this traditional craftsmanship, even large tables can be manufactured without the need for central support. Customers can choose between beech, oak, cherry, ash or black walnut. The surface is polished by hand until the wood has a velvety feel. It is then varnished or can also be stained, oiled or soaped on request.
podia was designed by Moritz Schlatter, who designed the glaris table for horgenglarus in 2012.