DIY Coffee Sand Table Turns a Living Room Surface Into Moving Art - Yanko Design

"Arrakis 3.0 is the latest iteration of Mark Rehorst's sand table experiments, this time designed from the start as a practical coffee table. Under a standard 24-by-48-inch glass top, a steel ball slowly traces patterns in a bed of white sand, guided by a hidden mechanism. From above, all you see is a glowing sandbox under glass, constantly redrawing itself while your coffee sits on top."

"A blue anodized aluminum frame forms the table's skeleton, supporting a black anodized sandbox that sits neatly inside it. The sand rests on a white base, so the patterns read clearly through the glass. A beveled glass top with a black border floats above, hiding the LEDs from direct view and making the whole thing read as a finished piece of furniture rather than a lab rig you're still tweaking."

"RGB LED strips tucked into the sandbox edges wash the sandbed in color, while additional strips under the frame cast a soft glow onto the floor. In a darkened room, the table becomes a low, luminous object, with the ball's path slowly emerging and fading. The combination of blue frame, black sandbox, white sand, and colored light gives it a clear visual identity without feeling loud or desperate for attention."

"Light blue mirrored acrylic panels fill the gaps in the frame, reflecting the LEDs and sandbed while hiding the mechanical guts. They're centered in the slots with clear silicone edging, so they sit cleanly and don't rattle. From the side, you see a band of soft reflection rather than belts and pulleys, which helps the table feel more like intentional"

Arrakis 3.0 is a compact kinetic sand coffee table sized for normal apartments. A steel ball beneath a 24-by-48-inch beveled glass top slowly traces patterns in a bed of white sand, illuminated by RGB LED strips. A blue anodized aluminum frame houses a black anodized sandbox on a white base to maximize pattern contrast, while a black-bordered glass top hides the LEDs and presents the piece as finished furniture. Light blue mirrored acrylic panels reflect the LEDs and conceal mechanical components, seated with clear silicone edging to prevent rattling. Under-frame lighting casts a soft floor glow and reinforces a calm visual identity.

Read at Yanko Design - Modern Industrial Design News