BAA BAA

Another 'reception desk' as art, this time from the top flight design department of Area Sq for Gatwick airport. We find this quite an intriguing interior space with two opposing organic forms sitting beneath a panorama of ambient imagery. We would like to see more of this desk.

Capital cabinet making

There is never a second best with interior fitting out specialists Interiors Group , a powerful advocate of quality throughout their projects. This reception desk strikes a chord with us not just for the subtle twist of its geometry at the end adjacent to the wall but because the courage of the designers to convey the clients ethos through a minimal design in natural oak. Both the wall of translucence at he back and the opaqueness of the desk front work well together to achieve this end .

10 minutes past ten

This is the creme de la creme of reception desks in terms of design and realisation. Functional high art ,burnished to perfection, a sculptural form that echoes the geometry of internal shell spirals yet with the softness of a petal uncurling and the morphology of flowering structures.
The desk is galleried at the Swatch showroom and offices in Tokyo at the Nicolas G Hayek Centre designed by Shigeru Ban Architects. Make the time to view the full realised concept .
This image was captured by Jimmy Cohrssen creating a couturesque atmosphere.

Out of the mould

Another one by Martina furniture but this time one from their elegant 'Satellite' range of reception desks .According to Joe @ Martina 'The product is available within 2 weeks , has a vast pallette of finishes and can be specified for Class O fire propagation and class 1 surface spread of flame'.

All set in an interior designed and fitted out by Bluejelly.

Dig out your Seoul

Our second made in Korea and what an inspirational interior and building by Architects Unsangdong. The intrigingly named, for us here in the UK, 'Kring' cultural centre where there is no holding back in the playfullness and complexity of the building down to the the joyous detail on interior elements like the reception desk ( not to mention the highly creative exhibits). The combination of steel, glass and timber harmonise together with curves ,angles and lines.When we say view the rest of the project we really mean it in this case so get on that magic bus down to Seoul. Thanks to David @ RandomWire .

Paper,stone,sheers

We are sure this photo is from Grosvenor St, London, but anyway the back lit marble on this reception desk is by Sheerstone which comprises of a thin veneer of real natural stone laminated to glass. The result is a translucent marble panel which can give a subtle effect.

D.U.M.B.O

We'll let the designer speak for this one 'Our projects are often fantasical and our aesthetic is fresh and playful' pretty much describes this space for Kensie Girl by designer Sergio Mannino down under Manhattan bridge overpass.From this reception desk to other creations view their original website for more retail interior design inspiration. Thanks to design-milk for the tip off for this digitally printed interior.

Ocean,waves,beaches

The top photo flotsham here was caught on our 'aerial' via a 'pearl' of a blog by Jim Moriarty CEO of Surfrider Foundation. The interior is quite 'off the richter' by LEED awarded 'designer' LPA architects. This is no 'hodad' of a reception desk with a simple 'lip' and 'face' constructed from recycled panel doors , and the horizontal elements from the composite material Handiplank, which has a tectured wood effect surface.
Thanks to Jim M for sending the images and getting us 'amped', its been an education.

Art Deco'

We caught this chunky design of a reception desk within an article about Decospan veneered panels in the informative Furniture Journal.Thanks to Decospan for the image. Their product is a good way to indulge in exotic veneer finishes quickly and economically. Shame about the umbrella! For further info on Decospan realwood and reconstituted products see Shinnoki website.

Touching the void

There is something very refined and elegant about this contemporary space by Korean designers Void Planning with the reception desk simply presented in its segmented cone form.

The elegant glass fin structure appears to beam down from behind the desk, transparent yet substantial.

See more clinically precise detail and lightness @ Dezeen for the full project picture .

From the bench

A superior piece of cabinet making in this reception desk appropriately for Kentucky's oldest and largest law firm. Its like a large lump of carved Swiss chocolate, but with a rich smell of polish. The classical interior was photographed by Wales Hunter @ NFocus images.

Can Can

This is the second helping from Becausewecan and we have included it for the informative images and particularly for 'Lovable designs - sustainable materials - waterbased non toxic finishes - made in Oakland , California. - Non sweatshop labour.' as reads Becausewecan's website banner.

No Qatar

High burnished surfaces, linoleum desk top, backpainted glass counter and polished chrome and I am sure there are more materials on this imposing reception desk heading for Doha from the multifaceted MBD Ltd , photo by cabinet maker Adam Howe.

A haul of mirrors

Thanks to Muhammad @ Sub Studio For Visionary Design ( what a great name for a design practice) for use of this one. Minimal elements for the 'reception desk',a nice balancing act and daring design achieved from meagre budget for a new flagship store, Koffka. Interior design by Wiyoga Nurdiansyah & M. Sagitha @ Sub and juicy photos by Aldy Darwis first spied and more in Archdaily.

That's Entertainment

This desk really grows on us every time we view it. Apparently the concept is based on the game Death Jr ( Backbone Entertainment ) and designed and constructed by Because We Can who's work is one of our favorites at the moment. The wings of the desk are carved out of solid 'chunks' of local (California) Walnut. The design was modelled in Blender 3d software and then a CNC router carved the shapes. Another great American manufacturer and we're not biased.So now back to the game..

Four Popular

London Metropolitan University ( me ol' alma mata) second year architectural students proposals for a reception area for Populous's offices in London.

Part of the brief was the inclusion of the use Corian in the design.Strong visualisations

from designers Sandreen Dawood, Vincent Jenkins, Michael Bielak, Banu Zhulumova.

See Architecture For The Masses for more insight into this project.

Barcode highlights

A sleek design from the studio headed by Dan Callegari @ the interior design and fitout specialists Constructive Workspace. 3d visualisation by Constructive and the photos are thanks to Martina Furniture who manufactured the desk in their workshop as shown. See their website for well designed modular reception desks. The finish is white Corian but it is the decorative curved glass panels grab us, well handled by the manufacturer.

HK Source

We would like to see more reception desks designed using materials like Parapan and most of what we have seen isn't up to this standard. Not sure who sourced the material but the manufacturer was the long established HK Studio.

Delicate Essence

Thanks to designer Kazutoyo Yamamoto @ Dessence with a desk clad in faceted tectured 'Tin'.View their website for more interesting work and the use of colour on the project 'Tags'. Our second Japanese featured reception desk and not the last. See Dezeen for a full project feature.

Photos : Noriyuki Yano

Cincinnati klad

The first to be labelled under 'It could be a reception desk' in our blog and another crafted solid surface,Formica, construction from the workshops of Sterling Surfaces.

This dynamic design is by Thom Mayne founder of Morphosis architects and wouldn't look amiss on a futurist poster. The Arctic white material clads a cantilevered steel substructure and undertaken for display at The Contemporary Arts Centre of Cincinnati.

Divine board

Unfortunately not a full on view of this desk by Interior Architects Square Dot but worth it for the curved acrylic counter top , provision for wheel chair users with the soldsurface desk top , integral lighting, and nice to see the use of planked effect timber modesty panels.

Its a wrap

A nice play of balance in the design of this reception desk with the main body looped to the rectangular column. We are not sure of the materials at this stage.
From the workshops of restaurant specialists Manufacturing by Design

Float this way

Well crafted walnut and tectured steel clad desk set within this unusual interior, and once received, leading you through to contemplation and meditation. Thanks to Archdaily for this article and leading us to the work of Architects :Blank Studios .Photography : Bill Timmerman

All a glow

Backlit Avonite reception desk front and counter top from the factory of Sterling Surfaces, USA. A very uniform effect and no mean size in its overall length, slim and subtle.

View Flickr for more solid surface sculptural forms .

Seamless surface

Corian reception desk with integrated drawer storage from Sterling Surfaces. See their Flickr photos for alot more possibilities from this material.