desert drop explores the relationship between sand and glass
Karim+Elias’ Desert Drop coffee table explores the elemental relationship between two synonymous materials — sand and glass — and the transformation from one to the other. The fluidity of the desert environment and its grounding earth shape the furniture object’s profile which evokes a series of contrasts to explore the interplay between these two materials which are, in essence, fundamentally one: glass begins as sand, melting under intense heat before solidifying into a transparent new form.
This metamorphosis is reflected in the table’s design, with a natural base shaped like desert ‘droplets’ and marked with contours of the sand, topped with a glass sheet that looks like it has pooled and settled into place. The Dubai-based studio debuted the table at Dubai’s Downtown Design fair in 2024 and more recently at the 2025 Spring edition of Maison&Objet.
all images courtesy of Karim+Elias
karim+elias set liquid-like glass adopt earthen base
The table’s concept is closely tied to the natural processes that form glass, where extreme heat events like lightning strikes or meteorite impacts can fuse sand into a vitrified state. Referencing this transformation, Karim+Elias play with the contrast between the structured solidity of the base and the fluid-like transparency of the top, creating a dialogue between motion and stillness.
‘Drawing inspiration from the desertscape, the earthen bases capture the gestural forms of desert ‘droplets’, beneath a melted sheet of glass meant to mimic the fluid-like characteristics and color of oasis waters,’ note the architects. The table’s glass top appears to have spilled over the base like a molten sheet, settling into place while the foundation remains grounded in the earth. This interplay of materials and forms subtly evokes the mirage-like presence of water in the desert, where shimmering blue-green hues seem to shift against an arid landscape.
Karim+Elias complete Desert Drop coffee table
exploring the elemental relationship between two synonymous materials — sand and glass
