This student from Versailles invented the eco-friendly table which enlarges the terraces, by Laurent Mauron, June 16, 2020
"A student at the National School of Architecture, Félix Miguel created Extra Terrasse, a collection of wooden furniture that attaches directly to street furniture.
The news serves him wonderfully. Félix Miquel is surfing on the reopening of terraces and cafes in order to publicize his invention. At just 20 years old, this young student from the Ecole Nationale Supérieure d'Architecture de Versailles (ENSAV) developed the Extra-Terrasse* concept of wooden objects that rest on street furniture by simply fitting them together.
“It all started with a table. The idea of attaching it to an urban post already existed. I simply wanted to create one from reclaimed wood in a spirit of recycling,” says Félix, who worked on his project for a year as part of his studies at ENSAV. One of his teachers, who made him work on the creation of furniture from wood, and the help of an association of his school, ADN Plus, which lends tools and workshop, encouraged him to start with prototypes.
Tested for a fortnight by the Sophomore, a bar on rue Gambey, in Paris (XIe), this ingenious idea could flourish. In any case, it pleases the owner of this establishment. “I find the concept interesting because, with the Covid suites, I currently have the possibility of extending my terrace on the street (Editor’s note: until September 30). My clients appreciate it too and many of them take pictures. I took three tables and the ashtray. It's very good, especially to fight against the proliferation of cigarette butts on the ground, ”says Maxime Mérienne.
Table, but also ashtray and hydroalcoholic gel terminal
Because Félix not only invented a table but a line of products with other applications such as the ashtray but also a terminal for hydroalcoholic gel. All while refining a “responsible” approach. “I quickly realized that the field of possibilities was immense. With 4.5 m2 of wood, I can, for example, make 34 ashtrays and thus recycle thousands of cigarette butts through the ecological chain, whereas the treatment of just one of them can consume up to 500 l of water," says the inventor.
As such, Félix has also experimented with another use than that of the café terrace. Thus, he placed ashtrays at the exit of three metro entrances with the words "Recycle your cigarette butts" on the ground. “They lasted two weeks before being stolen but I counted around fifty cigarette butts inside. The proof is therefore made that the concept can work for smokers if it is placed, for example, at the exit of shops", estimates Félix who has also approached florists, who have received the hypothesis of these types very well. "urban" flowerpots inside which they would plant flowers.
"The use of recycling material"
The innovation of the apprentice architect has caught the attention on social networks. Thus, after having posted, on June 4, photos on the Instagram account of the specialized site Student Design, Félix was surprised by the 20,000 likes obtained in less than 48 hours and from all over the world. As a result, he protected his invention by filing five designs and models with the National Institute of Industrial Property (INPI).
He is right because the competition did not wait for him. Thus, a Parisian locksmith launched Topit, a very similar concept, also suitable for terraces via street furniture, but in metal. "
Source: https://www.leparisien.fr/yvelines-78/l-etudiant-de-versailles-a-invente-la-table-ecolo-qui-agrandit-les-terrasses-16-06-2020-8336529. php