“We design spaces where nature, architecture, and people come together. Our benches and planters transform public spaces into vibrant, sustainable environments that foster connection and well-being."
- John Beckmann

Revolutionizing Public Space with Topological Landscape Benches Landscape Benches and Integrated Planters

Axis Mundi, an innovative design studio, has developed a groundbreaking series of Topological Landscape Benches landscape benches and integrated planters that redefine urban furniture, particularly in public spaces like parks, museums, and open-air galleries. These designs respond to the increasing demand for multifunctional, sustainable, and aesthetically enriching outdoor furnishings that foster interaction and a deeper connection with both the built and natural environments.

At the core of Axis Mundi’s vision are the Topological Landscape Benches. These are not merely utilitarian seating; they are carefully crafted forms that integrate seamlessly into their surroundings. Inspired by organic shapes like rolling hills and undulating waves, the benches encourage various forms of interaction—whether people wish to sit, recline, or lie down. The benches create flexible seating arrangements, suitable for both intimate moments of solitude and larger, social gatherings. Their curvilinear forms not only invite exploration but also connect users to the surrounding landscape in ways traditional benches cannot. These adaptable designs bring comfort and sociability to urban spaces while blending architectural elements with nature.

Another central feature of Axis Mundi’s work is the integrated planters, which enhance the connection between design and nature. Incorporated directly into the benches, these planters blur the line between furniture and landscaping. Filled with native plant species, they add beauty, texture, and life to public spaces while contributing to ecological sustainability. By mitigating urban heat islands, improving air quality, and fostering local biodiversity, these planters offer more than aesthetic value—they create immersive, green environments that improve the well-being of urban residents.

Together, these design elements create transformative public spaces. Axis Mundi’s furniture not only serves as functional seating but also as art, promoting social interaction, environmental awareness, and a lasting bond between people, nature, and architecture.

Designer: John Beckmann
Visualizations: Kirill Lynkovsky
© 2024 Axis Mundi Design LLC. 

”Malevich's Black Square was the most radical gesture … It announced the death of any cultural nostalgia, of any sentimental attachment to the culture of the past. Black Square was like an open window through which the revolutionary spirits of radical destruction could enter the space of culture and reduce it to ashes.”
⁃ “Becoming Revolutionary: On Kazimir Malevich," Boris Groys

FURNISHING THE VOID: Imaginal Chairs of Kazimir Malevich

John Beckmann, the architect and creative force behind Axis Mundi, has unveiled a stunning new series of furniture that’s as thought-provoking as it is visually striking. This isn’t just furniture—it’s a bold, postmodern experiment that reimagines history itself, drawing deep inspiration from the work of Kazimir Malevich, the Russian avant-garde artist who revolutionized abstract art with his Suprematist movement. Beckmann’s latest collection is more than a tribute; it’s a “what if” scenario brought to life. Imagine a world where Malevich’s radical ideas weren’t confined to the canvas but expanded into the realm of everyday objects. What if the stark, geometric forms of Suprematism shaped the furniture in our homes? Beckmann explores this tantalizing possibility, creating pieces that feel like they’ve stepped out of an alternate timeline—one where the boundaries between art and function are blurred beyond recognition.

Designer: John Beckmann
Visualizations: Kirill Lynkovsky
© 2024 Axis Mundi Design LLC. 

Digitally Printed 3D Chandeliers: Nature-Inspired Luminescence

Digitally printed 3D chandeliers are revolutionizing lighting design by blending nature’s organic forms with advanced technology. Inspired by clouds, waves, and wind-shaped elements, these chandeliers capture the fluidity and elegance of the natural world, creating ethereal lighting fixtures that seem to flow and shift with light. The flexibility of 3D printing allows for intricate, dynamic shapes that mimic the movement of air, water, and light, bringing a sense of serenity and motion into any space.

A remarkable innovation in these chandeliers is the incorporation of fiber optic materials, adding a luminescent quality that elevates their visual impact. The 3D printed fiber optic structures allow light to travel through the material in unique ways, creating soft glows or vivid bursts of illumination that highlight the design’s organic contours. This added luminescence enhances the chandelier’s aesthetic, making it not just a light source, but a statement piece that interacts with its environment.

By combining natural inspiration with modern technology, these chandeliers do more than simply illuminate a room—they transform it. Their graceful forms and innovative lighting effects evoke a sense of calm and wonder, turning everyday spaces into immersive environments. This fusion of nature, design, and luminescence opens new possibilities for functional art that resonates with both technological innovation and the beauty of the natural world.

Designer: John Beckmann
© 2024 Axis Mundi Design LLC. 

”And we [The Futurist artists] must invent dynamic designs to go with them and express them in equally dynamic shapes: triangles, cones, spirals, ellipses, circles, etc.”
⁃ Giacomo Balla

TRANSLATING SPEED: Beckmann’s Futurist Chairs and the Legacy of Giacomo Balla

John Beckmann’s new series of chairs offers a bold homage to the Italian Futurist painter Giacomo Balla, merging dynamic geometry with organic forms. Inspired by Balla’s exploration of movement, speed, and modernity, Beckmann's designs channel the energy and fragmentation of the Futurist movement into sculptural furniture. The chairs' angular lines and fluid curves evoke a sense of motion, while their minimalist, industrial materials speak to the Futurist rejection of tradition in favor of innovation.

Beckmann reinterprets Balla’s vivid compositions, translating them from canvas to furniture with a thoughtful balance of form and function. The use of textured metals, sleek woods, and sharp lines creates pieces that feel both contemporary and timeless. Far from mere replicas, these chairs are a living extension of Balla’s vision, capturing his dynamic sense of forward motion in a tangible, intimate way.

The collection reflects Beckmann’s own commitment to craftsmanship and modern design sensibilities, positioning the chairs as both aesthetic objects and functional art. In this series, Beckmann successfully bridges the gap between avant-garde visual art and contemporary design, giving Balla's Futurism a new, embodied presence in the domestic space.

Designer: John Beckmann
Visualizations: Kirill Lynkovsky
© 2024 Axis Mundi Design LLC.