At first glance, Mangal looks like a barbecue pit – the kind you’ll have in the backyard for cooking burgers and steaks during Sunday afternoons when the weather is clear. Or maybe a fire pit for warming up during cold weather. Except, it’s meant to function as a stool to rest weary legs during a long day of walking.
Created by Cisim Design, its name is taken from the Turkish word for barbecue, an obvious nod to the object that inspired its form. And while it looks like you could actually cook in it (I mean, the interior is hollow and the seat is removable), we have a feeling the whole thing will burn to a crisp, seeing the body and frame are constructed from wooden material.
Not only is Mangal’s body evocative of a barbecue pit, even the seat is clad in the form of a grate. Well, a fancy grate, since it comes in a variety of designs modeled after common fabric patterns. The seats are interchangeable, too, so you can switch them up if you get bored with a particular design, with the hollow interior lending itself for use as extra storage space. Oh yeah, we highly recommend not following the image’s lead and storing apples inside – since the seat is grated, a guest may decide to blow gas and well… you know the deal.
Mangal was exhibited in Milan Design Week 2015 at Venture Lambrate.