Klemens Schillinger casts concrete accessories to resemble "ancient architectural archetypes"
London designer Klemens Schillinger modelled these concrete tabletop accessories on the shapes of ancient Greek and Mayan architecture (+ slideshow).
![Tabletop Landmarks by Klemens Schillinger](https://static.dezeen.com/uploads/2014/05/Tabletop-Landmarks-by-Klemens-Schillinger_dezeen_468_5.jpg)
"I found it interesting that these monumental buildings are often based on repetitions of basic shapes," said Klemens Schillinger, who designed the pieces in his Tabletop Landmarks collection with stepped sides.
![Tabletop Landmarks by Klemens Schillinger](https://static.dezeen.com/uploads/2014/05/Tabletop-Landmarks-by-Klemens-Schillinger_dezeen_468_7.jpg)
"Each item is designed by a very simple parametric rule: each step is an extruded offset of the footprint of the object," explained Schillinger. "The basic form of the footprint and these simple parameters led to a resemblance of ancient architectural archetypes."
![Tabletop Landmarks by Klemens Schillinger](https://static.dezeen.com/uploads/2014/05/Tabletop-Landmarks-by-Klemens-Schillinger_dezeen_468_2.jpg)
The two different-sized Arena bowls are shaped like a Greek theatre and hippodrome, with rings stepped down from the edges to the centre like tiered seating for spectators.
![Tabletop Landmarks by Klemens Schillinger](https://static.dezeen.com/uploads/2014/05/Tabletop-Landmarks-by-Klemens-Schillinger_dezeen_468_3.jpg)
The bowls can be used as desk tidies or fruit bowls as the concrete has been "sealed to be food safe" using a water-based sealant.
![Tabletop Landmarks by Klemens Schillinger](https://static.dezeen.com/uploads/2014/05/Tabletop-Landmarks-by-Klemens-Schillinger_dezeen_468_6.jpg)
The Pyramid bookends look like miniature versions of Mayan structures found across Central America. The shape is split down the middle to form the pair of supports.
![Tabletop Landmarks by Klemens Schillinger](https://static.dezeen.com/uploads/2014/05/Tabletop-Landmarks-by-Klemens-Schillinger_dezeen_468_9.jpg)
Cast using silicon moulds, the concrete items are coloured with liquid jesmonite pigment to create charcoal or sandstone grey hues.
![Tabletop Landmarks by Klemens Schillinger](https://static.dezeen.com/uploads/2014/05/Tabletop-Landmarks-by-Klemens-Schillinger_dezeen_468_11.jpg)
"The original casting patterns for the items were stacked laser cut sheets, precisely glued together," said Schillinger, who produces the pieces himself. "From these patterns a negative was cast in silicon to act as the casting mould."
Photos are by Leonhard Hilzensauer.