Banquet by Paula O'Connor
Graduate designer Paula O'Connor surrounded this table with net curtains to create a more intimate dining experience.
![Banquet by Paula O'Connor](https://static.dezeen.com/uploads/2013/08/dezeen_Banquet-by-Paula-OConnor_7.jpg)
Paula O'Connor designed the Banquet table to encourage people to eat together, a notion she feels has been lost in contemporary society. "This concept is focused on creating an experience and encouraging an event around a table," she said.
![Banquet by Paula O'Connor](https://static.dezeen.com/uploads/2013/08/dezeen_Banquet-by-Paula-OConnor_2.jpg)
A chunky chipboard surface sits on four angled white metal legs, which bend around to form posts that support the curtain rails. "Banquet is a statement piece which celebrates dining and symbolises a special ritual," said O'Connor. "It aims to evoke feelings of grandeur, intimacy and seclusion through a simple, pared-down aesthetic."
![Banquet by Paula O'Connor](https://static.dezeen.com/uploads/2013/08/dezeen_Banquet-by-Paula-OConnor_3.jpg)
The removable sheer curtains let in light and allow diners to see out, while creating a cosier atmosphere inside. "The element of a detachable curtain offers a playful atmosphere, reminding the user of childhood experiences in tent and fort like structures," she added.
![Banquet by Paula O'Connor](https://static.dezeen.com/uploads/2013/08/dezeen_Banquet-by-Paula-OConnor_4.jpg)
O'Connor graduated from the Furniture Design course at the Dublin Institute of Technology this year. The dining table forms part of her thesis project titled Dining Together Matters.
![Banquet by Paula O'Connor](https://static.dezeen.com/uploads/2013/08/dezeen_Banquet-by-Paula-OConnor_5.jpg)
We've only just posted an installation based on fourteen different ways to replace a table leg, as well as a collection of tables and benches with surfaces made from materials chosen to age well.
![Banquet by Paula O'Connor](https://static.dezeen.com/uploads/2013/08/dezeen_Banquet-by-Paula-OConnor_6.jpg)
Also on Dezeen there's a meeting table surrounded by swinging chairs and a table with a top made from 400 wooden slats that fan out into a full circle.
See more table designs »
See more 2013 graduate projects »
Here are some extra details from Paula O'Connor:
Dining is an important ritual. For many, the act of dining and eating together has been lost. For several individuals, dining has been reduced to a rushed affair. We "eat" but do not engage in a dining experience.
![Banquet by Paula O'Connor](https://static.dezeen.com/uploads/2013/08/dezeen_Banquet-by-Paula-OConnor_8.jpg)
In contemporary society, there are numerous factors to blame for this outcome. Increasingly, we see a large proportion of people eating on "the move".
![Banquet by Paula O'Connor](https://static.dezeen.com/uploads/2013/08/dezeen_Banquet-by-Paula-OConnor_9.jpg)
"Dining Together Matters" cannot eliminate some of the factors which have caused the change, but it encourage s a different way. It celebrate s the joy of eating and dining. Establishing the importance of eating with others is core message this project.