Designer Jessie Nelson was studying post-war Eastern European architecture (noting its oppressive, yet fascinating sculptural perspective) when he began working in concrete—the primary material of his Side I table. In his Brooklyn studio, each pour of the industrial building material results in a unique finish with air pockets dotting the furniture’s surface. As functional as it is sculptural, with nods to Art Deco, Brutalism and Japanese wabi-sabi, the table’s walnut wood drawer is lined in a Fortuny fabric and features a secret compartment accessed by a hidden latch.