Stone, bronze, iron … all out-shined by modern steel, that wonderfully smooth and strong metal that has slowly become a part of our everyday lives. Hover over the images below for more information & click the thumbnails for the full story.

 

[ImageGallery]

 

From tree-like tables to suspended fireplaces and recycled wine racks, here are some of the most creative applications of steel in contemporary settings you will outside of a forge.

Some creators are inspired by its precision, nesting forms within one another – others by high-tech shapes like stealth bombers, sleek and angular. From a one-off curiosity a few centuries ago to 1.6 billion tons produced annually today, steel is the basis for more objects than most people imagine, and is increasingly malleable in the hands of creative home-object designers.