Stammtisch der Familie Brinkmann

The Story

This wooden table represents something truly special – eight generations of the Brinkmann family, brought to life through a unique village and church metaphor. Each marriage becomes a village, with the couple at the church and their children arranged around them like houses in a community.

What started as a genealogy research project evolved into an extraordinary handcrafted piece. The physical table features miniature villages with 250 Arduino-controlled LEDs, creating a glowing map of our family's journey through time.

Now, I've brought this concept to the digital world. The interactive version lets you explore the family tree by clicking through generations, zooming from the overview down to individual records – birth certificates, marriage documents, and family photographs.

The Build

• Physical Table: Hand-carved wooden rim with burned family name
• Villages: Miniature buildings representing each family unit
• Electronics: 250 individually-controlled LEDs powered by Arduino
• Research: German church records, birth certificates, family interviews
• Digital Version: Custom-coded interactive navigation system