52 | Sector Focus: North America
SUMMARY
■The 3daysofdesign festival was held in Copenhagen in June
■AHEC set out to highlight three US hardwood species
■Maple, cherry and red oak comprise 40% of the US hardwood forest
RENEWABLE DESIGN TIMES THREE
The multi-layered qualities of US hardwoods were highlighted in a Nordic design challenge. Mike Jeffree reports
The American Hardwood Export Council (AHEC) has worked with three young Nordic furniture design talents to explore the aesthetic and technical potential and highlight the sustainability credentials of three US hardwood species. The results took centre stage at the 3daysofdesign festival in Copenhagen in June.
The underlying theme of the project, naturally enough called ‘Three’, was the need for the design industry to make the most of what the global forest naturally provides and use the most sustainable hardwood species available. And the maple, cherry and red oak featured together comprise 40% of the US hardwood forest.
“Three was conceived to demonstrate the possibilities of these woods as sustainable, affordable materials through a trio of extraordinary pieces that tread the porous border between functional design and sculptural art,” said AHEC European director David Venables.
Above: Anna Maria Øfstedal Eng’s Sno collection in American maple ALL IMAGES: BENJAMIN LUND TTJ | July/August 2023 |
www.ttjonline.com
“The brief to each designer-maker was to explore the material they were given to work with and let that process inform the creative outcome in whatever direction they chose. This is a very different approach to that of our previous projects and is a deliberate attempt to make the materials the focus and celebrate a fresh perspective on their potential.” One of the project designers Anne Brandhøj from Denmark was inspired to focus on natural, renewable materials she could source herself after an inspirational visit to a sawmill. She felled her own timber and started to value and explore using the natural imperfections of the material in her work. She describes herself as fascinated by the different shapes and substances she discovers within
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