PoliLam Unveils Innovative Surface Collections
PoliLam, a US-based brand, has launched several new surface collections that imitate the appearance of natural materials like stone and wood, while offering enhanced durability and unique functionalities. These include Milano Impressions surfaces with realistic stone textures, Seamless HPL Translucent Surfaces that allow light diffusion, self-healing ACE Surfaces, and resilient Capri Performance Tops. The Nature's Capsule collection also offers the aesthetic appeal of timber with the benefits of laminates.
Copenhagen Vending Machine Revolutionizes Design Sales
A distinctive vending machine appeared in a Copenhagen kiosk during the 3 Days of Design event, offering accessible, limited-edition design pieces. This initiative, called 'Sell Out Show', was conceived by designers Guillaume Gindrat, Frederik Buchmann, Massimo Scheidegger, and Bruno Pauli Caldas. Its primary goal was to provide emerging designers with a platform to sell their creations and earn income, addressing the challenges many face in making a living from their craft. The machine featured 24 different objects from independent designers, with all profits directly benefiting the creators, and prices capped at an affordable 635 DKK (approximately £73 or €85).
Chilean Lakeside Pavilion: An Environmental Education Hub by Dum-Dum Lab
Dum-Dum Laboratorio de Arquitectura Avanzada has constructed a striking red wooden pavilion by a Chilean lakeside. This 38-square-meter structure, known as Mirador Interpretativo Laguna Troya, functions as an ecological classroom and observation point for the local wetland ecosystem. Completed recently, the design incorporates computational processes and small timber elements to create a porous, adaptable space that harmonizes with its natural surroundings while promoting environmental awareness.
Embracing Nature's Cycle: The Art of Sustainable Timber
A Vision for Sustainable Forestry: The "Wood for the Trees" Concept
British design firm Mitre & Mondays, in collaboration with Benchmark and the American Hardwood Export Council (AHEC), created an engaging installation for Copenhagen's 3 Days of Design event. This exhibit, dubbed "Wood for the Trees," was designed to immerse visitors in the atmosphere of an American hardwood forest, thereby illustrating the significance of responsible forest management. The display, part of the Material Matters design fair, utilized various timber elements, from revolving tree-like columns to furniture resembling logs, each representing a distinct phase in the sustainable journey of wood production.
Celebrating the Material's Journey: Beyond the Finished Product
The core message of the installation was to highlight the entire material lifecycle, not merely the final product. By doing so, it sought to inform the public about why cultivating and extracting hardwood from natural forests, rather than monoculture plantations, is vital for safeguarding this valuable resource for coming generations. David Venables, European director for AHEC, explained during a tour that natural forests foster biodiversity and regeneration, allowing trees of varying ages and species to coexist and ensuring a continuous supply of timber through selective harvesting.
Inspiration from the Forest: The Genesis of the Installation
The concept for "Wood for the Trees" originated after Mitre & Mondays' designers, Josef Shanley-Jackson, Freya Bolton, and Finn Thomson, viewed AHEC's documentary, "Forested Future." This film, directed by Petr Krejci, chronicles the efforts of individuals, from landowners to loggers, who have been instrumental in the revitalization of USA's hardwood forests. AHEC reports that these forests, spanning over 16 million hectares, are growing at a rate twice that of harvesting, underscoring the success of these conservation practices.
Crafting the Forest Experience: Five Stages of Timber Management
With the expertise of British furniture manufacturer Benchmark, the Mitre & Mondays team meticulously crafted elements that visually articulate the five key processes supporting the timber lifecycle. These stages include the initial growth of trees, the careful stewardship of the forest ecosystem, strategic selection for harvesting, fostering natural renewal, and the ultimate utilization of the wood. The installation effectively translates these complex ecological principles into a tangible, sensory experience.
An Immersive Landscape: Canopy, Trunks, and Stumps
The exhibition's design ingeniously mimicked a forest environment. Sheets of timber veneer draped from the ceiling, evoking the sense of a dense canopy, while cross-shaped columns stood as symbolic tree trunks. Some of these trunks were engineered to pivot on wooden spheres, allowing them to rotate, a metaphor for the extended harvest cycles in a healthy forest achieved through selective felling rather than widespread clear-cutting. Wooden benches represented trees prepared for milling into planks, and stools symbolized the remaining stumps, signifying either regrowth from active roots or eventual replacement by new saplings.
Bridging the Gap: Connecting Urban Dwellers with Forest Realities
Finn Thomson of Mitre & Mondays emphasized the intention behind the design: "We aimed to reconnect this timber with its origins, offering people a physical and spatial understanding of navigating a forest, much like foresters do." The installation effectively brought the essence of the forest to an urban setting, allowing visitors to grasp the intricate relationship between wood and its natural habitat.
The Beauty in Imperfection: Highlighting Underutilized Timber Grades
The exhibit showcased four distinct timber species: American red oak, yellow birch, hard maple, and cherry. These timbers, generously provided by family-owned sawmills, were categorized as "number one common" grade. This grade is typically deemed unsuitable for many design applications due to natural variations in knots, color, and grain. However, AHEC hopes to reframe this perception, encouraging architects, designers, and the industry to embrace a broader spectrum of timber qualities.
A Call for Responsibility: Maximizing Timber Utilization
David Venables underscored the importance of responsible timber use, stating, "If we only utilize 10 percent of the tree, as is often the case, we are not acting responsibly." Martin Penrose, Benchmark's head of design, echoed this sentiment, expressing hope that the display would ignite discussions about the aesthetic appeal of these diverse wood selections and encourage their increased specification in design. This initiative follows AHEC's previous exhibition, "No. 1 Common," which also championed the inherent beauty of so-called low-grade timber.