Wood In Architecture Issue 1, 2023

NEWS
AHEC PARTICIPATES IN MADRID DESIGN FESTIVAL
WITH TWO WOOD DESIGN SHOWCASES
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1 The mentors of SLOW Spain, as well as designers for the workpieces
showcased for Natural Connections. From left: Jorge Penadés,
Álvaro Catalán de Ocón, Inma Bermúdez and Moritz Krefter
2 The furniture pieces showcased for SLOW Spain
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The American Hardwood Export Council
(AHEC) has presented two wood design
projects at the Madrid Design Festival
2023, held from 7 Feb-12 Mar 2023.
The first is ‘SLOW Spain: Slow design for
fast change’, a project in collaboration
with nine Spanish design schools that
showcases the talent and ideas of
the emerging design generation while
exploring the material possibilities
of four sustainable but underused
American hardwoods for furniture
design.
The projects have been mentored by
designers Inma Bermúdez and Moritz
Krefter from Studio Inma Bermúdez,
Álvaro Catalán de Ocón from studio
ACdO, and Jorge Penadés from Oficina
Penadés.
Together with the students, they
have worked to refine and shape the
students’ ideas using red oak, maple,
cherry and tulipwood.
The exhibition aims to show the
importance of ‘slow design’ and how
this philosophy can be applied
in furniture creation. As well as
being an opportunity to learn
more about the importance of
sustainability in furniture design,
the ‘slow’ approach can contribute
to a positive change in the current
culture of fast furniture.
Each of the pieces has been
handcrafted in the La Navarra
carpentry in Madrid. The final
designs mix aesthetics with
functionality, and range from side
tables to a bookcase-screen, a desk
or the reinvention of a chair.
“SLOW is about education and
opportunity. We have attempted
to fill the gap in design education
which often does not provide an
in-depth experience for design
students to learn about and work
with hardwood materials,” said
David Venables, European director
of AHEC.
The second project is ‘Natural
Connections’, which reportedly
aims to connect materials and people in
a playful, conscious and nature-focused
way.
The aforementioned mentor-designers
were invited to create three pieces of
furniture for public spaces, designed to
help people encounter and rediscover
nature, using red oak, maple or cherry.
The result is a collection of pieces that
promote fun and interaction.
“Our collaboration with the Madrid
Design Festival, Matadero Madrid and
three of the most important design
studios in Spain has provided an amazing
opportunity to connect the public with
the worlds of design, craft, and wood,”
said Venables.
“The design teams worked with
maple, cherry, and red oak to create
playful, original, and highly innovative
installations that we hope will provide
engagement, excitement and a
connection for visitors to these wonderful
natural materials.” WIA
Images: AHEC
10 WOOD IN ARCHITECTURE • ISSUE 1 – 2023