FURNISHING 05_THORAVEJ 29_GREEN WOOD

Archival Studies and Pihlmann Architects are engaged in an ongoing dialogue about the potential of using ‘green’, undried wood to reduce energy consumption while unlocking new aesthetic possibilities that stay closer to the raw state of the material. This collaboration first took shape in Bikubenfonden’s community hub, Thoravej 29. The Green Wood furniture series embodies the material-focused and inquisitive spirit of the overarching transformation project led by Pihlmann Architects. The lumber for the Green Wood furniture was sourced from Bikubenfonden’s Svanninge Bjerge natural reserve, selecting only trees that needed thinning to support the forest’s health. This approach enabled close collaboration throughout the entire process – from tree selection to the final installation at Thoravej 29. The construction principles behind this furniture series are rooted in the unique properties of undried wood. By embracing this approach, we avoid resource-intensive processing methods like drying and finishing, while also making use of unconventional parts of the tree trunk that are often discarded. To ensure that the timber meets the standards of the construction and design industry, natural reactions in the wood are usually avoided. However, anticipating those reactions has great potential. For Thoravej 29, we explore wet wood’s natural drying behavior as an assembly method. Using the dovetail joining technique, we can achieve a strong construction. Through uneven shrinkage, the planks distort, causing the cupping effect, a deviation from flatness across the wood’s width. By applying the tail and the pin of the joint across different directions, the joint self-locks when it dries, tightened by the cupping. By maintaining the dimensions of the timber, excessive processing steps are avoided, and the structural integrity and natural appearance of the wood are preserved – an opportunity to remind ourselves of the material’s origin.