As part of the Material Matters festival (June 18–20), the American Hardwood Export Council (AHEC) presented the exhibition “No.1 Common,” a collective exploration of the aesthetic, functional, and sustainable value of American hardwood classified as No.1 Common, a grade often underrated in European design.
Through original works by Andu Masebo, Daniel Schofield, and Anna Maria Øfstedal Eng, the exhibition focused on the intrinsic beauty of wood’s natural imperfections — knots, color variations, and irregular grain patterns — proposing a paradigm shift in material selection: using what nature offers, rather than seeking only “perfection.”
One degree, three visions
London-based designer Andu Masebo presented Around Table, a changing scenography built in No.1 Common red oak, designed to facilitate moments of encounter and sharing. Curved segments reconfigure themselves to give shape to new spaces and new interactions, accompanied by a series of brown maple stools in the same formal language.
Daniel Schofield, based in Copenhagen, designed Common Room: a family of No.1 Common cherry wood furniture — tables, benches, screens — designed to meet the flexibility needs of contemporary workspaces. Here, the material’s imperfections become an integral part of the design, enhanced by butterfly joints with an industrial and rational aesthetic.
From Norway, Anna Maria Øfstedal Eng presented Kontur Series, a sculptural collection consisting of a wardrobe and a mirror, made of No.1 Common yellow birch. The lamination and excavation work brought to light organic patterns that interact with minimal surfaces, enhancing the contrast between material and form.
Design that does not waste
To crown the exhibition, the exhibition design by KUF Studios – alias Kia Utzon-Frank – transformed the production waste from the objects on display into structural elements of the exhibition. Inspired by sawmills and workshops, the space offered an immersive experience where nothing was wasted, inviting the public to reflect on the origin and destiny of materials.
Dialogue and participation
Alongside the exhibition, two events engaged the public and professionals: the conversation Making Things in Common, which brought designers together to discuss the creative process and the value of sustainable wood, and a participatory workshop during which visitors co-designed lighting objects from the exhibition’s waste.
