Wiltshire-based furniture makers – Forest & Maker – are returning to Clerkenwell for a second time with a clear focus on solid timber, sustainability, craft and provenance.
The company – who are responsible for the handcrafting of desking for over 700 people at working_from – one of London’s biggest, newest and more impressive co-working spaces, situated within the new Hoxton Hotel in Southwark – (commissioned by Ennismore), will showcase a new range of fully customisable workplace furniture at Clerkenwell. Each of Forest & Maker’s beautiful pieces is made from solid sustainable timber (or a combination of solid timber tops and metalwork bases) in the company’s West Wiltshire workshops.
What started as two friends handcrafting made-to-order wood pieces in their spare time, has grown into an award-winning workshop of passionate craftspeople who can answer even the most challenging brief. Working with some of the UK’s best-known architects and commercial designers, Forest & Maker make handcrafted eco-friendly furniture that connects people to the natural world. Recent projects include large scale commissions for Ennismore, Nando’s, Jacada, Michaelis Boyd and Peldon Rose.
Forest & Maker’s Founding Director William Hibbert says:
“This year, we are taking a message to Clerkenwell that the specification of products made from sustainable, certified and natural timber can be achievable and affordable – even on large scale projects.
“We are very keen to have conversations with architects and designers who are looking for a way to bring more sustainable elements into their designs. Solid timber furniture (from sustainable sources) brings with a whole host of benefits. For a start, it’s proven to have the most incredible, positive impacts on our physical and mental health. And, from a materials perspective, it’s wonderfully flexible to work with – it’s possible to deliver on a vision for healthier more eco-conscious environments and bespoke projects – even on a large scale such as The Hoxton. We can work with clients to select from a range of beautiful timbers and explain the individual characteristics of each – such he grain; the natural colouring; and texture.
“What sets us apart from many other furniture brands, is our own very active commitment to sustainability. For example, we support UK tree planting projects (for every item we make, several new trees are planted), and we absolutely committed to industry stewardship – for example, we eagerly await confirmation of our Grown in Britain accreditation. We have also made a very considerable investment in our internal processes which have been created by timber industry experts. All of this combined will give specifiers great reasons to work with us.”
Forest & Maker will throw a spotlight on its bespoke capabilities at Clerkenwell.
“We know that designers and end users want flexible, customisable, sustainable, hand made timber furniture – and that’s exactly what we do and what we do well here in Wiltshire. We can handcraft and ‘actualise’ just about any design or vision. We think too many designers (and end users) still see solid, sustainably sourced timber furniture as a luxury which is not cost-effective on projects. We are working on a projects all over the world which prove this isn’t the case. We look forward to Clerkenwell and to the start of many conversations about what’s possible,” said William Hibbert.
Location: Forest & Maker’s stand will be located in the British Collection at The Crypt.
