Natural materials are increasingly becoming part of the restaurant scene. Forest & Maker explains why…
Cast your mind back to the last time you entered a restaurant. Did you opt for a table in the centre of the space, or a cosy perimeter spot, which enabled you to sit with your back to the wall and survey the room?
The chances are, you chose the latter. For thousands of years, we humans have instinctively searched for positions which are protected, yet which also give us the ability to clearly see our surroundings. And it’s hardly surprisingly because, when we lived amidst nature in tribes, our ability to survive depended on finding a safe haven that also afforded us the ability to detect a threat.
Today we may not be evading spear-wielding enemies or hiding from wild beasts, but still this ancient, instinctive urge lives on. And it now informs two of the fundamental principles of biophilic design, called Prospect and Refuge. As the design trend gathers pace, you’ll increasingly see these principles employed in restaurants and workplaces across the globe, whether in the form of cosy raised booths or private pods in an open plan office. These spaces are no accident – they are cleverly created to elicit a calming physiological response.
But biophilic design is also fundamentally about incorporating natural materials when creating a space. From honey-hued stone to delicately veined marble and mellow timber, studies suggest that exposure to these natural fabrics lowers our stress levels, as well as enhancing our creativity and cognitive function.
At Forest & Maker, we certainly know just how good our solid timber furniture makes us feel. Each distinctive piece is hand-crafted from sustainably-sourced timbers, such as ash, walnut and oak. The result? Perfect pieces that showcase nature’s organic formations in all their glory.
But don’t just take our word for it, take a look at our inspiring projects. Today our furniture graces restaurants around the UK, where it delights diners by celebrating our link with the natural world. From the bespoke 14-seater banqueting table we crafted from British-grown oak, to our walnut and blackened steel bench, every piece is carefully carved with love. From every unique knot to every tiny grain, our furniture brings nature’s feelgood powers indoors.
And our designs know no limitations – we’ve created a live-edged party table, hewn from a single slab of walnut, and even a vast geometric tree planter, which houses a stunning maple. Made from sustainably sourced ash, the exterior provides seating for the diners, enabling them to enjoy their meal in the tree’s dappled shade. So, the next time you step off a busy urban street and duck into a restaurant, take a look around. The chances are, you’ll see nature’s bounty, carefully knitted into the space that surrounds you. And while you dine, take a moment to think about how it makes you feel. We pretty sure you’ll find it a soothing presence in our increasingly chaotic world.
Visit our projects pages to discover how we’re working with architects and designers to foster wellbeing in the hospitality sector through the specification of our solid, timber furniture.
