Raíces
Basic information
Project Title
Full project title
Category
Project Description
Coffee table made of oak wood and tempered glass that seeks to recall and connect with our roots, our origins as a human being, our past and tradition at the hand of nature.
The wooden slat by itself is not resistant enough, but when all 36 act together, the structure becomes completely rigid and strong, creating a ramification that reminds us the roots or branches of a tree, a flower, the nature.
Project Region
EU Programme or fund
Description of the project
Summary
This table was commissioned by a client based on some sketches that we had previously. The client was looking for a table in a reception area in his office. From the beginning we opted for a hard wood such as oak for its manufacture. We had to carry out several tests to define the best way to manufacture the quadrant of the bases, the joints between these quadrants as well as the union of the slats with the base. The truth was that it was a mystery of how it was going to behave until we finally put the glass in position and found that the table was much more resistant than we had imagined.
Key objectives for sustainability
From the beginning our intention always has been to collaborate with the manufacture with local artisans: carpenters, ironworkers, marble workers, glassmakers, potters… in order to promote the local crafts in Spain preventing them from disappearing. In our country there is no continuity with the artisan businesses, losing all that knowledge that has been transmitted from generation to another. The study of university careers has been promoted among young people, but not the jobs that require working with the hands. This project is based on the collaboration between design and craftsmanship, on manufacturing durable products that can last generations, avoiding trends, on providing that different point of view to the artisan, creating a synergy between design and material knowledge that will allow the continuity and renewal of the crafts. Winning an award would be a recognition for such collaboration and an incentive to encourage young people to return to crafts as well as designers to approach artisans.
Key objectives for aesthetics and quality
We wanted to recreate a tree with its branches, or a tree and its roots depending on the point of view. What surprised us is that after manufacturing it, it also transmitted a flower or a sun.
Most of the people are very surprised of how does it hold but with the 36 arms the weight of the glass is distributed all over.
Key objectives for inclusion
The inclusion has been in relation to the synergy between the new and the old. Among the great know-how of the matter with new ideas of contemporary designs. Betting on durable products, manufactured locally by artisans, paying an added value promoting the local economy is the key to begin to value what surrounds us. It all starts with education teaching the kids how long it takes to get the things done. The raw material is finite, so we have to banish that disposable way of consuming and start thinking as our ancestors did.
Results in relation to category
We are currently in the initial phase of the product commercialization, so we do not really know the reception of the product in the market. In general, the feedback from all the people who have seen the product is very positive.
How Citizens benefit
Thanks to the knowledge of the arthisans that we worked with we had been able to come to reality the design. Also some close people helped us to adjust the final dimensions from the initial prototypes.
Innovative character
The aesthetics of the product and the difficulty of the manufacturing process.
