Rycotewood Furniture Centre students create storage solutions in American hardwoods

In an ongoing collaboration with Rycotewood Furniture Centre at the City of Oxford College, one of the United Kingdom’s most respected furniture making programmes, the American Hardwood Export Council (AHEC) has challenged students during August 2021 to create a storage piece using a choice of American red oak, cherry and maple. AHEC tasked some of the school’s Second Year Foundation students with a brief to create a piece of storage out of a selection of sustainable American hardwoods, which are not currently in fashion in Europe.

The students were encouraged to use the material as creatively and efficiently as possible, making the most of its natural characteristics. Their final designs explored a variety of techniques including scorching, CNC-machining, kerfing and weaving. British furniture designer Nathalie de Leval was a guest tutor for this initiative and spoke to the students at the beginning of the project, giving an insight into her own business. She continued to oversee the project and mentor the students, giving each advice on their pieces and professional critique of their ideas.

“It has been a real pleasure to be involved with AHEC and the students at Rycotewood. It was great to see the students experimenting with the wood, discovering new ways of manipulating it and incorporating that into new designs. Many brought very personal approaches to their storage pieces, which added to their connection with the brief. Despite the restrictions they have faced resulting from COVID-19, the quality of the designs and making are exceptional, and I hope they will inform and inspire the students with their future projects,” said de Leval.

Charlie Teager-Neale designed a whisky cabinet with cut-outs to reveal reflective copper, inspired by the copper distillery used for making spirits. A cleverly hidden sensor underneath the cabinet activates the inside LED light.

Christoph Kurzman was inspired by the work of textile designer Jo Elbourne for his tea cabinet, taking the pattern for the graphic shape from a traditional Japanese technique of laying traditional Tatami mats.

Dan Alexander’s general-purpose cabinet has a criss-cross pattern, created using a kerfing technique, to allow the inside light to shine through. Red oak has been used for this piece with some soft maple for detailing.