The exhibition was built using offcuts from the production of the pieces on display, demonstrating the amount of material typically discarded in furniture-making. It was designed to be disassembled and reused with minimal intervention in future design projects.

Three designers were challenged in mid-2025 by the  (AHEC) to make the case for often overlooked hardwood qualities in design at ‘3daysofdesign’ in Copenhagen (Denmark). Each was championing a sustainable approach to material selection – use what nature provides.

The designers – Andu Masebo, Anna Maria Øfstedal Eng and Daniel Schofield – were all tasked to showcase the potential of ‘cabinet grade’ US hardwood as a versatile and desirable design material.

Number 1 Common (No.1C) hardwood generally comprises the same clear wood as upper grades but in smaller cuttings. Although this category of timber was originally created as the ‘cabinet grade’, specifically selected to be used in cabinetry, flooring or furniture parts, it is not commonly used, in favour of ‘cleaner’ grades of timber.

“Our No.1 Common project is an argument for broadening the grade’s usage categories, presenting visually and texturally unique designs to showcase the potential of No.1C hardwoods as aesthetically rich, high-performance design materials,” said Roderick Wiles, AHEC Regional Director.

The goal was not only to push technical boundaries but also to explore the benefits of using No.1C in terms of labour efficiency and yield. The resulting exhibition demonstrated the shared power and responsibility that designers, industry leaders and consumers have in prioritising environmentally conscious decisions, rather than simply following trends that don’t always respect the rhythms and needs of nature.

‘Around Table’

London-based designer Andu Masebo is interested in the things we make, the way we make them and the systems that they become a part of once they are made. He has turned his expertise in ceramics, metal fabrication and carpentry to several high-profile projects, retaining a focus on simplicity, accessibility and materiality.

For ‘No.1 Common’, Andu designed a dynamic tablescape that transformed over the 3 days of the festival, imagining the table as a centre of gravity and seeking to create moments that bring people towards it.

‘Common Room’

Based in Copenhagen (Denmark), British designer Daniel Schofield looks for beauty in simplicity, creating highly rational pieces with elegant and enduring charm. The concept behind ‘Common Room’ plays on the timber grade’s name while addressing a real need. As demand grows for flexible workspaces that balance productivity, community and privacy, Daniel’s project asks: can simple, adaptable pieces meet the needs of this new way of working?

The butterfly joint, traditionally sharp-edged in handcraft, has been given rounded corners to speed up production and highlight its machine-made nature. This soft triangular form defines the collection’s design language, uniting function with expression.

‘Kontur Series’

In her studio in Fjellhamar (Norway), furniture and homeware designer Anna Maria Øfstedal Eng is interested in how contrasts – raw and polished, curved and angular – can spark a dialogue within a design, enhancing its presence both visually and texturally.

Using characterful Yellow birch to reveal its visual impact when carved along the grain, Maria made sculptural the elements contrast with clean, light surfaces used for cabinet fronts, tabletops, seats and backrests.

AHEC is the leading international trade association for the US hardwood industry, representing the committed exporters among US hardwood companies and all the major US hardwood production trade associations.

It runs a worldwide programme to promote American hardwoods in over 50 export markets, concentrating on providing architects, specifiers, designers and end-users with technical information on the range of species, products and sources of supply. For more information, visit: www.americanhardwood.org.

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