Working in collaboration with AHEC, Benchmark created a new collection of wooden office furniture
The new workspace collection by Benchmark includes wooden furniture designs created in collaboration with AHEC. Pictured here is the Victoria modular workbench in American red oak
Benchmark presents a new series of furniture for the office, expanding its Victoria office desk into a fully-fledged collection in solid wood. Presented during Clerkenwell Design Week 2022 at St James’ Crypt (24-26 May 2022), the exhibition also marks the official launch of Pascal Hien’s Migo stool, originally unveiled as part of Wallpaper and AHEC’s Discovered initiative in 2021.
The Victoria collection was born as a response to three key challenges facing contemporary furniture makers: changing workspaces, an urgent need for sustainable and carbon-efficient furniture manufacturing, and a critical breakdown in hardwood supply across Europe. Made of solid timber, the collection comprises a modular workbench system, a folding meeting table, a sit-stand desk (also a great option if you’re looking for home office desks), a credenza, planter and end-of-desk storage, all conceived by Benchmark’s team with a modern, dynamic workspace in mind.
In particular, the use of natural materials is a rarity in office furniture, and the team have created the Victoria collection with the aim of connecting with nature and improving mood and wellbeing of users.
Benchmark worked closely with long-term collaborator AHEC, to create the collection from American red oak, a sustainable, renewable timber that makes up roughly 40% of North America’s hardwood forests yet is largely underused; its use in furniture manufacturing actively benefits biodiversity. Additionally, Benchmark also employed British ash, another historically undervalued timber. The collection’s furniture is made from trees felled due to ash-dieback, whose wood can still be used for manufacturing thus unlocking the trees’ carbon storage potential.
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Says Benchmark co-founder, Sean Sutcliffe: ‘underpinning rational and flexible designs, the hallmark Benchmark craftsmanship and the beautiful solid American oak and British ash, is a story about carbon capture, about the quality of the air we breathe, about nature and biodiversity and about the health and wellbeing of those that use our furniture.’ §
Detail of the Victoria modular workbench in American red oak
The Victoria collection is on view from 24 to 26 May 2022, at the British collection benchmarkfurniture.com
St James Crypt Clerkenwell Close London EC1R 0EA
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