New wood-block furniture by Raw-Edges has colour coursing through its grain

Furniture constructed with blocks of wood that are coloured from within.

'Endgrain', an exhibition by Yael Mer and Shay Alkalay of the design studio Raw-Edges, features furniture constructed with blocks of wood that are coloured from within.

(Image credit: Max Creasy)

By Rosa Bertoli

last updated 7 August 2022

In their latest furniture-design effort, Yael Mer and Shay Alkalay of design studio Raw-Edges continue their examination of colour's potential, taking their ongoing research to a new level.

The studio now presents 'Endgrain', which explores natural wood patterns through vibrant hues. 'Endgrain' launched at the Brussels design gallery Senne, on the occasion of the city's design week.

The inspiration for the collection comes from nature itself. The designers used their understanding of how water and nutrients travel through the woodgrain to feed a tree to imagine how colour would affect the grain of the wood. They stained the wood by adding different pigments to the grain from the inside out, 'just like those fake blue roses', they explain.

'Endgrain' is essentially a materials project: the duo used coloured timber blocks as a starting point, which became the building blocks for a larger design collection. They created benches, tables, stools and shelves by combining blocks of different colours and shapes. The new visual language merges a strong graphic sensibility with more random elements that appear when the wood is cutting and sculpted into shape.

The designers' playful approach comes through in the wild colours, which emerge from the otherwise simple forms. The collection sets a new bar for experimentation with colour and form, so we're curious to see where the pair take us next.

The designers soaked the wood in colour and glued the timbers to one another in vivid patterns.

Wood-block furniture. The three-dimensional shapes distort the graphic patterns in unexpected ways. — The three-dimensional shapes distort the graphic patterns in unexpected ways.

Wood-block coloured table — The designers likened their process to staining roses that unusual blue hue.

Wood-block furniture with coloured timber blocks — The duo used coloured timber blocks as a starting point. They became the building blocks for a larger collection of tables, seating and accessories.

The building blocks of the wood-block furniture collection. — The building blocks of the collection.

Wood-block table made with stained wooden blocks — The designers' playful approach comes through in their choice of wild colours, which emerge from otherwise simple forms.

The edge of a wood-block table — The new visual language merges a strong graphic sensibility with more random elements that appear when the wood is cut and sculpted into shape.

ADDRESS

Senne
19 rue de la Senne
Brussels

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Rosa Bertoli was born in Udine, Italy, and now lives in London. Since 2014, she has been the Design Editor of Wallpaper*, where she oversees design content for the print and online editions, as well as special editorial projects. Through her role at Wallpaper*, she has written extensively about all areas of design. Rosa has been speaker and moderator for various design talks and conferences including London Craft Week, Maison & Objet, The Italian Cultural Institute (London), Clippings, Zaha Hadid Design, Kartell and Frieze Art Fair. Rosa has been on judging panels for the Chart Architecture Award, the Dutch Design Awards and the DesignGuild Marks. She has written for numerous English and Italian language publications, and worked as a content and communication consultant for fashion and design brands.