The Burnt Cork Furniture Collection

A celebration of the resilience and beauty of Portuguese cork.

More often than not, sustainable design draws inspiration from nature. The Burnt Cork furniture series is no exception. Created by French designer Noé Duchaufour-Lawrance and produced through his own Portugal-based studio Made in Situ, this collection celebrates the beauty of Portuguese landscapes, renowned cork forests, and the resilience of the natural material. The spark that ignited the idea for the cork furniture range came to the designer while driving through the Pedrógão Grande mountain region during the forest fires of 2017. A year later, he visited a traditional cork manufacturing company where he discovered various cork processing techniques as well as one intriguing waste material: burnt cork.

After two years of research and development, the designer created a limited-edition series of furniture. The collection celebrates both the resilience and the beauty of the natural material. Crafted using a blend of traditional and modern techniques, Burnt Cork features sculptural, organic forms with curved lines. The designer used discarded cork for the range, choosing different gradients and cork grain patterns to create a play between textures. This is Made in Situ’s second collection; it comprises a dining table, two low tables, lounge chair, dining chair, chaise longue, and a stool. Each product features a base with a bark-like texture that then transforms into a fine grain surface at the top. While the chairs boast ergonomic silhouettes that enhance comfort, the tables feature architectural elements. However, every design elegantly highlights the dichotomy of the rough and fine cork textures. Photographs© Nuno Sousa Dias.