Cast Aluminum Furniture by Hilla Shamia

This series of furniture that combines cast aluminum and wood is by Israel based product designer Hilla Shamia. Inspired by the imperfections created by burnt wood, these pieces are made from a whole tree trunk that allows for preservation of the natural form and maintaining distinct boundaries during the casting process. The square shape allows for a sense of artificiality while retaining the memory of the material, molten aluminum is poured directly onto the wooden surface which burns the exterior, and then the plank is cut lengthwise and inserted with a frame that defines its final structure. The furniture pieces have a dark border between the hot metal and wood, the incompleteness and randomness contributes to no two pieces being alike.