Pine Collection by Samuel Reis

Portuguese designer and recent ESAD graduate Samuel Reis has managed to combine the seemingly opposing worlds of the natural and man-made into beautiful and functional forms in his “Pine” furniture collection. Not only does Reis draw his material from mother nature, but his forms as well; the collection consists of a table and a stool, each built from a tree trunk as the foundational structure. The natural curves are both aesthetically pleasing and cleverly handled, as Reis took advantage of the wood’s fiber orientation to strengthen his works and expedite the creation process. This particular aspect of the design also makes each individual stool or table a completely unique product, as no two trees grow in exactly the same way. Despite this effortless incorporation of the tree trunk into the final product, the use of pine needles to may be the highlight of Reis’ elegant design. The surface of the stool and table is made of a mass of pine needles that are joined with resin and compressed into a solid block. While they normally exist in abundance on the forest floor, he has elevated their status through their permanence and function in his works. See more of his work here.