JULY is a wooden stool inspired by the beauty of imperfection. Like a bundle of logs, it is formed from three individual slices, each differing in size, grain, color, and surface angle, which unite to form a single cohesive piece.
Each stool has its own character. In multiples, they become something sculptural, a gathering of individuals that work together.
I visited their workshop in the Finnish woods; the kindness of the people and the care in their making stayed with me.
Nikari's yard under snow, Fiskars, Finland. Where the wood waits.
Preliminary sketch—circles bundled like logs.
JULY was designed for PROJECT 2012 DESIGNS FOR NATURE, a collaboration between Nikari and twelve designers, one for each month of the year. A portion of each sale supports forest conservation through WWF Finland. Mine was July.
PROJECT PROJECT 2012 DESIGNS FOR NATURE
PROJECT DESIGNERS:
JANUARY | HARRI KOSKINEN
FEBRUARY | THOMAS SANDELL
MARCH | MARTÍ GUIXÉ
APRIL | ALFREDO HÄBERLI
MAY | SIMO HEIKKILÄ
JUNE | MIKKO PAAKKANEN
JULY | NAO TAMURA
AUGUST | AAMU SONG | JOHAN OLIN
SEPTEMBER | MIKHAIL BARASHKOV
OCTOBER | SAMULI NAAMANKA
NOVEMBER | LOUISE CAMPBELL
DECEMBER | JASPER MORRISON | WATARU KUMANO
Where the three meet: each top cut at its own angle, joined without hiding the seam.
First tops in the workshop—three discs, finding their overlap.
Winter at the sawmill: boards stacked to dry in the open air. The snow does part of the work.
