Furniture For The Architecture Workshop Made From Reclaimed Oak

Last Sunday, we spent the day crafting pieces of furniture from solid oak cabinets that someone in Birmingham was disposing of and found on Facebook Marketplace. True to form, the solid oak cabinet was challenging to dismantle into sheet forms due to its sturdy scarf and comb joints, reinforced with large first-fix nails.

By glueing some pieces together, we were able to create sheets that we then shaped accordingly to form the required pieces. Once routed and oiled with Osmo oil, the old varnish marks and oak grain came to life.

Although this was primarily for fun, it highlights an important point. In his book "Humanise," designer Thomas Heatherwick discusses the importance of architects as practitioners making things with their hands. Most architects may not have the opportunity to undertake a self-build.

Nevertheless, this wood was free—it cost us nothing except our time—and as a result, we have pieces of furniture for the architecture workshop.

The whole process was a valuable lesson in quality. While I appreciate IKEA and how they make contemporary furniture affordable and accessible, there was a stark difference in build quality between this oak cabinet, which we struggled to disassemble, and an IKEA cabinet, which, if you've ever had to move, you know is at risk of falling apart during the move.

It’s safe to say these new coffee and side tables are here to stay.