Repurposing Ancient Trees

Have you ever noticed that some of the most spectacular, exotic things are also some of the simplest? South African-born, London-based designer Adrian Swinstead crafts visually stunning pieces that are primarily constructed using ancient trees after their lives have ended naturally.

Adrian once found a stand of uprooted yew trees in the English countryside after a great storm. Noticing their beauty, he transported them to his shop and added them to the rest of his collection to season — a process which can take three to four (3-4) years.

In a recent interview with The London Word, Swinstead explained his reasoning for using wood and what he looks for in seasoned timber. ”It can be, and do, so many things, which is why it has been used since man began to stand upright. I search for fallen trees and look for the unusual; signs of rippling, spalting, or textural beauty which I know will tell a story later on, once I start to work in my studio.”

The work is not over-processed or manipulated, letting the natural beauty of the material shine through. In fact, Adrian often chooses to pair the wood with thick pieces of glass, helping to further highlight the elegance and detail crafted by nature as the wood appears to be suspended and floating in air.

Indeed, his work is an art form, and was recognized as such when London’s Gallery in Redchurch Street opened an exhibit of his contributions to the world of design in November 2010.

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MeCC Interiors is an award winning full service design studio specializing in residential design, commercial redesign, and project management. Have your spaces custom designed from the ground up or simply dressed and accessorized – no job is too big or too small.

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