Crafts and natural wood in furniture are gaining popularity

Crafts and natural wood are gaining popularity, especially among young designers and that is great! Many beautifully crafted new designs could be seen both - at the IMM Cologne  and at Maison et Objet:

Itamar Burstein's  Pentagon table and stools entire structure relies on five identical elements - which are up-side-down 'U' shapes - fitting into one another. Each component is made from solid wood and are assembled through dry interlocking. The table has a plateau with a cut-out in its centre that governs the geometry of assemblage in the manner.
source: designboom

'Flex' chair (detail) by Itamar Burstein, 2010 - a two toned wood chair highlights a new more efficient fabrication method where elements are glued vs steamed and bent. More at Itamar Burstein.  

Wood' chair by Richard Perron, 2010

 And something I like very much -  CuldeSac, a Spanish design agency, have created the Welding Wood furniture series. This is how they desceibe the process:

"We have brought back two different production techniques of traditional furniture making (lathe joined wood and steam bentwood) both came in a different period of time, and both are good examples of production technique innovations at that time.

We have combined them in a clear way to generate what we have defined as “Welding Wood.” Where two pieces connect, the section of the wood increases, and once this is done the wood is curved to achieve the structure and functionality.
The lathe work is no longer used just as an aesthetic provider, but it works more as a functionality provider, and that itself generates its own aesthetic.
The result is a sincere and transparent piece that possesses a formal, strong, robust, direct and very recognizable voice."

We have tried to provide new appreciation for antiquated production techniques. We have tried to create a skin in the object that allows us to establish an ancestral and close relationship."

I only wonder how strong the stool is, but no doubt the design is elegant and unique.

 source: designboom

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