British designer, Sir Terence Conran, commissioned Sebastian Cox to create a workspace for his office, part of the European Wish List design challenge sponsored by the American Hardwood Export Council.
The purpose of the Wish List project is to familiarize next generation furniture designers in Europe with the beauty and potential of American hardwood, and to increase export sales. A series of projects initiated by high profile designers from around the world were included. Each of those designers commissioned a next generation
Sebastian Cox, a designer and craftsman dedicated to proving that sustainable design does not have to result in a compromised product, established the his workshop to design and make
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| American Cherry for a Perfect Stool |
Making Hollow Wood Vessels on a CNC |
fine objects from sustainable hardwoods, like coppiced hazel, often overlooked by other designers and makers.
Today, with the help of his team he uses his devotion to wood, curiosity, inventiveness, award-winning designs and exquisite craftsmanship to make beautiful, useful and completely sustainable objects.
"People should be able to choose a sustainable way of furnishing their home without compromising aesthetically," Cox says. "At the heart of every exquisite piece of Sebastian Cox design is a deep connection to the material, where it came from and how it was grown."
Cox says his designs do not adhere to fashion or fads; they are inspired by the beauty of wood and as such involve a precise, contemporary take on traditional skills and ancient crafts.
"My work has always revolved around making lesser-used timbers more appealing through good design. Timber can’t respond to trends, it takes 150 years to grow, so we need to make sure we have a broad appreciation of all timber species, and not just focus on walnut or white oak which are currently in vogue," he says.
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