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MASTER AND APPRENTICE: AHEC AT

CLERKENWELL DESIGN WEEK

Foster & Partners Industrial Design and Benchmark debut ‘in-between’ furniture system in red
oak and Kingston students take the cherry design challenge

demonstrate the potential role that often-overlooked materials
might play in ensuring a sustainable future for the industry
and make the case for looking beyond conventional timber
varieties when it comes to making beautiful, functional and
high-quality design.

ILE – modular furniture for the spaces in between
ILE by Foster + Partners Industrial Design and Benchmark
is a flexible family of timber furniture comprising a range
of interlocking elements. The collection was conceived to
maximise the use of underutilised spaces in the workplace –
the ‘in-between areas’ that can often be wasted or inefficient.
edicated to championing the sustainable use of timber ILE comprises benches, tables, lockers, shelves and planters,

in design and architecture, the American Hardwood which can be connected via an innovative timber fixing strip
DExport Council (AHEC) has a track record not only both back-to-back and side to side, optimising office space
of collaborating with the leading lights of the creative sector, and facilitating different modes of working.
but also of working with the emerging generation to explore The system is designed to accommodate lighting rails
the possibilities of underused woods. For Clerkenwell Design and power displays – as well as accessories such as shelves
Week in May AHEC achieved both. and book ends – at any position on the worktop. With most
Two events demonstrated the creative and practical offices undergoing 10 fitouts in an average 60-year lifespan,
properties of two hardwood varieties that are rarely used this level of adaptability – coupled with the inherent durability
in conventional design production: American red oak and of the hardwood – helps extend the longevity of the furniture.

low-grade cherry.
The first, a major collaboration with one of the UK’s most “Our ambition was to create a highly flexible, solid
prestigious design studios – Foster + Partners Industrial Design timber system that can be easily reconfigured – while
– and one of its leading craft furniture makers – Benchmark simultaneously embodying the high level of craft and
– on the new ILE modular workspace system. The second, quality that Benchmark is known for.”
a showcase of creative experimentation from the country’s - Mike Holland, Head of Industrial Design, Foster + Partners
future design talent – the students from Kingston University’s

Product and Furniture Design course. ILE makes use of two solid timbers—American red oak
Although very different in outcome, both projects and British ash—both of which are practical, affordable,