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One grade, three designs

‘Around Table’
by Andu Masebo

London-based designer Andu Masebo is interested in the
things we make, the way we make them and the systems
that they become a part of once they are made.
He has turned his expertise in ceramics, metal fabrication
and carpentry to a number of high-profile projects, retaining
a focus on simplicity, accessibility and materiality.
For ‘No.1 Common’, Masebo has designed a dynamic
tablescape that transforms over the three days of the festival,
facilitating a series of events guided by the act of bringing

people together.
In most homes, the dining table is a hub for social
interaction. More than just a surface for utensils to rest
on, it provides a context for inviting people into spaces, a
place to gather around, somewhere for sharing stories and
making new ones.
This project imagines the table as a centre of gravity and

seeks to create moments that bring people towards it.
Made in No.1 Common red oak, the table comprises
eight curved segments that are reconfigured in various ways
furniture maker Benchmark to explore the potential of No.1C throughout the exhibition.
timber. As the surface evolves, it becomes a stage for objects
Benchmark conducted hands-on research as the first that invite connection—and a canvas for the traces left behind
stage of the project, assessing the technical, aesthetic and by each event.
practical possibilities of using this grade of timber in furniture. Made from No.1 Common brown maple, a set of semi-
The goal was not only to push technical boundaries but stackable stools echo the table’s design language, offering

also to explore the benefits of using No.1 Common in terms maximum adaptability and forming a cohesive family of pieces.
of labour efficiency and yield.
Following this initial phase, the AHEC team commissioned ‘Common Room’
three designers to develop pieces that highlight the beauty by Daniel Schofield
and potential of these sustainable No.1 Common timbers. Based in Copenhagen, British designer Daniel Schofield brings
Their focus is on showcasing both the aesthetic appeal a complementary set of skills from his background in graphic
and practical benefits of the material, creating designs that design and carpentry to his practice as a furniture designer.

reflect the qualities of Number 1 Common while contributing He looks for—and finds—beauty in simplicity, creating
to a more sustainable future. highly rational pieces with elegant and enduring charm.