The Beautiful Holes in This Raw Wood Furniture Comes Courtesy of Worms
What a waste. Some furniture makers recoil when they cut open a raw wood board to discover its insides have been chewed up by invading insects. Others, however, see this as a unique opportunity to turn natural flaws into found treasures.
Riva 1920 has featured fascinating recycling projects like those pictured here, in which weathered and worn materials were transformed into modern and appealing home objects. The timber, in this case, was salvaged from its watery grave (inspired by Venice – a place where water meets land) and turned into a series of creative tables. Though they resemble damage from bugs on land, they were actually made by bivalve mollusks known as shipworms.
Minimal steel is used to create structural joints and bridge material intersections, while glass is employed to make the wood visible from all angles.
In some items, the larvae-carved holes that wind into the wooden supports are turned outward for maximum visibility.
Resulting round and square side and coffee tables, stools and other accessories would look right at home as accents in anything from an ultramodern condo to a converted industrial loft space.
Some of these pieces are simple and practical, but others feature a wooden core that goes beyond structural necessity. While this is an interesting choice, it feels less effective than the works in which the wood plays both an aesthetic and functional role.
About Riva 1920
“Let’s imagine a planet where creativity, design and innovation can reshape society for the better, with the aim of preserving an intact living environment for future generations. Our strong commitment is dedicated to improving the quality of living spaces through the strength of craftsmanship, technology and made in Italy.”
“A heart made of wood beats in the chest of the company. Each element is subjected to detailed quality and functional conformity checks to which is added the use of vinyl adhesives and oil and vegetable wax finishes, guaranteeing an authentic and completely natural product. Riva 1920 also pays particular attention to the packaging phase of its products, using only cardboard packaging with FSC Forest Stewardship Council certification, made with the use of cellulose from forests managed according to the criteria of sustainable forest management.”