-
The Cooper Bench : Made from reclaimed French oak wine barrels, it was built for the G20 Summit in Rio de Janeiro. -
The Hexagonal Stool in stone pine : Push a few together to make a coffee table, or split them up for extra seating. -
The designer, Cameron Barnes
PHOTOS Kent Lingeveldt, Don Bayley, Nic Grobler WORDS Malibongwe Tyilo
The second of our Fresh Talent profiles celebrating Youth Day on 16 June is furniture designer Cameron Barnes, for whom each step is considered, from tree to table and beyond. He uses no glue or nails, and the pieces can easily be taken apart and repaired or redesigned. Best bit? When you’re “so over it”, Cameron will buy his pieces back from you! We caught up with the environmental architecture Masters graduate for a quick chat on all things green.
Although slower than machine work, you work mostly by hand – why?
My motivation is partly environmental, but I’m also strongly influenced by a worldwide revival of traditional joinery techniques – using hand planes, chisels, files and scrapers to smooth and level the timber as each piece takes shape – as a way of moving away from mass-production.
Why do you use no imported or indigenous species, and no plywood?
Locally sourced timber from invasive alien species cuts down on the transport energy and cost of moving it around the world, not to mention saving indigenous forests. As for plywood, after years of researching the glues and methods used to make most composite woods, while working in “green” architecture, I discovered that some of the resins and adhesives continue to release gases into the air throughout their lifespans.
Career highlights thus far?
Last year a bench of mine went for R40 000 at an international charity auction. Surreal. Another highlight was designing and building furniture for Woolworths to use in their cafés at Design Indaba. To see that many people use something you’ve made is very gratifying.
Celebrate Youth Month with us and browse more of our Fresh Talent profiles here.
