Skip to main content

The Ash A356.0 series of stools and side tables.

The Ash A356.0 series of stools and side tables, by Toronto's experimental Stacklab studio, is absurdly cute. The collection looks a bit like giant onions or mushrooms, but stylized, as though each were ripped from a charmingly illustrated children's book.

But the pieces' sweet, innocent appearance belies a near ruthless efficiency on the part of the designers. Almost nothing is wasted in the chairs' creation, which is, in fact, made from over 90-per cent repurposed materials.

The bases are routed from the logs of ash trees that have been damaged by the emerald ash borer beetle. Any leftover sawdust is plastered together into a mould for the top, which is cast from recycled aluminum (including hundreds of old cans donated by Steam Whistle Brewing). As the molten metal is poured into the mould, the sawdust singes away, leaving a rippled, mottled texture on the aluminum as a reminder of the unique creation process.

By custom order. Price upon request. Through stacklab.ca.

Interact with The Globe