The recent Kurunpa Kunpu collaboration, an exhibition of new furniture pieces realised in American maple, cherry and walnut, puts a spotlight on the resilience of First Nations People as well as the environmental impact of American hardwood species and their role in Australian design.
August 8th, 2023
Kurunpa Kunpu/Strong Spirit is a three-year cross-cultural design collaboration between Tanya Singer, Errol Evans and Trent Jansen for the American Hardwood Export Council (AHEC). The new furniture pieces were recently unveiled at the Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre as part of Melbourne Design Fair, with other showings at the Fremantle Arts Centre and Artbank Melbourne throughout May and July this year.
The project began when Tanya, Errol and Maruku Arts invited Trent to their homelands at Railway Bore in remote South Australia. The designers were able to create works that speak to the resilience of both First Nations People and ngura (Country) by connecting with their respective cultural practices and traditions. Engaging processes of Deep Listening to each other and Country, this collection celebrates the potential for inter-cultural collaboration to embody a variety of cultural values and lived experiences.
Kurunpa Kunpu is also, in part, a response to climate change experienced by the designers’ communities. Climate change threatens the lives of community members and the ecosystem and, in turn, connection to Country and culture. Utilising motifs of drying, cracked earth and protection, the design of this furniture collection, particularly the beautiful Kutiji and Manta Pilti chairs, communicates this complex narrative using American maple, cherry and walnut hardwood.
The use of American hardwood species offers not only a visual contrast between the drier and more temperate parts of the Australian landscape, but also the opportunity to provide scientific evidence of sustainability often lacking in claims of environmental responsibility.
A full environmental life cycle assessment (LCA) was undertaken of the five Kutiji and Manta Pilti chairs created for Kurunpa Kunpu—from the origin of the wood in the United States forest to the finished collection on display. The analysis of the collection’s environmental impact, including its role in global warming, is provided to highlight the importance of taking environmental considerations into account when selecting materials and in good design.
The carbon footprint of the 5 chairs is 61 kgCO2 equivalent. That’s about the same carbon as emitted in a single 408 km journey in the average Australian car. What may surprise many is that the American cherry, maple, and walnut used to create the chairs arrived on Australian shores carbon negative. This analysis applies despite this assessment accounting for a very long and tortuous transport route including over 1,100 km by truck from lumber processing location to the East Coast of the US, and shipment via Suez and Singapore to Brisbane, a total distance by container ship of 26,000 km.
These findings refute the common misconception that international transport is a major cause of the environmental impact of timber. The use of grid electricity during manufacturing and road transportation within Australia account for the majority of the carbon footprint. This data, alongside other factors such as replacement rates and carbon sequestration, underline the need to carefully reevaluate the assumptions that exist surrounding environmentally responsible design.
Following international carbon footprint and LCA standards, AHEC has been gathering data on the environmental impact of American hardwood since 2010. According to the data gathered, extracting and converting American hardwood for use in a wide variety of applications requires considerably less energy than most other materials.
Additionally, it was found that the carbon stored in American hardwood at the point of delivery to any country in the world almost always exceeds the carbon emissions associated with extraction, processing and transport.
For more information on the Kurunpa Kunpu/Strong Spirit collection, visit the AHEC website here.
A searchable and comprehensive guide for specifying leading products and their suppliers
Keep up to date with the latest and greatest from our industry BFF's!
Explore the captivating realm of molo, the world-renowned design studio led by Stephanie Forsythe and Todd MacAllen. molo’s acclaimed soft collection celebrates a unique fusion of art, design, and architecture and – crucially – sustainability.
Didier studio celebrates the harmony of democratic design and understated utility with the Gunzel seating and table collection.
Lizzy Stageman blends ancestral wisdom with artistry to reveal grand life stories in her contemporary Aboriginal designs. ‘Finding My Place’ transforms her original art into captivating commercial textiles, wall coverings & acoustic art.
Design that speaks many languages is to be treasured and enjoyed. Trent Jansen tells a story of design collaborations and connections through his work on Country with friends and artists who bring the perspective of First Nations people to the fore.
Designer Ross Gardam recently teamed up with Stylecraft to present a series of events that focused on select Ross Gardam designs and new releases, all available at Stylecraft.
Barry Jenkins has created the Venue Tables range based on principles of modularity, simplicity and sustainability – and they’re available exclusively through TCW in Australia.
Australian artist Marion Borgelt’s work can be found in some of Australia’s most notable commercial buildings – from 123 Pitt Street, Sydney, to Tower One, Barangaroo and Perth’s Crown Towers. Gillian Serisier steps us through her latest exhibition of work.
The internet never sleeps! Here's the stuff you might have missed
As the corporate landscape continues to evolve, a recent study by renowned design firm Hassell sheds light on the significant impact of office transformations on employee satisfaction.
Whether workplace, education, healthcare or judiciary, wherever privacy for meetings or consultation is required Framery meets the need.