Header: Studio Katrine
The Sondre chair, designed by Fjordmoods, is a unique-looking wooden chair that tries to balance ecological, social, and financial sustainability in its manufacturing process. Pieter Van Tulder‘s forward-thinking approach to sustainable furniture production has the ultimate goal of safely keeping a part of Earth’s resources, as we aren’t entitled to everything just for the sake of aesthetics.
The manufacturing process
Production of the Sondre is local and decentralised, relying solely on reclaimed wood sourced from nearby waste streams. This method allows Fjordmoods not to depend on companies that go through virgin resources to create their products while also minimising human impact on natural ecosystems. On the other hand, no toxins are added to the wood during the production process, so any treatment that the wood might need is made using natural methods.
Also, the Sondre has a great social impact in the locations where practice is held. As the manufacturing process relies on several processes to ensure the wood collected can be used to build the chairs, it creates many job positions that help the local communities both economically and psychologically, as they can find not only a job but a meaningful one at that.
The design
Each Sondre chair is unique, featuring an eclectic mix of lines, colours, and textures due to the varying characteristics of the reclaimed wood. Any necessary repairs are also seen as part of the design, so customers will never really know which chair they’ll get since no two pieces of wood are the same.
The Sondre chair demonstrates how sustainable design and ethical production practices can foster positive change, emphasising environmental conservation, social responsibility, and community empowerment. Not knowing what you’ll get when making an order can be seen as a deal-breaker by some, but we should find solace in knowing that even what some consider trash can also be used to create high-quality furniture pieces.
