'knock on wood' furniture series recombines organic lignin with cellulose found on trees

Basse Stittgen’s ‘Knock on Wood’ evokes the essence of trees

‘Knock on Wood’ by Basse Stittgen delves into the sustainable potential of lignin and cellulose, Earth’s most abundant organic polymers. While one is widely used in industries like paper and textiles, the other remains largely untapped. In fact, to date, lignin is mostly burned in thermal waste plants for the production of energy, with all the consequential negative emissions. This project reconnects cellulose and lignin, emphasizing their original bond in trees.

The project highlights the disconnection between industrial production and natural origins. By creating objects and furniture that evoke the essence of trees—the rough bark texture, the rings marking seasons—Stittgen aims to foster mindfulness and a tangible connection to nature.

all images courtesy of Basse Stittgen

fostering mindfulness and a tangible connection to nature

‘Knock on Wood’ explores the potential of lignin reconnected with cellulose through recombination and rematerialization processes. This union creates a plant-based polymer clay, offering an eco-friendly alternative to fossil-fuel-based materials. The cellulose fibers provide strength, while lignin acts as a binder, mimicking their natural roles in trees.

This design-research initiative by Studio Basse Stittgen underscores the environmental benefits and possibilities of sustainable material innovation, positioning lignin as a valuable resource in eco-conscious design.

armchair created from the remade wood material imitates the bark of a tree

‘Knock on Wood’ by Basse Stittgen explores the sustainable potential of lignin and cellulose

the project highlights the disconnection between industrial production and natural origins

‘Knock on Wood’ emphasizes the original bond between cellulose and lignin found in trees

table set with two chairs that intertwine like the roots of a mangrove forest

the project reconnects Earth’s most abundant organic polymers: lignin and cellulose

the union of lignin and cellulose creates a plant-based polymer clay

objects created evoke the essence of trees, such as rough bark texture and rings marking seasons

chunky side tables-stools stacked into a totem create an abstract tree trunk

project info:

name: Knock on Wood
designer: Basse Stittgen | @bassestittgen

designboom has received this project from our DIY submissions feature, where we welcome our readers to submit their own work for publication. see more project submissions from our readers here.

edited by: christina vergopoulou | designboom