maximo riera manufactures the millennial console collection from ancient trees

maximo riera manufactures the millennial console collection
all images courtesy of maximo riera

reusing debris of millenarian olive tree wood, spanish artist maximo riera has up-cycled them into the ‘millennial console collection’. the found pieces came from the south of spain in an area well known for its tradition in olive oil production. the process for developing the objects is extremely time-consuming, as they are manufactured from heavy trees that are sourced as a whole, including the trunk and roots. having already been dead for several years and filled with a lot of sap internally, they need to be cleaned out and left to dry for up to 12 months. removing the bark to leave a partially smooth surface, the ancient wood is then treated and polished to reveal its natural grain. the result offers an individual component that is then adjusted onto a custom-made metallic structure.

‘the wood is divided in sections with the idea of bringing the sterile material back to life, presenting its essence in a new form but at the same time, respecting its immutable soul’, says maximo riera.

the treated wooden pieces are placed on top of a metallic structure

each console offers a different shape

the character of the original pieces of wood is still clearly visible

wood details

the process for manufacturing the wooden pieces is extensive

image showing the contrast between the two materials on console 5

the natural grain of the wood is still clearly visible

the two components were designed to compliment each other

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.