nucleo submerges 200-year-old italian oak tree in block of jade stone

nucleo submerges 200-year-old italian oak tree in block of jade stone
all images courtesy of studio nucleo

created as an exclusive project for ammann gallery in cologne, germany, nucleo has formed ‘jade’ by fusing and experimenting with extraneous materials. throughout history, jade has been regarded as a precious and symbolic material stone. it has highlighted the jewelry of egyptian pharaohs, decorated the grave furnishings of china’s imperial family, and has served as weapons for the warriors of south american civilizations. used for elite purposes, the gem developed a long tradition of craftsmanship that is still evident in today’s society. taking note of the material’s previous uses, the design collective has formed a single block made of epoxy resin with a submerged organic material – a trunk cut from a 200-year-old italian oak tree – in the liquid polymer with pigment added. the reaction between the two parts of the mixture has developed floating bubbles and natural cracks that jaggedly travel throughout the cube as they surround the timber whose sectional rings are exposed on the top and bottom surfaces. the resulting hunk of verdant is raw and refined, as it collages nuances of green that vary in clarity and transparency to distort views into, across, and around its overall shape. the work suggests mineral deposits deep within the earth while still retaining a sense of high design.

‘jade’ 1 corner detail 

natural cracks are a result of the fusing process

the pigment creates zones of transparency and clarity

‘jade’ 2, 25.7x36x46cm

‘jade’ 2 corner detail

closeup of a bubble within the mixture

bottom corner of the cube

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.