David Laird, Coopered Library Steps (FURNITURE 2025)

Photos:

David Laird

Country

New Zealand

The coopered library steps have been made from an end-of-life wind thrown 140-year-old English Elm tree sourced locally from Hororata, New Zealand. Sustainability is central to all aspect of the design which has been inspired by Wharton Esherick and is designed to show form with function. I have seasoned the timber by air drying and finishing off in a solar kiln. The cone is formed with 16 beveled and tapered segments laminated together. The cone has been angled to plumb on one face to allow the steps to be pushed up close to the shelving. The angle of the cone allows for the support and counterbalance of the three steps that spiral around the cone. The steps are rebated through the cone internally and fixed on the far side with tapered mortice and tenon joints to support the cone internally. The central handle provides a third point of contact for safety and is fixed to the top of the cone using a dovetail joint that locks it in place. The steps are finished using the Sam Maloof mix of 1/3 tung oils, 1/3 boiled linseed oil and 1/3 bee's wax which contains no VOC's. The finished item has a fixed in biogenic carbon content of 49.3 kg CO2 and is carbon negative.

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