Building Enzo Mari furniture
We’re thrilled to be collaborating with Offerman Woodshop (OWS) and Angel City Lumber (ACL) on a custom furniture commission. The collaborative trio couldn’t be a better fit:
- ACL, who generously hosts our workshops, are providing us with Ponderosa Pine locally salvaged from a Burbank City tree.
- OWS is milling and machining the timbers into furniture parts.
- Would Works artisans will then sand, finish, and assemble twelve chairs and two tables.
We are honored to be building furniture from Autoprogettazione, the book of open-source designs by Italian furniture maker Enzo Mari.
The Autoprogrettazione manual was created in 1974 as a design guide to a collection of furniture that could be assembled from the most basic materials, using just a hammer and nails.
This collaboration has been inspired by the work of another non-profit social enterprise in Berlin called The Refugees Company for Crafts & Design (CUCULA) which has been using the Autoprogrettazione manual to empower and employ refugees in furniture design and fabrication. Read more about their amazing program here.
Five refugees from the CUCULA programme with their limited-edition versions of the furniture. Photo source
Are you interested in commissioning custom pieces from Would-Works and our partnering woodshops? Check out our custom commission page.
Also in News
Sarah Watlington Spotlights Community Builders Program in Fine Woodworking Magazine
As we dive into a new year, it's inspiring to see our work with Angel City Lumber gaining recognition. Sarah Watlington recently penned a piece in Fine Woodworking, shining a spotlight on our collaboration and the impact it's having on our community.
Would Works to Receive $10,000 Grant from the National Endowment for the Arts
A Look Into Our Transformative 2023
Winding down this year, we express deep gratitude for your support and engagement with Would Works. 2023 began expansively: WW Community Builders Program Artisans and our team took a field trip to the snow-covered Angeles National Forest in the San Gabriel Mountains north of the city. Shirley is the Artisan Lead at Would Works and was born and raised in LA. She’s now in her mid-60’s, yet she’s never been up to the Angeles Forest. Our city is surrounded by abundant landscapes, but many residents who face barriers to employment also lack access to experiences in nature. This forest visit reflects the growth trajectory of Would Works, which we illuminate here.
