The Exchange tables and chairs

Project Info

A true achievement of sustainable, skilful community-led design and production, these collapsible and stackable oak tables and chairs were made by local volunteers and staff at The Exchange Erith.

The tables and chairs were commissioned by and designed for the community-owned organisation The Exchange Erith, who occupy the beautiful old Carnegie Library in Erith. Used for workshops and events throughout the building, the furniture had to be able to be stored away.

As the items were to be made at The Exchange workshop by local people, the design consideration responded to the capability of the equipment and space to hand.

After an intensive four days of skill sharing, the wood workshop team went on to produce twenty-six tables and are now in the process of making over a hundred oak frame chairs with linen webbing seats.

This brilliant and brave approach addresses true sustainable practice: giving people the skills to make beautiful furniture using quality materials, and be able to fix it when broken.