Seniman Ruang Creates "Honestree" with Sustainable Concept

The environmental conditions on earth at this time are quite concerning, especially the existence of global warming caused by human activities. One example of a solution that can reduce the impact of global warming is to apply the concept of sustainability to buildings. That way, people can realize the importance of choosing materials in designing environmentally responsible building interiors. Material manufacturers must communicate the importance and benefits of selecting a given material with real-world application examples to support the concept. Honestree, a wood products showroom, was designed by Seniman Ruang as a semi-educational gallery to communicate the value and quality of the company's sustainable products to its customers.

Facade of Honestree, photo by Mario WIbowo

"In a circle of life, what is given by nature shall return to nature," said Seniman Ruang. The building is designed by applying sustainable natural materials to its interior design. Various types of wood with different capabilities, joints, and finishes are presented both as interactive objects and as a real application of interior elements to educate the public. When visitors enter the room, an installation in the center inspired by the mother tree takes center stage.

The Interior Design of Honestree, photo by Mario Wibowo

This mother tree features samples from various wood species and is made of swirling layers of plywood. This transformation of shapes begins with the idea of a tree blooming upwards and is simplified by the shape of circular layers made of plywood resembling tree branches. At the top end of the tree, a round membrane with indirect light was designed by ErreLuce as a gap for sunlight to enter the room. The ceiling above the mother tree is shaped like a dome with a diameter of 6 meters from plywood material, giving a magnificent impression.

Dome Ceiling for Sunlight to Enter the Room, photo by Mario Wibowo

The Shape Transformation of Mother Tree, courtesy of Seniman Ruang

This mother tree and dome is a parametric bench inspired by the organic shape of the earth's topography. Visitors can sit in this area and experience sitting under a large shady tree. Using the same material, this parametric bench is transformed from a circular bench shape to a more dynamic shape with a repetitive pattern. This furniture must be manufactured with proper calculation and workmanship to produce a functional and meaningful form.

Parametric Bench, photo by Mario WIbowo

The Shape Transformation of Parametric Bench, courtesy of Seniman Ruang

Around the tree is an area for plywood display. Each layer of the large slab screen uses two sliding passes for easy movement and appears hanging on the wall with linear lighting. The plug-in-and-off-rack system allows changes to the grid display racks to accommodate various product sizes through plywood tongue and groove joints. Each plywood display has different motifs, such as dots, grids, and others.

Display Partition with Tongue and Groove Plywood Joinery, photo by Mario WIbowo

Adjustable Display System with Interesting Wood Joints, photo by Helen Agustine

Another sustainable principle the Seniman Ruang applies is "waste management", namely all plywood construction waste can be recycled into wood terrazzo flooring materials that can be resold. The results of this flooring product have a unique motif and are rarely found because of plywood pieces of various sizes with different colors. Some other recycled wood products are also displayed on the hanging sliding track. This plywood waste is arranged with various motifs such as woven, zigzag, shingles, and linear. The results of experiments by this designer were carried out to achieve a zero-waste design.

Timber Terazzo Flooring Material, photo by Mario WIbowo

Recycle Products from Plywood Material, photo by Helen Agustine

This 39-square-meter showroom forms a radial circulation centered on the mother tree and surrounded by plywood products. The interior design designed by Seniman Ruang seeks to break people's perception of wood as a rigid material into a material that can produce round spaces and organic details.

Radial Sirculation of Honestree, photo by Mario WIbowo