Designed and built by FleaFollyArchitects, HakFolly is a reference to the monastic past of London’s St John’s Gate. The concept arose when FleaFollyArchitects visited Hakwood’s factory in the Netherlands where FleaFollyArchitects took inspiration from the quantity and repetition of the stacked wood found in and around the factory. The practice managed to turn this inspiration into a vision with a sophisticated installation of stacked timber that received a vast amount of attention at this year’s Clerkenwell Design Week (CDW).
Beauty, strength and durability
William Knight, CDW’s Show Director, introduced FleaFollyArchitects to Hakwood. Whilst visiting Hakwood’s factory, the architects noticed that during all stages of the timber floor fabrication the wood was stacked, creating unusual tiered structures that in themselves were quite beautiful but never seen by the public. FleaFollyArchitects relished the idea of not solely using Hakwood’s finished plank products, but including additional timber elements used during the fabrication process of the boards. FleaFollyArchitects therefore presented the viewer with not only a glimpse of the finished product, but an abstract sense of Hakwood’s manufacturing and stacking process. The entire structure is made through stacked timber which illustrates the beauty, strength, durability and inherent quality of the timber boards by utilising them in a way which creates not a floor, but a space and a piece of architecture.
Sitting at 4.5m high, this ‘temple of timber’ came about after months of careful planning and tight time restrictions for on site work – the structure itself took two days to install.
The installation was created using Hakwood’s Duoplank flooring, with a bespoke finish – HV1358, a custom pink to match CDW’s signature magenta colour. The combination of these products were fundamental for the installation due to FleaFollyArchitects’ vision.
“Hakwood were keen for this installation not to be a promotion for their products, but an opportunity to show both the company and product in a different and eye-catching light. Through a close collaboration between Hakwood and FleaFollyArchitects, we have used our experience in crafting narratives to create a complex and exciting spatial experience which takes Hakwood’s high-quality products beyond their typical use,” commented Thomas Hillier, of FleaFollyArchitects.
Marketing Director of Hakwood, Holly Hak, added: “This was a great opportunity to collaborate with FleaFollyArchitects and participate at Clerkenwell Design Week. The installation appealed to a diverse range of visitors, from all ages of the general public, to students, interior designers and architects. We had great feedback about the HakFolly installation and we commend FleaFollyArchitects for their vision and execution.”
The installation responded directly to the archway at St John’s Gate, while maintaining the stacked narrative. The architects were inspired by the monastic atmosphere and the rich historic culture which surrounded the archway. Their ambition was to create a tranquil and peaceful moment within the festival, as a parallel response to the serene ambience the historic archway creates within the hustle and bustle of Clerkenwell. The clever black and white engraving created by FleaFollyArchitects to represent the installation further, supported the link to St John’s Gate’s long history.
The design process
The material started with wood and FleaFollyArchitects had to figure out how it could use this material to design the installation. HakFolly was their answer to this design challenge. FleaFollyArchitects was fond of the natural and sustainable look, feel and even smell of the installation. The stability of the material made it successful in an exterior setting.
Materials
A big benefit to the limited mechanical fasteners used in the stack is that the material can be recycled into a new project. Hakwood sought an opportunity to donate the material and happily found a collaboration with Bath Spa University’s design department. These students will use the material for an interesting design project in October.
Natural materials always bring something authentic and timeless to a design. One benefit of European oak is that it is very receptive to colour and texture treatments and techniques. This allows European oak to keep its natural appeal while having the flexibility to fit each project’s unique style.
Hakwood will be exhibiting at the 100% Design Show in September. During this show it will launch a new and exciting product.