Furniture Collection Crafted from Aluminum Crusts | One Side Sawn

FDT Bureau

Dutch design firm Studio ThusThat has innovated a collection of furniture and homeware crafted from a single sheet of aluminium crust – a byproduct of the metal smelting process. Named One Side Sawn, this collection comprises flat-pack tables, shelves, cabinets, mirrors and desk accessories, all hewn from a material typically discarded during aluminium block formation. Know more about it on FURNITURE DESIGN AND TECHNOLOGY (FDT).

Before the aluminium is processed into products or packaging, the rough exterior of the blocks is sawn off, creating sheets known as crusts. Studio ThusThat intercepted and repurposed one such sheet, known as six-sides sawn plates, sawed off from all sides of the aluminium block. The design team meticulously mapped the cutting pattern to minimize waste, resulting in each piece being made from the offcuts of the previous ones. This approach not only minimizes waste but also offers a unique aesthetic that celebrates the material’s origins.

Rather than smoothing out saw marks and uneven surfaces, these features are embraced, adding character and showcasing the material’s industrial roots. The collection, currently exhibited at Tools Galerie in Paris, underscores the studio’s commitment to sustainability and innovation, with plans to make the cust material available for architectural and interior projects.

Image credit: Studio ThusThat at Hydro Aluminium's Drunen plant