Our next Formlab project is the biggest project we’ve ever undertaken. The table was hewn from 3.5” thick slabs, milled from a 150 year old oak tree in Altadena. The wood was so unyielding, it was like working with stone. Each quarter of the table is a single plank from the same tree, roughly book-matched in two directions. The table top alone weighs approximately 800 to 900 pounds, making working with the table a challenge. Check out our in-progress photos.
Formlab's Elliptical Stair Takes Shape
Formlab’s elliptical staircase project utilizes the architectural and engineering modeling and drafting skill of the PECK Architectural and Structural team. The elliptical staircase will be in the entry hall of one of PECK’s architectural projects in Benedict Canyon. Check out our in-progress photos.
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Handcrafted Table by Bill Stranger
Bill Stranger of Stranger Furniture has created a unique coffee table (14” high x 28” wide x 52” long). The table was created from old-growth Douglas fir reclaimed from the famous Huntington Hotel Picture Bridge. The Bridge, which is now part of the Langham Hotel, was recently restored. At the behest of Pasadena Heritage, Formlab approached Bill about repurposing the wood. The first piece resulting from this effort will be part of a silent auction.
Chris worked with Bill to refine the design of his “Light Gets In “ table to tailor it to the nature of this old growth fir and retain evidence of its history. The table top holes are leftover from where the bolt holes were in the bridge.
Chasing the Nature of Wood: Diane's Ying Yang Table
After air drying this South Pasadena Oak street tree for two years, we selected it as the material used in making Diane’s commissioned table. After it fell, we called in the mobile band saw, sliced it into planks on the edge of Grand Avenue, and took it to my favorite storage place, otherwise known as…my driveway. See the finished table under our projects page.
Behind the scenes
Photographer, Dunja Dumanski, going to great lengths to get terrific shots of our finished tables while Chris and Phillip review images.
Lumber milling process
Urban Lumber represents a huge opportunity since the materials available through normal tree-falls and tree removals can be valuable. We have been successful in gathering local oak, pine, eucalyptus, and other species, milling the wood, and using it in furniture production. The Urban Ecology Project would be involved on a local and potentially a regional level, in forging relationships with tree cutting companies, arborists, developers, cities, and individual homeowners. Being in the right place at the right time is the key as the removals will generally need to take place quickly.
The benefit to the owners and the tree cutting crews is that the heaviest and most cumbersome part of the tree hauling is taken care of by The Urban Ecology Project team at no cost. We mill the wood and air dry it for up to three years until it is ready for use.
Urban Lumber is one component of the Urban Ecology Project, which is a California non-profit corporation. The milling operation is coordinated by the Urban Ecology Project, which has experience handling large logs and heavy machinery.
Urban harvested & seasoned slabs
Urban harvested and seasoned for our large conference table.
Photo by Ladislav Czernek
Work in progress
Our first collaboration is a project between furniture designer and woodworker Ladislav Czernek and Chris Peck. Three-legged coffee table design.