LZF is part of a new exhibition at Museu del Disseny de Barcelona (Barcelona Design Museum) that focuses on wood as a noble material. ‘¡Toca madera! Diseño, madera y sostenibilidad’ (Knock on wood! Design, wood and sustainability) is curated by the environmental scientist Martí Boada and the design museum’s director Pilar Vélez. The exhibition considers wood as a key material in the history of human cultural evolution, together with its current applications.

With a focus on humans and their use of wood from the Palaeolithic period (the early phase of the Stone Age) to the present day, the exhibition at Museu del Disseny de Barcelona features a wide range of wooden artefacts and pieces. At its core, it demonstrates how humans have, since time immemorial, utilised wood to create objects that satisfy their basic needs. When curating the exhibition, Boada and Vélez were keen to highlight the importance of wood in tackling the climate emergency and to recognise wood’s history as an ally of humanity. The two curators emphasise wood’s more recent re-emergence as a material used in design and architecture, particularly in relation to quality of life.

Today’s world is increasingly dependent on wood’s environmental and sustainable qualities. The exhibition at Museu del Disseny de Barcelona showcases the tree as an inspirational model of the circular economy, and considers the application of wood across a number of key sectors, including: construction, mobility, aeronautics, health, and energy. The growing use of wood in design, especially in the making of furniture and lighting, is on show. There is a tacit recognition that responsible designers and manufacturers are those who increase their commitment to using sustainable materials. Moreover, they encourage consumers to invest in design that is built to last.

Two of LZF’s handcrafted wood veneer lamps were chosen for inclusion in the exhibition at Museu del Disseny de Barcelona: the Agatha Ball suspension lamp designed by Luis Eslava Studio and the Air table lamp designed by Ray Power. These lamps are a representation of LZF’s commitment to manufacturing locally, championing tradition, and promoting sustainability. Following the exhibition, the Agatha Ball and Air will become part of Museu del Disseny de Barcelona’s collection. In addition, the museum has selected three more LZF lamps for its collection: Minimikado designed by Miguel Herranz, Dandelion designed by Burkhard Dämmer, and Lola designed by Ray Power.

‘¡Toca madera! Diseño, madera y sostenibilidad’ is at Museu del Disseny de Barcelona until 22nd January 2023.

Photos © 2022 Museu del Disseny.