‘No.1 Common’ showcases untapped beauty of hardwood

The designers were asked to ‘use what nature provides’, showcasing the potential of ‘cabinet grade’ hardwood as a versatile and desirable design material.

At the 2025 edition of ‘3daysofdesign’ in Copenhagen, a thought-provoking exhibition titled ‘No.1 Common’ made a compelling case for redefining beauty in wood.

The exhibition was open to the public in June last year and drew design professionals, educators, and environmentally conscious audiences eager to engage with new ideas in sustainable material use.

Curated by the American Hardwood Export Council (AHEC), the show brought together four innovative designers – Andu Masebo, Anna Maria Øfstedal Eng, Daniel Schofield, and Kia Utzon-Frank – to work with a lesser-used but abundantly available hardwood grade: No.1 Common.

Their brief was simple yet radical: embrace the imperfect, celebrate the natural, and reveal the expressive power of wood often overlooked by conventional design standards.

No.1 Common, often abbreviated as No.1C, refers to a US hardwood grade traditionally used for cabinetry, flooring and furniture parts. Though structurally sound and visually compelling, it contains smaller clear cuttings, visible knots, and natural colour variation that often disqualify it from high-end applications. In a market that often prizes uniformity and flawlessness,

No.1C hardwoods have been routinely overshadowed by premium grades. But AHEC’s initiative seeks to flip that perception by showcasing these materials not as flawed, but as full of character.

Natural appeal

“A tree doesn’t grow to be perfect,” remarked one of the participating designers. “So why are we pretending only 10% of it deserves to be seen?” That question lies at the heart of No.1 Common.

Instead of masking so-called imperfections, the designers chose to highlight them, showing that variation in colour, wild grain, and natural markings are not limitations, but assets that add depth, warmth, and individuality to a finished piece.

Each designer approached the material with a different philosophy. Andu Masebo created pieces that layered complex joinery with exposed textures, drawing attention to the timber’s raw energy.

Anna Maria Øfstedal Eng emphasized sculptural form and fluidity, while Daniel Schofield crafted minimalist yet tactile furniture where every knot and shift in tone became part of the narrative.

Kia Utzon-Frank’s work leaned into the poetic and the practical, showing how surface irregularities could spark both design innovation and emotional connection.

Design dialogue

The origins of the project trace back to AHEC’s collaboration with Benchmark, one of the UK’s most respected furniture manufacturers, which has built its reputation on sustainable craftsmanship and ethical material use.

Benchmark’s hands-on research into No.1C hardwoods explored not only its aesthetic and structural properties but also practical benefits in terms of yield and workshop efficiency.

Benchmark’s insights demonstrated that lower-grade timber could deliver high returns – both creatively and economically – when used with intelligence and care. Their findings laid the foundation for the No.1 Common exhibition, reinforcing that sustainable forestry isn’t just about planting trees, but about using what we harvest more thoughtfully.

At the Material Matters fair, the designers’ works were presented against the backdrop of conversations around material transparency, environmental ethics, and circular design. The exhibit questioned conventional ideas of “luxury” and “perfection,” inviting industry professionals and the public alike to see natural timber in a new light.

Shared responsibility

By highlighting No.1C hardwoods, AHEC is sending a powerful message to designers, manufacturers, and consumers: the future of sustainable design lies not just in the materials we choose, but in how fully we choose to use them. American hardwood forests today have more than twice the volume of standing timber than they did 50 years ago.

Yet only a small percentage of each harvested tree – often the cleanest and most uniform part – is considered suitable for design. The rest is frequently overlooked or underutilized.

“By broadening our perception of quality and embracing more of what nature offers, we can create more beautiful work and contribute to a healthier planet,” noted a representative from AHEC. The organization has long championed American hardwoods on the global stage, providing architects, designers, and builders with the technical knowledge needed to make informed, sustainable choices.

For more information about American hardwoods, visit www.americanhardwood.org or contact AHEC at info@americanhardwood.org.

 

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