Locally Harvested Reed Forms Lightweight Furniture

Designer Harry Parr-Young has explored common reed as a structural and sculptural material for furniture. Titled Reading Reeds, the project combines traditional craft methods with experimental material processes. It examines how an abundant but underused plant could support a more locally informed approach to design.

Managing An Abundant Plant

In parts of Sweden, common reed spreads rapidly across lakes and coastal areas. According to the project, changes in grazing and farming have reduced the natural management of reed beds. Eutrophication also encourages growth, as higher nitrogen and phosphorus levels accelerate the spread of reeds and algae.

Historically, people used reed for purposes including roofing and livestock feed. Parr-Young investigated its current potential through interviews with marine biologists and local stakeholders. Their insights helped him understand harvesting, environmental impact and the craft knowledge connected to the material.

Combining Reed With Other Materials

The resulting collection includes stools and tables made with different material combinations. A terracotta-topped stool uses air-dried clay, reed and dyed raffia. Another stool applies roof-thatching techniques at furniture scale, placing an established building craft in a new context.

For Plastered Reeds, plasterboard offcuts from the construction industry were pulped and combined with grated reed waste. Paper pulp provides binding cellulose. The mixture creates a terrazzo-like surface, which rests on a reed column held together with metal band clamps and a natural biodegradable adhesive.

The Slated Reed Tables combine discarded Norwegian slate with Swedish reed. The reed columns feature a finish of black Falu Rödfärg paint and are woven together with compostable bioplastic shrink film.

Exploring Reversible Construction

Two further tables examine lashing as an alternative to adhesive. Inspired by traditional Japanese square lashing, the coffee table uses white cotton thread to join repeated bundles of reed. The modular method could allow the components to be arranged in different structural compositions.

The side table develops this approach with a lighter frame. Its tabletop uses reed waste left over from earlier prototypes. The material was grated and moulded with a gypsum-based composite.

Across the collection, Parr-Young allows the reed’s lightness, strength and texture to influence both form and construction. The project presents reed as a possible resource for furniture and surface development while also drawing attention to local landscapes and declining craft practices.

Reading Reeds was designed by Harry Parr-Young, with project assistance from Beth Boardman.

Source: Harry Parr-Young
Photos: Alexander Beveridge