Spanish designer Jorge Penadés has presented Uprooted V02, a research-driven furniture project that explores new uses for olive tree roots. The project debuted at Matter and Shape, a design salon held in Paris from 6 to 9 March 2026 during Paris Fashion Week.

The work focuses on a little-used byproduct of the olive oil industry in Spain. Farmers often remove olive trees during agricultural cycles. While the trunk and branches may find new uses, the roots usually end up as firewood or waste. Penadés investigates how designers can transform these discarded roots into valuable materials. His project highlights the hidden qualities of olive roots and challenges how the industry values this resource.

Furniture That Celebrates Natural Irregularity

Olive roots grow underground in complex and unpredictable shapes. Instead of correcting these irregular forms, the project embraces them. The natural geometry of the wood becomes a key design feature. Penadés cuts the roots into slabs and uses them to create expressive furniture pieces. The new Uprooted V02 collection includes a hutch desk and an armchair. Each piece reveals the striking grain, density and structure of the root wood.

This approach shows how agricultural waste can become high-value design material. It also encourages product designers and interior designers to work with the natural characteristics of materials rather than forcing standardised forms.

The new collection expands on the first chapter of Uprooted, which Penadés introduced in 2025. With this second phase, the project continues to explore the connection between agriculture, craft and material research.

A Dialogue Between Wood And Wool

The project also introduces a reversible wool rug developed with Italian textile company cc-tapis. The rug brings together olive wood and wool, two materials strongly linked to the Mediterranean landscape. This collaboration expands the material story of the project. It also creates a visual and tactile connection between furniture and textiles. By combining these materials, Penadés highlights the relationship between local resources, regional craft traditions and contemporary design.

Rethinking Agricultural Waste In Design

Uprooted V02 shows how designers can rethink agricultural byproducts as design resources. The project demonstrates how overlooked materials can inspire new products and interiors.

By turning olive tree roots into furniture, Penadés reveals the design potential of a material that normally remains hidden underground.

Source: Jorge Penadés
Photos: Riccardo de Vecchi