Wood For The Trees Explored The Future Of Responsible Hardwood Use
During 3daysofdesign 2026 (10-12 June) in Copenhagen, the American Hardwood Export Council (AHEC) showcased Wood for the Trees, an exhibition exploring the journey of hardwood from forest to finished product. AHEC developed the project with London-based design studio Mitre & Mondays and British furniture maker Benchmark. Visitors experienced the installation as part of Material Matters at the historic Gammel Dok building.
Inspired by AHEC’s documentary Forested Future, the exhibition explored responsible forestry, long-term stewardship and sustainable material use. It looked beyond the visual appeal of timber and examined the environmental systems that support hardwood production. The exhibition also demonstrated how timber can contribute to a more sustainable built environment.
American Hardwoods In Focus
Wood for the Trees featured several American hardwood species, including red oak, yellow birch, hard maple and cherry. Together, these woods demonstrated the diversity of American hardwood resources and their potential for furniture, interiors and architectural applications.
Red oak, the most abundant hardwood species in U.S. forests, is valued for its distinctive grain and versatility. Yellow birch offers strength, hardness and good bending properties, while hard maple is widely used for high-wear applications such as flooring and furniture. American cherry, known for its fine grain and rich colour, is prized for joinery, interior panelling and furniture production. By showcasing these species, the exhibition highlighted the design potential of underutilised hardwood resources and the importance of species diversity in sustainable forestry.
From Forest To Finished Product
Mitre & Mondays designed the exhibition as an abstract forest landscape. Visitors followed five stages in the lifecycle of hardwood timber: Growth, Stewardship, Selection, Resilience and Timber. Each stage explained how forests regenerate, how foresters manage them over time and how material choices affect forest health.
The installation combined storytelling, environmental data, audiovisual content and material applications. Family-owned sawmills donated the timber used throughout the exhibition. Display elements referenced tree trunks, fallen logs and forest canopies. Benchmark contributed its craft expertise, while Mitre & Mondays applied circular design principles such as design for disassembly, reuse and repair. Together, they transformed complex forestry topics into an accessible visitor experience.
A Case For Sustainable Forestry
One of the exhibition’s key messages focused on the value of diverse and productive forests. According to AHEC, hardwood forests in the eastern United States have recovered significantly over the past century. Today, they cover more than 40 million acres and grow at roughly twice the rate at which the industry harvests them. The exhibition argued that using a broader range of timber species can encourage landowners to maintain and manage forests for future generations.
The exhibition also examined forest resilience. It showed how forests adapt to climate change, resist pests and recover from disturbances. At the same time, it highlighted the influence of material selection. Architects, interior designers and product designers can support responsible forestry through informed material choices.
American Hardwoods In Focus
Wood for the Trees featured several American hardwood species, including red oak, yellow birch, hard maple and cherry. Each material offered distinct technical and aesthetic qualities. Hard maple is valued for its durability, while cherry is known for its fine grain and workability. By showcasing these species, the exhibition highlighted the design potential of underutilised hardwood resources.
Source: American Hardwood Export Council
Photos: Petr Krejčí