Heather
Category: Furniture
Competitions: Home Competition 2026
Heather is a shelving unit that explores circular design principles within Irish furniture manufacturing using locally sourced Irish materials. Developed in response to the environmental impact of linear production models and the industry's reliance on imported resources, the project applies ecodesign principles to consider the product's entire lifecycle. By prioritising renewable materials, design for disassembly, and repairability, Heather seeks to minimise environmental impact, extend product longevity, and demonstrate a more sustainable approach to furniture design and manufacture. Constructed using Galway wool and Irish elm, these locally sourced materials minimise transportation impacts and support local supply chains. This project responds to the underutilisation of Irish wool by demonstrating its potential as both a functional and expressive material. Drawing inspiration from the rolling hills, clouds, heather and gorse found in the Connemara landscape, the wool fibre was hand felted to create an abstract interpretation of these natural forms and textures. This process reflects the value of craftsmanship and creates a clear connection between material, maker, and place. Heather explores new opportunities for wools use within contemporary furniture manufacture, resulting in the development of two methods to integrate wool. The central sliding doors feature tensioned hand felted wool panels contained within wooden frames. This method allows individual panels to be removed, repaired, or replaced. The curved side compartments feature tambour doors wrapped in the hand felted wool landscape. These were developed using a reversible natural adhesive selected for its flexibility, strength, and suitability for future repair and remanufacture. Together, these methods demonstrate alternative approaches to incorporating natural fibres within furniture. Circularity informed every stage of the design process. The shelving unit is designed to be disassembled, repaired, and ultimately returned to the earth. The core frame is constructed using three repeating components which simplifies manufacture and facilitates remanufacture. The construction is entirely glueless, relying on universal mechanical fixings including furniture connector bolts, barrel nuts, dowels, and screws that can be removed and recycled at the end of the product's life. Felted crocheted caps conceal the fixings while maintaining access for maintenance and repair. These caps carry the wool detailing throughout the design and demonstrate a considered approach to material use. Unifying elements like these highlight the role of craft in design, where functionality meets aesthetic intention. Ultimately, Heather explores circular design within an Irish context using Irish-grown wool and local Irish timber, demonstrating how ecodesign principles can be applied to contemporary furniture to shape a more sustainable future.
