TINY HOUSE, DORSET 

The free training course for unemployed people introduces participants to sustainable construction, and basic timber and carpentry skills, through the building of a ‘tiny house’.

This programme is linked to the Raise the Roof project, that has involved local organisations such as Bridport Town Council, Common Ground and the Arts Development Company working with the architects Assemble Studio. The aim is to develop the infrastructure to enable the building of affordable housing using sustainable materials grown in Dorset. The tiny house course acts as a pilot and creates an opportunity to prototype new designs and work processes. When completed, the tiny house will be donated to a homelessness charity to provide accommodation for an entrenched rough sleeper.

The course is taking place in a workspace provided by local farmer Victor Crutchley in West Dorset, with timber sourced and processed from his own woodlands. The skills learned on the course will be applicable to a wide range of contexts, from sustainable construction, to joinery such as doors and windows, to designing and making furniture. The course will include a basic introduction to building design, as well as forestry and timber processing . 14 Dorset-based people will join the team of builders and course tutors that include furniture designer and constructor Karen Hansen, carpenter James McClennan and sawyer Adrian Janssen. The project coordinator, Tim Crabtree, is the founder of several local social enterprises including Dorset’s farmers’ markets, the Local Food Links school meals service, Dorset Community Energy, and Bridport Area Development Trust.

www.raisetheroof.info

TESTLABORATORY

I am currently working in the Testlaboratory at Sydhavn Recycling Centre i København, Danmark.

The challenge I have set myself is to develop circular economy projects and explore material-lifecycles.

www.sydhavngenbrugscenter.kk.dk

ANIMAL TOTEM, EASTOVER PRIMARY SCHOOL

The Animal Totem was created through working with all the children in Eastover Primary School, Bridgewater. Based on their drawings of the class animals, the children worked with woodcut and print. Their work was drawn up and carved on to the Sweet Chestnut pole. The pole is now part of the school playground where it stands as a symbol for creative collaboration.

The project was supported by SPAEDA and InspirED

www.spaeda.org.uk      www.inspiredsomerset.org.uk

UNFOLDS

The Danish Cabinet Makers Association FOLDER SIG UD – UNFOLDS

The Danish Cabinet Makers Association is celebrating its 25 year anniversary with an exhibition showing and demonstrating the essence and pleasures of high quality craftsmanship. The viewer is allowed to touch, smell and unfold the work on show.

The exhibition presents 25 unique works produced by some of Denmark’s most talented furniture makers who have used the ‘cube’ as their reference point.

The Association was formed with the purpose of bringing together progressive cabinetmakers and like-minded craft-professionals to develop and exchange knowledge. The organisation works to promote, develop and preserve the best of Danish craftsmanship in wood.

The exhibition runs from 23.Feb to 14.May 2017

www.moebelsnedkerforeningen.dk

DESIGN MUSEUM DANMARK

THORNCOMBE WOODS

Exhibition and work-in-progress of contemporary sustainable design in furniture. Using local woodland material Karen tells the story of making, from tree to finished piece.

Hardy’s Birthplace Visitors Centre, Thorncombe Woods, Higher Bockhampton, Dorchester, Dorset, DT2 8QH.

Open 10am-4pm daily

TALKS, WALKS, ACTIVITIES:

A closer look at natural structures:                                 With found material from the woods you will have the opportunity to look through microscopes and hand-lenses, discover how plants work and have a go at drawing the beautiful details you see. FREE sessions.                 Monday 30. May 10 – 12.30, limited spaces

Trees and their ecology:                                                                                                                               “A guided walk through Thorncombe Woods to look at the ecology of the woodland environment as a whole dependent on the  geology and topography of the area and with a closer look to explore the characteristics of the individual tree-species and their immediate habitat and under-storey of flora and fungus. ”                           Thursday 2. June, 10.30 -12am , £4 donation welcome

Hapa -zome workshop:                                                                                                                               “Hapa-zome or ‘leaf-dyeing’ is a creative method using the natural forms and pigments of plants to create a unique print design onto fabric. The pigments are bashed out of the plant using small pebbles or wood to leave a near perfect print. You will have time to forage for materials in the woodland and will be shown the basic method of Hapa-zome.”                                                                                                                                                   Monday 6^th June, 10-12 am. Cost £6

Woodland management and local timber use at Thorncombe and Puddletown Forest.                          “A guided walk through Thorncombe wood and Puddletown Forest to look at trees and the material we extract for our timber needs. How do we manage the balance between wildlife conservation and timber use? “

Date to be confirmed, £4 donation welcome

Spaces limited for all of the above – so please book 01305 251228 or hardysbirthplace@dorsetcc.gov.uk

TWO MAKE

Two Make plots the shared output of ten pairs of established designer / makers who have created new work together. The partnerships are diverse, ranging from life-long friends who live in different parts of the country, makers working together for the first time, and makers who wanted to learn new skills. Two Make explores the process of collaboration: sharing ideas, working through problems, encountering risk, and exploring uncertainty.

Curated by Miranda Leonard in partnership with Dr. Nicola Thomas, University of Exeter and the Gloucestershire Guild of Craftsmen.The exhibition is supported by the Arts and Humanities Research Council and the Arts Council.

‘On the basis of our use of material in wood and glass and their respective qualities of resilience and fragility we are working to create two multi-layered, modern and colourful pieces which have within them the story and depth that reflects the dialogue between friends who challenge and support each other ‘                                 Karen Hansen & Rowan McOnegal
Catch this touring exhibition at the Museum in the Park, Stratford Park, Stratford Road, Stroud, Gloucestershire, GL5 4AF

from 1 January 2017 to 19 February 2017.

www.museuminthepark.org.uk

THROUGH & THROUGH SWIVEL SEAT

The new Through & Through Swivel Seats are installed at Hardy’s Birthplace Visitors Centre.

The seats are constructed from sawn Cedar planks which have been cut from trees sourced at Batcombe Woods near Evershot.The planks were extracted from the wood and transported to my yard, where they were sawn into planks on a portable Woodmizer Mill. After being stacked and airdried over the summer, some of the wood was cut into leg components and further dried to a lower moisture content in a dehumidifier. The legs were turned and fitted to holes drilled in the prepared planks and the whole construction will now dry and acclimatise on site. Cedar is a naturally durable and very stable softwood. Other Sweet Chestnut trees from Thorncombe Wood have similarly been sawn through and through into planks and stacked for drying. They will in time be made into hardwood swivel seats.

The swivel action allows the seats to be arranged into the desired position to accommodate various uses and groups of people and to be stored away in a minimal space. The planks are resting on each other and are therefore at incremental heights, allowing all ages and sizes to make comfortable use of them.

The seats were designed and made for the ‘Of the Wood’ project at Thorncombe Wood near Dorchester and are part of the story of what happens when you fell a tree and convert it to timber for use in daily life.

‘Of the Wood’ wishes ‘to celebrate and tell the story of wood and its distinctiveness through uses, skills, interpretation and creativity’

For further information on sustainable use of our local woodland resources and how to get involved please use the contact form

THE ELECTRIC IDEA

In its time the Bournemouth Electric Tramway system provided much needed public transport from Poole to Christchurch and was completed in 1906.

To avoid unsightly overhead wiring on the central section from Poole Hill to Lansdowne, this part of the system was initially equipped with the rarer conduit system of current collection. Strengthened by horseshoe shaped cast iron underground yokes set every 3ft 9ins, a concrete walled conduit was laid beneath the road surface.  Due to continual complications in the changeover mechanisms from overhead wire to conduit supply, and the increased cost of maintenance, this rare system was abandoned in 1911 to allow the overhead trolley system to run throughout.

When redeveloping the traffic system around Horseshoe Common in 2014 several of the specialised cast iron yokes were uncovered.

‘The Electric Idea’ sculpture wishes to highlight the importance of the development of new clean ways of transport both then and now.

Designed and made by Karen Hansen for Bournemouth District Council.

In the spirit of development and challenge the project has involved  techniques in large scale steam-bending as well as iron and bronze casting and I thank all the people who lend a hand in making it come together.

THE OAK FARM SEAT – MILCOMBE near BANBURY

Commissioners: Cherwell District Council in collaboration with housing developer Careys New Homes.

The seating design was developed on the basis of visits to the village and the site during 2013 as well as consultation with the local community of Milcombe. Through the research period, with walking and observing, speaking to people, reading the historic documents available and thinking of how  ‘Oak Farm’ fits into the bigger world picture, various ideas came forth but the main focus has stayed with Oak itself.

The final design was therefore inspired by Pendunculate Oak – Quercus Robur (Latin: ‘Sturdy’) and what it represents:

Pendunculate Oak is native to the UK and most of Europe. Both pendunculate and sessile oaks are without doubt our most important wildlife trees in the UK and they support many hundreds of species. ‘Among these are the larvae of several hundred moths including the festoon, frosted green, small brindled beauty and blotched emerald, as well as the rarer false mocha and heart moth. The oak is a devoured foraging tree for many species such as blue tits, great tits, tree creepers, chaffinches, woodpeckers, wood mice and dormice and the acorns are enjoyed by jays, wood pigeons, squirrels and wild boar. Long-lived or veteran oak trees provide a variety of decaying and dead wood habitats which support many varieties of wood-boring insects. Cavities in the tree provide nesting space for owls and bats such as the noctule, Bechstein’s, barbestelle and natterer’s. Decaying oak supports a wide range of fungi’

‘Research by the Forestry Commission following the recent concern about the conditions for the presence of Acute Oak decline decease has been linked to the co-occurrence of the Agrilus biguttutas beetle.’

It is this ability to share and support life, whether it is beneficial or detrimental to the tree itself, that I would like to highlight via the design. In view of climate change and the support of a sustainable future, biodiversity is crucial to our long-term survival.

Translating these thoughts to the Milcombe community and towards the prospects for developing a good relationship between old and new, I wish to draw attention to this generosity of spirit and richness of community, with the hope that both new and old residents will respect the past, present and future variety of folk, remember to look for and value the hidden detail and keep a positive attitude to the richness of life.

Design: The proposed seating creates a comfortable space for people to meet and communicate and the positioning on site allows anyone from the village or passer-by to use the facility.

Within the structure are carved elements showing oak plant detail and images of other plant and animals species that form part of the oak ecology and biodiversity.

The seat is constructed from Dorset cleft green and air-dried Oak.

With best wishes for the future of the community

Karen Hansen

WOOD & FIBRE

The exhibition explores aspects of the relationship between furniture and textiles – occasionally predictable, often surprising, always beautiful. A fusion of handmade wooden furniture together with delicate hand woven, stitched and sewn textiles.

The exhibition features my new A-Table-2. This table design derives from using small green round Ash logs. Each of the A2 legs is made from half of the split Ash, which after cleaving goes on to be turned, shaped and dried into the final component.The legs are detachable for easy transport.

The elliptical A2 table seats 6 – Dim: W:1000 x L:1480 x H:730mm. The extendable version with a loose 480mm leaf insert accommodates 8 people. Available with rectangle top.

The table is treated with the traditional Scandinavian natural soap finish.

WOOD & FIBRE  runs from 13. Sept – 26. Oct at Walford Mill Crafts  in Wimborne

www.walfordmillcrafts.co.uk

UNFOLD – Exploring the process of collaboration

Creative practitioners combine their mediums to develop new and innovative results.

Karen has been collaborating with aluminium artist Caroline Parrott.

“We were keen to make a functional item and settled on the idea of lights quite early in the process. Initially looking to combine laser cutting techniques in both wood and aluminium to assist the construction detail and decoration, we changed direction to focus on a bent and laminated wood design with a rolled aluminium shade dyed with colour and surface pattern. From the success of the adjustable wall reading light we are now looking to develop designs for freestanding desk lamps”

UNFOLD runs from 5 April – 18 May at Walford Mill Crafts  in Wimborne

www.walfordmillcrafts.co.uk

INSPIRED – Festival of Silver. 

A selling exhibition of contemporary work
by Furniture Makers and Silversmiths

The Goldsmith’ Centre, Clerkenwell, London EC1M 5AD

Tues -Wed – Friday opens 10am – 5pm
Thursday late opening 10am – 7.30pm
Saturday opens 10am – 4pm

www.britishsilverweek.co.uk

Contemporary Applied Arts

Karen Hansen has recently become a member of CAA – the home of the best in contemporary British Craft – and a selection of her latest work is currently on show at the new gallery in 89 Southwark Street, London.

www.caa.org.uk

Marshwood Vale Arts Awards

Winners of the awards exhibit work alongside the judging panel. Categories include Painting/Drawing, Photography, Sculpture, Ceramics, Textiles and Design. Karen is the joint winner of the Design award showing the new SETA Design for table and stools. Looking at natural form the design takes inspiration from a close study of the horsetail plant.

www.marshwoodawards.com

​

SETA Table & Stool

Looking at the microscopic detail of the prehistoric horsetail plant – equisetum – how it relies on pressure from within to stabilise the lightweight outer ring of the stem – and how the branches are formed and extruded through the nodes, I have translated and condensed this beautiful natural framework by using only a minimal amount of structural components. The simple composition incorporates the dynamics between the basic sphere, triangle and circle, to give a sense of movement

The structure is built of slender wedge-shaped components extending from the inner to the outer circle and interlocking in a simple triangulation. It is a ‘knock down’ construction for easy transportation and storage.

The ball is available in colour and I am currently looking at the possibility of supplying the design with the ball element as a customised 3D print to individual specification.

The Seta design was selected as one of the winners of the Marshwood Vale Arts Awards – Design 2013

GOING FULL CIRCLE

The exhibition explores the power of the circle through a variety of different and unexpected mediums.

Join us for the launch on Saturday 27. July from 2-4pm

Walford Mill Crafts, Stone Lane, Wimborne, BH21
Open: Monday – Saturday 10am – 5pm, Sunday 11am – 4pm

www.walfordmillcrafts.co.uk

EXLAB

Preview exhibition showing previous work by each of the Exploratory Laboratory artists alongside evidence of their research processes for the project.

The Gallery, AUCB Bournemouth.

www.exlab.org.uk

EXLAB Artist bursary

As part of the Exlab project Karen was granted a professional development bursary managed by Dorset Visual Arts.

‘The award has allowed me to develop a new approach to my work with Design & Natural Form and explore and understand the latest digital tools in 3D-modelling and prototyping.

Having the opportunity to study the history of plant development based on fossil records and looking at the microscopic detail of plant structure is the beginning of a new strand in my efforts to promote sustainable design. Based on the detailed study of the ancient Horsetail plant I am experimenting with 3D printing, laser-cutting and new materials. The work is reinforcing my understanding of the interdependency of all life and opening up the view to Biomimicry.’

Bespoke Guildmark no. 442

The Worshipful Company of Furnituremakers, London – awards their Guildmark no. 442 to Karen for her excellence of design, materials, craftsmanship and function for the Ceremonial Wedding seat for two in Ash.

www.furnituremakers.org.uk

WOMEN WORK – IN WOOD

WOWOWO – a touring exhibition to celebrate the work of leading female contemporary furniture designers and makers working in wood, debuts at Walford Mill Crafts, Dorset, on September 24th 2011.

A select group of international, established and emerging designer makers have responded to a design brief to develop and encourage innovative design in furniture using sustainable processes and materials. The exhibition includes work by Tomoko Azumi, Karen Hansen, Akiko Kuwahata, Lorraine Moore, Katharine Fernie and Alice Blogg.

Some exhibits will have been developed as speculative work by the artists exploring any aspect of furniture-making and others will have been designed and made to commission for a client setting out specific criteria. The design development has in each case been documented to illuminate the decisions regarding techniques and process. These narratives, as well as the more personal deliberations to do with career paths, will form part of the exhibition showing the richness of skill and approach and add to the debate about design, responsibility, opportunity, expectation etc.

The WOWOWO exhibition is the first dedicated showcase of contemporary work by woman designer makers and has been curated in collaboration by Karen Hansen and Walford Mill Crafts.

WOWOWO will be at Walford Mill Crafts in Wimborne from 24th September – 30th October and the London Metropolitan Works Gallery from 24th November – 22nd December.

SCULPTURAL SEATS
Thornhill Bridge Community Garden, Islington, London
The commission used the limbs and trunks of the large trees felled on site as part of the landscaping plan undertaken with J&L Gibbons, London .

Low log seating was sculpted and groups of children from the local Vittoria Primary School carved their nature based designs into the seats.

One hundred years of change, Bourne Hill, Salisbury

Her Royal Highness the Countess of Wessex opens the Wiltshire Council Bourne Hill Offices in Salisbury on Wednesday, 30th March 2011.

In connection to a major restoration and extension programme for the Bournehill premises, Karen was commissioned to transform a 100 year old Sweet Chestnut tree into seating for the Magnolia Court and entrance area at the offices. During the period from autumn 2006 to final installation in 2010 she worked to develop the concept design – through site observation, workshops and consultation with local people and historic research into life and events in Salisbury over the lifetime of the tree.

Focusing on the tree as a symbol of longevity bearing witness to change and acknowledging the strong spiritual connection, we as humans have to these giant living organisms, led to the development of four seat designs representing four generations living through a hundred years of change.

The tree was converted into appropriate sections and then stored for seasoning with smaller sections dried in a dehumidifier. The main construction work was carried out using chainsaw, arbotech and carving gouges.

1. Germination
The new leaf emerging from the seed.

2. Youth
The young stems growing up create a split and diverting paths in life. The seed remains as a continuum with the spherical shape symbolising the wholeness in change.

3.Maturity
Two individuals have developed to be comfortable in their own space. The sphere remains as the link between different points of view.

4. Roots & Seeds
The old roots and vital foundation that generally remains unseen is crossing paths with the new energy in the seeds to create the unpredictable and inevitable future. This seat is made from the main branches of the tree.

The Arts & Crafts Legacy

21st Century Furniture III – A selling exhibition of today’s designer makers presented by The Millenery Works Gallery, 85-87 South Gate Road, Islington, London

Victoria & Albert Museum. London Design Festival

A handpicked selection of contemporary furnituremakers are invited to exhibit their latest work at the V&A Sackler Centre supported by the British Furniture Confederation.
The London Design Festival has developed a unique partnership with the Victoria and Albert Museum – the world’s leading museum of art and design. As the Festival Hub, the V&A is the first point of call for visitors to the Festival; there are resources and information available alongside a number of specially commissioned design installations and displays plus a wide range of events throughout the Festival week.

Monday 20th September
Meet the Designer Maker

Gallery 220, Sackler Centre
11.00 – 17.00
Karen Hansen, Alun Heslup, Nick Langan, Simon Yates will be available to discuss their work and practise.

www.londondesignfestival.com
www.vam.ac.uk
www.britishfurnitureconfederation.org.uk

Course Dates 2010

June 3 & June 6
Introductory day carving courses / Dorset Artweek

July 10/11
Pole carving for the family

Aug 25/26/27

Sept 2/3
Masks & Grotesques

Sept 24/25/2
Totem carving

Oct 2/3
Masks & Grotesques
Contact: Karen Hansen Tel:  01935 83580

21st Century Furniture – Making the Future

An exhibition of Today’s Key Designer Makers
Seymour Place, London

In collaboration with Real Ideas Organisation-Rio

The project aim was to develop awareness of holistic living and how we can pass on the world to the future – in a lively and positive way.

The children, a great group of 9-10 year olds – had the opportunity to spend time in the local woodland environment – to study, work and play and debark the tree, which had been chosen for the pole.

Back at school we worked on drawing and choosing images to be carved into the pole and the tree was moved and laid up in the school grounds. The children spent many enjoyable hours carving and painting to complete the pole.

The pole was unveiled in celebration on July 13 2009.

The Little Art Gallery

Beaminster, Dorset
Exhibiting as part of Dorset Art Week

www.dorsetartweeks.co.uk

Wonder Wood

Inspirational Contemporary Designers from the South West. 
“Wonder Wood” is the climax of a series of exhibitions in a year-long “Wood Culture” festival which has celebrated the beauty, usefulness and sustainability of wood and explored its many uses in contemporary
architecture and design.

The exhibition draws on the work of 20 designers in wood across the South West region, from established makers to this year’s graduates, ranging from innovative steam-bent seating to a woven boat and a timber bicycle. Most work will be for sale.

Exhibition launch: Saturday 19 July, 12noon-3pm.

Admission free

www.ccanw.co.uk

Thornford village playground project wanted to provide facilities for children of all ages and therefore dedicated an area to the teenagers of the village. A keen group of young people worked hard to fund raise through The Youth Capital Fund and their successful bid allowed for the design and making of the Teenshelter – an area of covered seating.

Karen designed the project to allow the teenagers to make their own mark on the cedar structure by carving images into the wood and laying mosaics into the base of the structure. A series of workshops took place before the installation and the final outcome is a true indication of community pride of place. The formal opening took place on the 17th May 2008.

Exhibition of art in the grounds of the Sir Harold Hilliers Gardens, Hampshire.

www.hilliergardens.org.uk

Creative Footsteps Project, Wessex Ridgeway, Artsreach & The National Trust

Creative Footsteps is a project based along the Wessex Ridgeway led by local poet, James Crowden. James walked the Ridgeway and on his travels wrote poems, which reflected the geography, geology and natural history of this long distance path. Sections of verse have been incorporated in to specially commissioned sculpture, which now punctuates the route from Ashmore to Lyme.

“She gave me eyes she gave me ears
humble cares and delicate fears.”
Wordsworth

The 65 mile long Wessex Ridgeway track is a rich tapestry of chalk ridges, steep grassland fields, copses and thick ancient hedgerows. The Ridgeway enters Dorset from Wiltshire at Ashmore, crosses the Blackmore Vale before finally descending to the sea at Lyme Regis.

The gate and stile was made for The National Trust site at Pilsdon Pen, Dorset

An exhibition of photographs and poetry is currently touring Dorset.

www.artsreach.co.uk

Big Ears, Beaminster School, Dorset

Carving project for all of year 6 pupils. Based on the theme of listening – the children worked together to create a giant pair of ears – named “The Listening Post” which has been installed as a sculpture in the school grounds.