Kontur Series
Anna Maria Øfstedal Eng
Furniture and homeware designer Anna Maria Øfstedal Eng embraces the hand of the maker in her creative process, celebrating imperfection as an emblem of honesty and transparency. From her studio in Fjellhamar, Norway, she creates unique sculptural objects in ceramic, wood, stone and metal. She is interested in how contrasts – raw and polished, curved and angular – can spark a dialogue within a design, enhancing its presence both visually and texturally. In 2023, she participated in AHEC’s 3daysofdesign exhibition, ‘Three’.
For ‘No.1 Common’, Øfstedal Eng has designed a cabinet and wall mirror inspired by material experimentation using characterful yellow birch. Her discoveries connect closely to her long- standing inspiration she has found in roots and branches – forms that twist and shape both structure and silhouette.
A key insight from Øfstedal Eng’s collaborative, hands-on experimentation with Benchmark was the discovery of yellow birch’s rich spectrum of colour variations. This led to laminating boards of the same species displaying different tones and grains to create a range of patterns – some bold and graphic, others subtle and soft. A three-layer lamination, with a 20mm core and 8–10mm outer layers, revealed its visual impact when carved along the grain. Patterns emerged, forming Øfstedal Eng’s signature organic silhouettes and showcasing the wood’s natural character.
These sculptural elements contrast with clean, light surfaces used for cabinet fronts, tabletops, seats, and backrests. The dialogue between expressive and simple forms highlights the beauty and versatility of No.1 Common timber, elevating its value through craftsmanship and thoughtful design.