AHEC, Mitre & Mondays and Benchmark create an immersive forest experience at the heart of 3daysofdesign’s Material Matters, leading visitors on a journey through the life of hardwood timber from seed to finished product. Unfolding the world of forest management through an impactful exhibition design that brings the arboreal setting to life, Wood for the Trees makes a compelling case for the long-term stewardship of nature. 

The exhibition draws on the ideas and themes explored in AHEC’s recent feature documentary Forested Future, which examines our relationship with forests through the lens of the people and communities whose livelihoods depend on them. Supported by the peerless craft expertise of Benchmark, Mitre & Monday’s vision for the exhibition translates the story on screen into a design-led spatial experience. 

In previous years, AHEC has used its platform at 3daysofdesign to showcase its collaborations with established and emerging European designers, demonstrating the creative possibilities of underutilised hardwood species through product innovation and sculptural spectacle. 

 This year, AHEC is widening the focus, not only highlighting material beauty and versatility of hardwood, but providing an overview of its place in a broader environmental system that encompasses responsible forestry, carbon storage and long-term sustainability. Wood for the Trees makes the case that the use of a diversified range of timber helps incentivise landowners to maintain their forests for generations to come.