Harvest Moon Table: Local Biomaterials from 40-Mile Radius of Canterbury

Architect Charles Holland, academic Catharine Rossi, and design studio Local Works have created Harvest Moon, a table fabricated entirely from materials and tools sourced within a 40-mile radius of Canterbury, UK. The project investigates the potential of local biomaterials and evokes the ideals of harvest rituals. The table's top is cast chalk mixed with waste materials like bark, wood chippings, and baling twine, forming a terrazzo effect. Legs are made from apple tree branches, and the structure incorporates chestnut timber frames with apple wood 're-bars'. Tools such as mallets and hammers were crafted from apple tree wood, and pegs from chestnut. The design emphasizes visible materials and construction processes, with brightly colored bindings serving both practical (assembly order) and decorative purposes. As a research project, the table is designed to be disassembled and reassembled at various locations as a social activity, akin to a barn raising. A publication accompanies the table, containing assembly instructions, drawings, a musical score, essays, and a guide for hosting harvest gatherings. Holland noted that the project revealed insights into material properties, collaborative design, and the impact of policy, economics, consumer taste, and climate change on local landscapes. Holland and Rossi teach at UCA Canterbury, and Holland is founder of Charles Holland Architects, known for recent projects like a bandstand at Mitcham Fair Green.