Heaps & Woods
Mastering the Art of Craftsmanship: The Journey of Marta and Louis.
WORDS BY MARTA JURADO AND LOUIS CHAGNAUD PHOTOGRAPHY BY HEAPS & WOODS WWW.HEAPSANDWOODS.COM @HEAPSANDWOODS
In a world where art meets practicality, you’ll find us, Marta Jurado and Louis Chagnaud, the creative duo behind Heaps & Woods. We’re dedicated to celebrating craftsmanship’s timeless charm and crafting pieces that blend tradition with functionality. Our journey springs from our love for natural wood and sustainable materials, shaping the essence of our brand.
Marta: I started my journey with interior design studies in Barcelona and Paris, igniting my creative spark and leading me through various creative realms, from fashion to architecture and interior design. It was during a trip to Indonesia with Louis that our creative ideas blossomed, giving birth to Heaps & Woods.
Louis grew up in a family deeply connected to the arts, frequently visiting flea markets with his mother and living with his grandmother, the founder of the fashion brand Tartine et Chocolat. While he pursued business studies in cosmopolitan cities, his true education came from his upbringing and experiences. It was in Indonesia that he honed his technical and creative skills, focusing on furniture and interior design.
The heart of Heaps & Woods is our unwavering commitment to preserving craftsmanship. Fueled by our passion for keeping age-old traditions alive sustainably, we craft each piece with natural materials such as teakwood, rattan, rosewood, and more in our Indonesian and European workshops.
Every piece leaving Heaps & Woods carries a unique narrative, emerging from small-scale Indonesian workshops and made from the finest recycled materials. These pieces aren’t just furniture; they’re cultural storytellers seamlessly blending past and present, sharing rich traditions and culture.
In our daily lives, inspiration comes from various sources: a texture, architectural details, fashion, art exhibitions, and the intricate patterns in nature’s color palette. Our creative process leads to crafting pieces that draw inspiration from modernist wrought-iron structures’ ornate facades or lamps inspired by Frank Gehry’s architectural genius. Sometimes, the subtle textures of Parisian facades or a Schiaparelli brooch trigger meticulous details, or a seashell’s delicate shape inspires an elegant lamp.
Our pieces ingeniously combine functionality with sculptural art. They transcend the ordinary, blurring the line between form and function. While they serve practical purposes, they also capture your attention and spark conversations wherever they reside.
Our pieces are functional sculptures. A work of art sculpted by nature and meticulously finished by artisans, is unique. The wood’s intricate patterns, coupled with innovative shapes, create pieces that beautifully merge form and function. Solid wood’s transformation over time, partly anticipated but never completely controlled by skilled craftsmen, adds an element of surprise, treasuring distinctiveness and individuality.
After 10 years in Indonesia, the choice of the island for the production of their pieces was clear, with the aim of preserving the traditions and ancestral knowledge of local artisans. Our brand has always been deeply rooted in ethics and sustainability. All of this underscores the importance of nurturing traditional techniques, preserving the history of the culture.
Balancing sustainability and profitability can be challenging, but it’s essential. Our company is dedicated to minimising our ecological footprint in all our operations. We’re committed to enlightening consumers about responsible consumption’s value, offering products that positively impact the world.
Our pieces act as gateways to the natural world, anchoring spaces with earthy tones and enhancing aesthetics. Each piece bridges the gap between people and the elements they cherish, infusing authenticity into personal spaces. A hallmark of Heaps & Woods is our commitment to personalisation. Based on projects, our clients collaborate in crafting their dream piece, from concept to design, production, and delivery, turning imagination into reality.
As we look to the future, our focus remains on innovation, sustainability, and storytelling. In a world full of fleeting trends, Heaps & Woods symbolises craftsmanship, harmoniously blending function and art, encapsulating stories, heritage, and authentic beauty.
