From the archive: Tréology in the New Zealand Listener
A conversation about enduring design, natural materials and the future of New Zealand furniture.
Sometimes a piece of press is worth returning to.
In June 2024, New Zealand Listener writer Paul Little explored the enduring influence of mid-century modern design and asked a particularly interesting question: what might come next?
The feature, Modern love: Why NZers can’t get enough of mid-century furniture, looked at why designs created more than half a century ago continue to resonate, speaking with designers and experts about quality, longevity, natural materials and the relationship between furniture and the environments we live in. NZ Herald
Towards the end of the article, the conversation turned to contemporary New Zealand design.
When asked about designers creating new and interesting work, interior designer Rufus Knight of Knight Associates nominated a small group of artisanal furniture makers. Among them was Tréology.
The article described Tréology as a Christchurch maker of contemporary furniture working with reclaimed timber to create tables, chairs and storage pieces, connecting this approach back to a distinctly regional way of designing and making. NZ Herald
For us, it was particularly meaningful to be recognised in this context.
Our work has never been about following a particular design movement. We are interested in creating furniture that belongs to its place while having the quality, restraint and longevity to sit comfortably anywhere in the world.
That begins with material.
We work with extraordinary timbers from Aotearoa, including river-rescued mataī, tōtara and rimu, as well as ancient New Zealand kauri. Where possible, our river-rescued timber is GPS traced back to the place it was recovered, allowing the provenance of the material to become part of the finished piece.
But provenance alone isn't enough.
The material has to be met with considered design and exceptional craftsmanship. Our intention is to create contemporary furniture that feels confident without being overstated — pieces that carry a New Zealand story without relying on obvious references to tell it.
Perhaps that is why this particular article has stayed with us.
Its wider discussion about natural timber, biophilic design and New Zealand's relationship with the landscape feels just as relevant to Tréology today. The Listener quoted Knight describing an affinity between natural timbers, biophilic design and characteristics celebrated in New Zealand design. NZ Herald
Two years on, our ambition has only become clearer: to create world-class furniture from Aotearoa and take that work to an international audience.
Honest materials. Timeless form. A distinctly New Zealand story.
Read Paul Little's original New Zealand Listener article, “Modern love: Why NZers can’t get enough of mid-century furniture,” published 2 June 2024. Read the original Listener article
Modern love: Why NZers can’t get enough of mid-century furniture
By Paul Little
New Zealand Listener
Published online 2 June 2024
Print issue: 8–14 June 2024, Issue 20