One to Watch - Rawside
Showcasing the unique furniture of Rawside
Words By Emily Martin
Who
A British-based designer and builder of stylish and sustainable commercial furniture, Rawside was founded by Richard Gann and Liz Close with a partnership based on a shared desire to design and make furniture that flipped the lid on the standard commercial run-of-the-mill offering. The duo are passionate about ensuring all their designs have as minimal negative environmental impact as possible, with the company using sustainably sourced materials, designing furniture built to last, and creating as little waste as possible in the process, with all pieces built in the UK. Whilst established in London, the company has now outgrown its original Kennington base and recently opened the doors to its new workshops on the edge of South Downs National Park, heralding an exciting new chapter for the business.
Why
With a steady and organic growth from inception, Rawside has invested in new purposebuilt workshop and warehouse spaces in Ropley, Hampshire. Dubbed ‘the Soul & Country building’, the new facilities offer increased production capabilities, shorter lead times for clients, and are more environmentally sustainable. With the business heritage firmly rooted in South London, the expansion to the country is a positive team move, with most of the craft team relocating to the new location. Manufacturing and warehouse teams are now based in Hampshire, whilst sales and marketing along with the showroom remain in London, with Rawside dedicated to always having a presence in the capital. With the Rawside workshops based in the Hampshire countryside, by ‘keeping it local’, the in-house manufacturing model supports local crafts, employment and community with fewer miles for products to travel and lower risk of logistical issues.
Where www.rawside.co
Bass Table
With sustainability at the heart of Rawside’s high standards, Bass is created from curved MDF made from non-forested wood waste, which is CARB 2 compliant and presented with a choice of finishes including veneer and cork or lacquered in a spectrum of colours. The table tops range in size from 1200mm to 2400mm in diameter and with its hollow base, Bass is ideal for hiding cables and power modules.
Billy Desk
Designed for focus in a coworking space, Billy is Rawside’s answer to what is otherwise know as ‘dedicated desks’. It offers a secluded workspace with an array of finish options. The choice of screens gives the user the option to pin, hang or write to make the most of organisation space in their desk area.
Ludo Table
Inspired by the elegant simplicity of mid-century design, Ludo is a table to gather around. It is designed at two heights – bar and table options – with its top featuring radiused corners to mirror the tubular steel frame on which it sits. Frames can be coloured in any RAL colour and the top cores are plywood or HDF and are finished with either a real wood veneer or linoleum.
