Research

About the group:

The Furniture Research Group (FRG) has developed from furniture research that has been active for many years in this institution. Submissions have been awarded funding in RAE 1996, 2001, and 2008. In 1996 furniture was flagged as a special area of interest, whilst in 2001 we were awarded capability funding to further develop our research activities. In 2008 we were awarded funding for outputs of national, international and world class levels. The group is led by Jake Kaner and Florin Ioras.

Research themes:

We currently have three research themes; Design and Manufacturing (D&M), Heritage and Conservation (H&C), and Sustainability (S).

Design and Manufacturing is led by Dr Lynn Jones, departmental head for the National School of Furniture. This area has engaged with the design of furniture working with architects, interior designers, manufacturers, bespoke designer makers and retailers. Partners include Vitra, Ercol, Marks & Spencer, FIRA and the Furniture Makers Company, amongst many others. Funding has been achieved through commercial R&D and competition wins.

Heritage & Conservation is led by Prof Jake Kaner. This area has interests within a number of sectors including archives, private and public collections, historic houses and conservation organisations. Partners include ICON, National Trust, English Heritage, Frederick Parker Collection and Wycombe Museum as well as many others. This area has a track record of funding for the preservation and digitisation of furniture archives.

Sustainability is led by Prof Florin Ioras. The group has a wide range of expertise. They are currently involved in a number of national and European programmes, investigating the social, economic and environmental aspects of a varied range of consumer products and industrial processes, with an emphasis on material sustainability, environmental infrastructure and forecasts trends in economic activities of international furniture. Whilst seeking to reduce landfill, increase recycling, and produce more sustainable products, the group has a clear aim for the development and validation of new sustainable models and strategies.

Researchers:

Florin Ioras - Sustainability
Jake Kaner - Heritage and Conservation
Kevin Maher - Materials
Lyndon Bucks - Design and materials
Lynn Jones - Design and manufacture
Paul Tear - Heritage and conservation
Sharon Grover - Materials and heritage
Tim Coole - Design and manufacture

Group activities:

Preserving the Past, Inspiring the Future Furniture Conference - 7 June 2011
The programme of this recent furniture conference  included the following papers. National School of Furniture - Dr Lynn Jones; The Furniture Magpies - Sivan Metzer and Nessa O’Reilly, Research Fellows, National School of Furniture; The National Furniture Archive - Prof Jake Kaner and Sharon Grover; Against the Grain - Prof Joram Ten Brink, Director Artsonfilm, University of Westminster; Gilding and Lacquering - Rod Titian, Director Titian Studios, BBC’s Restoration Roadshow; Salon Furniture: Art Revivals in 19th century France - Prof Juliet Simpson; Preserving the Past, Identifying a Culture - Dr John Cross, Keeper of the Parker Collection; Bruno Paul: Just a Matter of Upholstery - Tim Bechthold, Head of the Conservation Department, Die Neue Sammlung Design Museum; Furnishing the Garden Cities - Dr Oliver Heal, Historian and Keeper of the Ambrose Heal Collection. Our next conference is due to be held in November 2012 - email karen.christie@bucks.ac.uk to register your interest, quoting Furniture Conference.

To sign up for the University's furniture newsletter, email karen.christie@bucks.ac.uk.