The 21st “Guardian Hay Festival”, held from 21 May to 1 June 2008, is a cultural and literary event not well known in Italy but very famous at international level, especially in English-speaking countries. . Created as a literature festival, the event, promoted by the prestigious UK newspaper “The Guardian”, has become the right place for creative as well as innovative discussions on human and environmental issues at global level. Some of the prominent figures discussing with the audience at Hay: former US President Jimmy Carter, Nobel prize economist Joseph Stiglitz, writer Salman Rushdie, novelist John Irvine and many more.
The Festival is held in Hay-on-Wye, a small town at the outskirts of Wales with its 1,300 inhabitants and as many as 39 bookshops. In the 10-day festival some 90 thousand visitors are expected at Hay, where thousands of speakers and artists will carry out a program made of as much as 477 events.
Organizers aim at creating sustainable and long-lasting solutions for the necessary infrastructures of the event. And this has led to the development of an innovative project involving one of the most renowned English designers and furniture makers: Philip Koomen.
A new collection of American red oak furniture was created, including table and chairs for discussions and speaker stands for presentations.
The beautiful table has a base which is reminiscent of an open book, supported by a triangular panel of Canaletto walnut, contrasting with the color of red oak. The seats have tall and slim backrests, modeled to support the back and low rounded arm-rests allows that allow to turn easily towards other speakers.
The stage design was entrusted to Clare Keil, a designer from Hay, who has produced a series of American tulipwood angular panels. Compared to its weight, American tulipwood is a very strong wood, therefore it’s excellent to produce big panels that can be easily moved around and reassembled without splitting and cracking. The wood used for the production of furniture designed by Philip Koomen (red oak and Canaletto walnut) and the stage structure (tulipwood) was donated by the American Hardwood Export Council (Ahec), the association for the promotion of North American hardwood.
