LIMINAL STUDIO | and Hydrowood
Posted 25 August 2021
Do you know that feeling? That feeling of uncovering a long-lost treasure or finding something you thought you would never see again?
Imagine that same feeling but you’re surrounded by a centuries-old landscape and can reach 27 metres deep into a lake. As your hand reaches into the murky, watery depths, you feel a gnarly and ancient form. Your hand curls around it, dragging it up towards the light. It seems to almost breech as it breaks the surface to meet the air once again, beauty brought to light.
Yes, there is a certain romance in the process pioneered by the team at Hydrowood.
Hydrowood is one of the world’s first underwater forestry operations and one that (re)discovers ethical timbers lost in Tasmania’s west coast wilderness, specifically dams created around fifty years ago.
We were lucky enough to learn about the origins of the company from co-founder Andrew Morgan at our August Creative Conversations session.
As well as beauty, Hydrowood is serious about innovation, aspiration, pioneering and finding unique solutions to never before considered challenges.
From the waterproof harvester designed to go down to depths of 27 metres, to tech-based solutions that can track and certify the origin of a piece of Hydrowood.
The Hydrowood story is one of provenance. A story that harvests the beauty of Tasmanian Blackheart Sassafras, Blackwood, Lemon Myrtle, Celery Top Pine, Tasmanian Oak and even the legendary Huon Pine from an underwater forest to capture the imagination of designers, makers, craftspeople and restaurateurs around the world.
Thanks for stopping by Andrew!
An ancient forest lies hidden for over 25 years in the deep dark waters of west coast Tasmania. Photographer: Samuel Shelley. Image courtesy Hydrowood.
The Hydrowood harvester. Photographer: Adam Gibson. Image courtesy Hydrowood.
Treasures revealed from watery depths. Photographer: Adam Gibson. Image courtesy Hydrowood.
Salvaged blackwood. Photographer: Adam Gibson. Image courtesy Hydrowood.
Couch design by Simon Ancher. Photographer: Adam Gibson. Image courtesy Hydrowood.
Hydrowood presentation as part of LIMNIAL's monthly Creative Conversation sessions.
Hydrowood co-founder Andrew Morgan in Creative Conversation.
