A story behind every salvaged abandoned log
Around 13,000 trees will be felled over the next 13 years. Currently, a massive stockpile of logs in several sawmills sits waiting, unused.
Rather than letting these logs go to waste, a second life needs to be
given to such an invaluable and respectable resource.
This sparked the birth of The Local Tree Project, an initiative that salvages
trees that have been felled. It rehabilitates these abandoned logs by turning
them into durable, future-proof objects and furniture.
The Local Tree Project is an effort to salvage trees that are destined to die — in an environment where there isn’t room for the old and outdated.
Currently, there are multiple sawmills in Singapore with massive stockpiles of abandoned logs. More than 100 logs arrive each day, with no immediate purpose other than to be turned into wood chips or shipping pallets someday.
The stockpiles are the result of felling trees for urban development. But because of a lack of infrastructure to process the logs into usable forms, and a preference for importing wood, these logs are simply left to rot.
Every part of the tree is utilised — a conscious effort to minimise wastage. Sawdust, shavings and wood chips get a new life as fertiliser, packaging material, or are used to soak up spills. By using already-felled trees that have been cut down for urban development — instead of importing new raw materials — the project highlights an important issue, while restoring the aesthetic pleasure that these trees once provided for Singapore.
Angsana Pterocarpus indicus
A tree native to South-east Asia, it was made popular in Singapore as a shade tree. Known for its boastful range of golden-yellow and reddish-brown tones, its grains are wavy and well-defined. It also gives off a nice, natural lingering fragrance when you work on it. An optimal choice for indoor furniture and fine objects.
African mahogany Khaya senegalensis
Locally referred to as Khaya, this hardwood owns deep, dark reddish hues. Just like the raintree, its a favoured roadside tree that was introduced in the late 1970s. Native to the region of Africa, khaya is extremely hardy and adaptable in Singapore’s harsh climate.
RaintreeSamanea saman
Introduced to Singapore’s soil in the 1880s, you can spot the raintree planted all across our island. Its grains extends from a light-yellow sapwood to a rich, light to dark chocolate heartwood. Due to the way the tree grows, the timber normally spots criss-cross grains, giving a variety of patterns within each slab.
Robust, sturdy and resistant, it is versatile in furniture-making.
