Timber Re-use System

The Timber Reuse System is an ongoing design research project exploring how structural timber removed from existing buildings can be reused at high value. The first prototype transforms 18 Oregon timber members removed during the adaptation of Selby House into a new kitchen island. Each irregular piece is digitally measured and precisely milled using a five-axis CNC router. The components interlock without glue or mechanical fixings, allowing the island to be assembled from the ground up, then dismantled, repaired or reused again. The project tests a repeatable system for working with the variation, damage and traces of previous use found in salvaged timber. Rather than treating these qualities as defects, they become part of the design and extend the useful life of the existing material.

Client G—AP Collaborators Revival Sustainability Chris Wilkinson RMIT Architecture Fabrication Team Location Selby, Victoria Country Wurundjeri Woi-wurrung Country Year 2026–ongoing Status In progress Type Timber reuse, material research, digital fabrication, furniture system