Inside Guy Bucchi's Workshop
In his workshop in Entraigues-sur-la-Sorgue, in the Vaucluse region of Provence, Guy Bucchi designs and handcrafts contemporary furniture in metal and wood, as well as sculptures and decorative objects.
Every creation begins with an idea, often sketched freehand on a sheet of paper, before taking shape in the workshop. Guy Bucchi favors working metal and wood by hand, paying particular attention to shapes, materials and details.
Iron, reclaimed wood, copper, leather, glass and even rope come together throughout his creations. Most of his furniture and sculptures are made as one-of-a-kind pieces or in small series.
Materials at the Heart of His Creations
Swamp Kauri, Ancient Wood from New Zealand
Among the woods used by Guy Bucchi, Swamp Kauri holds a special place. Native to New Zealand, Kauri (Agathis australis) is an iconic tree of the North Island and one of the oldest tree species on the planet.
Some Kauri trees grow to impressive sizes, with trunks reaching several meters in diameter. But it is also underground that this wood reveals an extraordinary history: ancient trunks have been preserved for thousands of years in the swampy soils of New Zealand.
Guy Bucchi uses this ancient wood to craft selected seats, backrests and other elements of his creations. For certain pieces, he also works with other New Zealand woods, such as pine and Macrocarpa. Combined with metal, these different wood species bring their own distinctive shades, textures and character to each creation.
Metal at the Heart of Guy Bucchi's Work
Metal is one of the essential materials in Guy Bucchi's work. He values its malleability, strength and durability. Worked and shaped by hand in his workshop, it becomes the structural foundation of his chairs, tables, sculptures and decorative objects.
Depending on the piece, Guy Bucchi works with metal alone or combines it with wood, creating a contrast between the strength and delicacy of metal structures and the natural character of the different wood species used.
The combination of wood and metal plays an important role in his work and directly contributes to the identity of his furniture and sculptures, which are mainly created as one-of-a-kind pieces or in small series.
Handcrafted Work Using Traditional Hand Tools
In his workshop, Guy Bucchi uses hand tools whenever possible to work with metal and wood. This approach allows him to maintain direct contact with the materials and carefully control every stage of the creative process.
Cutting, shaping, adjusting, assembling and finishing: every gesture contributes to the distinctive character of the final piece. This artisanal approach also respects the unique qualities of ancient woods, highlighting their history rather than attempting to make them uniform.
Each creation retains the marks of its materials and the craftsmanship that gives it its unique character.
“From sketch to material, every creation takes shape by hand in the workshop.”
Guy Bucchi develops his creations from freehand sketches, then shapes them in his workshop, giving an essential role to craftsmanship, materials and experimentation.
