Pinus Pinaster

Exploring the properties of resin  

Fabien Barrero-Carsenat’s ‘Pinus Pinaster’ (aka the Maritime Pine) collection is an exploration of resin. It all started when Barrero-Carsenat was wandering through a pine forest in the south of France and brown droplets of resin shining in the sunlight.

Curious, Barrero-Carsenat researched the history and composition of resin and then created a series of sustainable and eco-friendly applications for the material; cheese covers and trays, a carafe, a fruit bay, a lamp and an electric socket. “Every one is a result based on my resin exploration, each using a singular property.” says Barrero-Carsenat.

Cheese Cover and Tray make use of the anti-bacterial and fungicidal properties of resin. “What place is there in contemporary life for old fashioned cheese preservation? Nowadays we are used to think fridge only. This application uses the anti-bacterial substance contained inside resin. Using this method traditional cheese can stay longer in the maturity stage you like, without definitely stopping the cheese aging process. The covers can be used with three different wood trays, each with unique characteristics; Cedar, strong perfumed recommended for persons who want their cheese flavored and preserved longer, Cherry, an aesthetic tray for smooth and delicate taste and Hornbeam, a neutral tray with no smells.” Imperfections in the production of these items gave the pieces a unique material identity and aesthetic dimension.The Standard Carafe for drinking water uses the waterproofing qualities of resin and is made with unglazed white ceramic outside and a resin layer inside. “Every ‘bistro’ or popular restaurant [in France] re-uses empty wine bottles to serve the free drinking water on tables. This carafe design is a popular french restaurant standard. Waterproofing with resin means x12 the energy saved. You do not need to bake the ceramic at 1200°C a second time, resin is liquid enough at 85°C.”

The Electric Wall Socket is made “recycling all of my experiment’s waste. Installed inside our homes, this standard requires no change, it has to be static. Using a complex composite of resin waste, we are not only producing a simple standard, but also recycling all the unconsumed material in a cradle to cradle cycle. Moreover, the resin changes color with passing time, offering a ‘static evolution’ of our sockets, behaving like the Wabi-Sabi Japanese philosophy whose exposed object gets nicer and better day after day.” Photos: Paula Cermeno.