When most people think of cork furniture, they picture something humble and woodsy – more sustainably minded than statement-making. Studio AHEAD says: Why not both? Debuting at the Collectible Design Fair and available through The Future Perfect, the Cork Collection pairs renewable cork with reflective metal to create furniture that feels futuristic yet inviting. With its sleek curves and sculptural silhouettes, the San Francisco–based studio proves cork can be solarpunk, sophisticated, and surprisingly chic.
Founded by Homan Rajai and Elena Dendiberia, Studio AHEAD calls San Francisco home, but its perspective is shaped by far-flung roots in Iran and Russia. That mix of diasporic heritage and deep Northern California influence defines the studio’s “borderless” approach. Grounded in local history and craftsmanship yet open to global narratives, their work reflects an appreciation for tradition while imagining how design can look and feel in the future.
The Cork Collection does, indeed, look and feel futuristic. In fact, the series began with a question: What would furniture look like in the future, if that future had a sense of responsibility to humanity and nature? Comprising a table, bench, and stool, the collection balances the softness of rounded cork with the cool gleam of metal, creating silhouettes that are both sculptural and approachable. The reflective surfaces nod to a solarpunk future – a design movement that imagines technology working in harmony with nature – while the tactile cork grounds the collection in the earth. The result is a dialogue between the technological and the organic that feels distinctly Studio AHEAD.
The Cork Collection builds on Studio AHEAD’s ongoing exploration of renewable materials, following the Sheep Collection made from Northern California wool. Both series highlight the studio’s belief that sustainability and sculptural design can coexist. Everyday materials can be reimagined into furniture with cultural depth and contemporary relevance. With cork and chrome working in harmony, Studio AHEAD continues to expand its vision of what responsible, future-facing design looks like.
To learn more about the Cork Collection by Studio AHEAD, visit studioahead.com.
Photography by Ekaterina Izmestieva.