The Unique Production Process of Haven

From the moment of it’s first unveiling for the 2023 season, many of those viewing Sebastian Herkner’s Haven collection for the first time have shared a common refrain: remarking on the beauty of the curvature of Haven’s teak plank back and arm rests. While these curved teak planks have made appearances in Gloster’s catalogue before with their usage on Archi and Lima Dining chairs, it is on the Haven collection where they carry the most stylistic significance. In this chapter of the Gloster Quarterly Newsletter, we will showcase the intensive production process that goes into producing this visually striking component of one of Gloster’s most popular introductions for the 2023 season.

While the natural strength and resiliency of teak is what makes it an ideal material for outdoor furniture use, these characteristics represent a major hurdle to overcome when seeking to produce the planks of Haven. Simply put, the long and sturdy grains of Gloster teak planks do not take lightly to being bent into curved panels. The first step in doing so comes from our timber sourcing department when they select the highest “Veneer Grade” teak logs and begin slicing them into a thin veneer—usually around 1 millimeter thickness.

Freshly sliced teak veneer panels ready to undergo the production process.

After an adequate amount of teak veneer planks have been prepared, each plank is laid flat and treated with an application of glue. Applied to one face of each veneer plank, this glue is specially designed for outdoor use and is resistant to all types of precipitation, UV exposure, and temperature extremes. After enough planks have been prepared with the application of glue, they are stacked into bundles thick enough to serve as the arm or back rests of a finished piece of the Haven collection.

Special glue is applied to the face of each veneer plank. Once prepared, veneer planks are stacked to the required thickness.

Once a bundle of the required thickness has been produced, it is placed into a mold shaped to the desired curvature of a Haven plank. The mold and bundle of veneer is then placed into a press where extreme pressure is applied. After enough time has passed for the glue to dry and the pressure to have re-shaped the teak planks, the veneers are removed from the press—now permanently holding the desired curvature.

A laminating press preparing teak slat components for use on a piece of the Haven collection .

The curved teak component that comes out of this process can be subsequently cut and shaped just as if it was solid wood. Gloster’s production process has effectively taken solid teak, sliced it, and re-assembled it in the curved shape of a Haven component.

A stack of freshly produced curved teak planks sits ready for assembly as a component of a piece of the Haven collection.      

The seamless incorporation of the curved slats and smooth, effortless aesthetic of the Haven collection belies the intensive production process that goes into creating these unique pieces. Only through a synergy between Gloster’s teak production team, research and development division, and production capabilities is designer Sebastian Herkner’s vision brought to life while maintaining our standards of longevity and quality.

Explore all that the Haven collection has to offer here.