The Tree Kitchen

A real highlight for us last year was planning and realizing the Tree Kitchen together with the interior design company Kirchmair. We have already created several unique pieces of wooden furniture and objects, but this project was truly one of a kind. And, of course, a challenge—after all, transforming an entire tree trunk into a fully functional kitchen is not something we do every day.

But how did it all come about? The story began in the spring of 2018, quite an adventure, as is often the case when trees find their way to us. A farmer near our workshop in Perwang called us because he had to fell an oak tree. A beautiful border tree with a large diameter and "a small hole" in the trunk. When we arrived, we discovered that this "small hole" extended through the entire trunk, reaching up to 70 cm in diameter. In other words, the trunk was completely hollow. That was also the reason why the tree had died and needed to be felled.

So, the oak came to our workshop. First, it went into the drying chamber, but we didn’t yet know what we would make of it. It wasn’t until a brainstorming session with Hannes from Kirchmair that the idea of a mobile kitchen emerged. A kitchen that could be showcased at trade fairs, used for cooking demonstrations, or even for events. So, we started sketching and planning, always with the goal of keeping the trunk as intact as possible.

Once the design was finalized, we began the work. First, the trunk was brushed and cleaned. Then, we used a chainsaw to carve out the work surface, create a flat bottom, and cut out spaces for the kitchen appliances. Fortunately, since the trunk was already largely hollow, we had to remove much less material than expected.

After cleaning all surfaces and edges, the trunk was sent to the metalworker in late summer, where all metal components were fitted and installed. It then spent a few more weeks in the drying chamber to allow any remaining moisture to escape—done very carefully to prevent cracks in the final surface. In autumn, Kirchmair handled the installation of the kitchen appliances, surface finishing, and final assembly. All appliances were provided by the high-end German manufacturer Gaggenau, including the Teppanyaki grill plate integrated into the countertop and the hidden exhaust system.

Our goal was to present the Tree Kitchen at the Gastro Fair in Salzburg, and we succeeded. The trunk became the absolute highlight of the exhibition: not only was it displayed, but it was also used for live cooking demonstrations, where guests were treated to classic Austrian soul food.

We were thrilled to bring such a creative and unique project to life, and we hope to come across another extraordinary tree trunk soon!

PS: A two-meter-long section of the trunk was transformed into a cozy tree sofa with naturally treated leather upholstery and LED lighting!