Calenda
Calenda is a furniture piece that reinterprets the spirit of the Oaxacan celebration through material, texture, and form, transforming cultural identity into a contemporary design object.
Calenda is a handcrafted furniture piece inspired by the Oaxacan celebration that carries the same name. The objective of the project was to translate cultural symbolism and festive energy into a functional object for the home, while honoring traditional materials and artisanal processes.
To achieve this, I personally developed and fabricated the piece from start to finish. The structure was constructed from wood panels that I cut, assembled, and bent using controlled heat and horizontal relief cuts to create curvature. The legs were built from parota wood, shaped, sanded, and finished to highlight their natural warmth. I incorporated woven bejuco textile to reference traditional craft techniques, and designed a sun-shaped wooden accent as a symbolic gesture tied to celebration and identity.
The final result is a contemporary domestic object that merges cultural narrative with material exploration, craftsmanship, and structural experimentation.
I chose a warm neutral tone for the body to create a contemporary base that allows the natural materials to stand out. The parota wood adds warmth and authenticity, while the woven textile introduces texture and cultural reference. Together, the palette balances modern minimalism with traditional craftsmanship.
