Note from the editor:

Inspired by radical Italian designer Enzo Mari, this practical book with step-by-step DIY projects for hand built, beautiful furniture is a tribute to his simple ideas that challenged the consumerism of the furniture industry.

Many interpreted Enzo Mari’s book “Autoprogettazione?” as a manifesto of nostalgic longing for a pre-capitalist society where people built what they needed themselves, but Mari’s goal wasn’t to make people cease consuming. Mari wanted people to consider the more basic aspects of the objects we surround ourselves with and what it is that makes a piece of furniture, beautiful, comfortable and functional.

Taking Enzo Mari and his book as his influence, Erik Eje Almqvist unpacks the practical aspects of the “Autoprogettazione?” theory, offering simple designs for handbuilt, beautiful furniture. Using just a hammer, nails and boards cut to standard dimensions, “Hammer & Nail” explores only a few techniques but arms the reader with skills and inspiration for life. With easy-to-follow instructions and diagrams, there are basic methods for making furniture joints, and includes tips on how to avoid cracking boards as you go, making clean cuts with a saw, and ideas on surface treatments.