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.

Projects include: Sheep chair, Tilting Shaker chair, Pinstol/Windsor chair, Garden chair, Arts & Crafts chair, Ski chair, Mirror stool, Stackable stool, Beer table, Kitchen bench, Park bench, Sofa, Top and tail bed, Dining table, Worktable, Cabinet, Gun Kessle’s shelf and Giraffe lamp.

Gold title

• Enzo Mari was a world-renowned designer, artist, critic and theorist, particularly well-known for his Arts & Crafts-inspired furniture design and the beloved ’16 Anamali’ puzzle made for Danese. Since his death in November 2020 his work is having a resurgence in being celebrated with exhibitions and retrospectives. His iconic designs continue to sell around the world.
• Mari was egalitarian in his beliefs providing a free manual for his designs in 1974 which, at the time, was hugely successful. Hammer & Nail brings Enzo Mari’s popular designs to a new audience.
• The COVID-19 pandemic saw a significant rise in people partaking in DIY and crafts. ‘Millenials tend to take on a variety of DIY projects, including everything from furniture to creative potted plants’, with ‘many people choosing DIY projects as a means to beat stress.’ (Digitaljournal.com, May 2021)