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ABOUT

TEAK

Using teak as the only material enables the tables to define

spaces within diverse indoor and outdoor environments. From

an arid Mediterranean garden to a lush tropical backdrop or

a Nordic fjord deck, their tactile construction blends well

with any natural surroundings. Teak's high tensile strength

and tight grain make it an excellent structural timber and a

high-quality furniture wood. It is also rich in naturally occur-

ring oils, which make it inherently resistant to the effects of

weather and natural wear and therefore particularly suitable

for outdoor furniture. GUBI’s teak is buffed, bringing the natu-

ral oils already contained within the wood to the surface, and

burnished to produce a rich sheen and a consistent color.

The tables can be left outside, uncovered, and untreated all

year round, and will fade to a beautiful and even silver-gray

patina with a characterful, slightly raised, texture over time.

For those who wish to preserve the wood’s honey-gold tones,

an annual application of oil or sealant is a simple solution –

alternatively the tables can be flat-packed for winter storage.

The Atmosfera Collection only uses farmed plantation teak

with SVLK certification, which ensures biodiversity, sustain-

able forestry practices, and provides additional economic

benefits to the local economy. The tables pack flat for efficient

transport and are made from wood only, which avoids extra

processes and materials, such as metal or powder coating.

Teak wood consists of heartwood which comes from the cen-

ter of the trunk and is the most desirable and best-performing

wood of the teak tree. The heartwood is what is used by furni-

ture makers – it has a leather-like scent when newly sawn and

its initial yellowish color quickly darkens to its characteristic

rich brown hue.

The heartwood is rich in naturally occurring oils, which make

it inherently resistant to the effects of weather, insects, rot,

fungi and mildew, and therefore particularly suitable for out-

door furniture. Its natural oils prevent it from warping, crack-

ing or becoming brittle. The fact that its natural oils remain

locked in the wood mean that teak is one of the most durable

and long-lasting of all hardwoods, even if left uncared for. In

parts of Western India, teak objects have been found intact

that date back over 2,000 years.

Teak, or ‘tectona grandis’ to use its Latin name, originated

in India, Myanmar and Laos and ancient teak forests can

be found across south and southeast Asia, with Myanmar’s

forests still accounting for almost half the world’s naturally

occurring teak. Teak plantations were established in India, In-

donesia, equatorial Africa, and the Caribbean in 19th century.

Teak was first introduced to the Western world when sailors

and traders visiting India and China in the early 1800s were

impressed by the wood in widespread use as a boatbuilding

material. Teak has been used to make ocean-going vessels

for more than 2,000 years and it continues to be used in the

construction of ships and high-end yachts to this day. It was

only in the 1950s that it was introduced to America, and later

to Europe, when it quickly became a popular choice for out-

door furniture.