The project started with the visit of the parquet manufacture in Burgundy. We were most interested in the machine that bias cuts the wood boards. This machine is traditionnaly used for the so-called “hungarian stitch” parquets known since the 18th century.

We designed the Oaxel parquet using the bias cuts in a new way. By working on wood shades this parquet may be considered as a graphic display method, quite like a digital picture made of pixels.

To illustrate this principle, we created a large artwork depicting Europe and its neighbouring territories.

This parquet offers several meanings and experiences, from the abstract geometric detail when seen at close range to the global understanding of the whole picture when seen from above. It’s a play on scales between the space actually taken on the floor and the territories it represents.

detail: Spain - Morocco - Algeria - Balearic Island

detail: Western Sahara

detail: Ukrain

detail: Egypt - Nile Delta - Red Sea

Further, we used Oaxel principles to design abstract and geometric patterns to compose easy to lay and innovative parquet. In order to make the laying easier and more precise, the elementary module that is provided to the installer is a pre-assembled cross. The variety of pre-assembled cross modules allows a wide range of patterns with all or some of the available shades of wood.