Uhuru Design

Uhuru Design is a Brooklyn-based furniture design company that was founded in 2004 by Rhode Island School of Design graduates Jason Horvath and Bill Hilgendorf. The company is dedicated to sustainability and local craftsmanship, as exemplified by its "local materials" line launched in May 2024 for New York Design Week.

Uhuru's Coney Island Furniture Line comprises six limited edition pieces crafted from reclaimed Ipe wood taken from the demolished iconic Coney Island boardwalk. The wood, originally installed in the late 1940s, has weathered the elements for over 70 years, lending a unique character to the designs. The line interprets the duality of Coney Island, with pieces inspired by the whimsical summers and melancholy winters, as well as the architecture and attractions of the area.

Notable pieces include the Cyclone Lounger, inspired by the historic Cyclone rollercoaster, featuring undulating light and dark Ipe wood on a crisp white laser-cut metal base. The Wonder Wheel Coffee Table resembles a spinning ride, piecing together wedges of Ipe into a large wheel bolted with a steel plate. The Drop End Table captures the essence of the Parachute Jump landmark through mechanical connections on a steel base, crowned with a faceted Ipe top. The collection also features a Boardwalk Console echoing the inlaid pattern of the original boardwalk, a Drum Lamp inspired by concrete-filled oil cans, and a Saison Mirror that reveals long-forgotten character by scraping away layers of paint.