If you have lovingly restored an old Craftsman home, with its dark wood, stained glass, and hand-crafted built-in cabinets, chances are you’re not going to shop for light fixtures at Home Depot.
You’ll make the pilgrimage to Old California in Orange, which individually handcrafts home goods inspired by historical design.
Los Angeles -- In 2020, the Bobcat fire burned more than 100,000 acres in and around Southern California’s Angeles National Forest, laying waste to countless old-growth coniferous trees. Thanks to Would Works, Angel City Lumber, and a Wood Innovations Grant from the USDA Forest Service, some of these trees are getting a new life -- and creating new opportunities for people facing barriers to employment.
As we dive into a new year, it's inspiring to see our work with Angel City Lumber gaining recognition. Sarah Watlington recently penned a piece in Fine Woodworking, shining a spotlight on our collaboration and the impact it's having on our community.
Would Works was thrilled to be an exhibitor at the 35th Annual Southern California Association of Non Profit Housing Conference this past week! We shared with non profit housing developers our newest collection of outdoor furniture, LA Timber Bridge, designed specifically for use in permanent supportive and affordable housing sites.
Recently, our Community Builders Program was tasked to fabricate a 12 foot long communal bench for the 56 unit Aster Apartments, an affordable housing site located in South LA.
This winter Would Works staff and Artisans from our Community Builders Program accompanied our friends from Angel City Lumber(ACL) on a trip to the Angeles National Forest where we acquired large fire damaged pine logs that we'll be turning into outdoor furniture this Spring!
Would Works Community Builders Program (CBP) recently partnered with the local non-profit LA Compost (LAC) to create wood structures and compost related objects for LAC hubs. Check out our first project--a set of 22 compost sifters!
Our Community Builders just completed their first commission--a fleet of eight custom built entry-way benches for the Willowbrook, a permanent supportive housing site in South LA.
In this unique new funding opportunity, Would Works Staff and Artisans will be working with the Angeles National Forest to acquire felled trees from wildfire prevention projects in the urban/rural interface around LA. We will be releasing a line of outdoor furniture built by WW Artisans from this sustainably sourced material in 2023!
Would Works' new Community Builders Program is building outdoor furniture for the Willowbrook--a new permanent supportive housing site in South LA. Our first cohort of Builders is learning the fundamentals of designing, prototyping and building large scale furniture pieces for their community.
For the last month, a team of Would Works staff members and community partners have been participating in an intensive design workshop at the Stanford d.school. Through interviews, co-design sessions, observations and prototypes, our team is helping to redesign the waiting area experience at the Skid Row Community Refresh Spot.