Enzo Mari Workshop in North Yorkshire #2

Last weekend, we welcomed six participants to Motor House for a two-day furniture-making workshop inspired by Enzo Mari’s Autoprogettazione—his 1974 open-source manual that encourages people to build their own furniture using simple tools and standard timber. The project remains a powerful statement on self-sufficiency, design accessibility, and the joy of making by hand.

Reworking the Chair

We began with Mari’s small seated chair design, using it as a starting point for each participant to adapt and evolve based on their own needs. Along the way, everyone learned key woodworking skills: wood planing, using a circular saw, and working with wood grain and finishes. Participants also experimented with stains and lacquer, exploring how surface treatments can transform raw material.

Making a Table, Sharing a Meal

On day two, the group came together to build a communal dining table from the Autoprogettazione manual. Working side by side, we cut, assembled, and finished the piece—culminating in a shared dinner around the newly made table.

The workshop had a wonderful rhythm of making and conversation. Enzo Mari’s vision of accessible, hands-on design came to life—and we’re already planning the next one.