The Aartvark Collective

21/02/2024

Mirror and concrete sink made by Cobus .collective

21/01/2024

We .collective are in the final weeks of closing down our workshop in the UK and moving to Greece!
We have a few pieces of handcrafted artisanal furniture avaliable for some lucky collector. Pieces include the designer concrete sofa made for Decorex international and Van Gogh dining table.

These pieces are made over hours and hours by master craftsman Cobus Swart, and they will be his final pieces in the UK for now.

I'd be happy to keep everything to be honest, but we are driing to Greece and need to travel a bit lighter.

So if anyone is interested now is the time. We leave in 2 weeks. Everything at huge discounts.
Please DM us.

Thank you. Really. A huge thank you to you for your support and loving our work in the UK. Please keep in touch for our next chapter in Greece!

20/01/2024

ON SALE
Ferrari Chair by Cobus Swart .collective

An exquisite piece crafted from Mahogany, Oak and Sepele wood; each wood layered and inlaid over many sessions to get the final piece with it's many subtle details.

The angles and spaces allowing the light to shine through, around, and from under. The back perfectly angled to recline in... after a good meal with a good book we say.

20/01/2024

The master-craftsman behind the magic.

Cobus started his career in New Zealand where he trained as a carpenter in both residential and commercial builds, Swart completed his degree at Northteck College in Whangarei. After university, Swart furthered his education in Whangarei with apprenticeships for Kerr Construction and Concrete Homes. During his years with Kerr, Swart gained invaluable experience in all facets of building and civil engineering from some of the country’s most experienced engineers, surveyors, construction managers and foreman.

Next in his career Swart ventured into the emerging field of environmental sustainability at the then start-up company Concrete Homes. It is here where he developed his passion for simplifying the building process, building smaller footprint high quality homes and minimising the impacts of builds on the environment.

As a Civil Supervisor for Ryman Construction, Swart spent the next few years managing teams to coordinate public works for large scale build companies. Together they successfully built entire villages that are now thriving communities with proper storm drainage, civil and work roads, in ground and external infrastructure and beautiful landscaping.

Returning to his home country of South Africa, Swart took on a Site Manager position at E4 Construction. The builds he oversaw in Mozambique were both some of his most challenging and rewarding work. Under harsh weather conditions, Swart led teams of 12 to 200 professionals in building luxury timber lodges. The attention to detail of these structures are works of art as well as testaments to Swart’s aesthetic as an artist.

Among Swart’s proudest achievements from his years in Africa is his signature work on the construction of the E.O. Wilson Biodiversity Centre in Gorongosa National Park.

Since settling in Oxford with his family and establishing The aArtvark Collective, Swart quickly set up shop, and has created nationally reknowned projects including and a disappearing boathouse in Goring. Now moving to Greece, Cobus will be taking on the next chapter of his global award winning portfolio.

Thank you for reading.

20/01/2024

SALE
RETRO TV CABINET made by Cobus Swart .collective
£3400 reduced to £1500

This grande unit is made from over 280 individual hand-crafted pieces of various UK sourced woods.

It took Cobus months and months to complete. A labour of love indeed. It makes a perfect drinks cabinet, and bar in fact. Or a cupboard for games, toys, ... you can actually hide a small child in there.

It's certainly the centre of attention in any home. It's an exceptional piece. Smooth edges and finite detail. Look at the details of the handles. Perfection.

Someone very lucky is going to give this piece a home.

20/01/2024

SALE SALE SALE

We are moving our workshop to Greece and we have some of Cobus's incredible pieces of artisanal furniture avaliable to purchase at give away prices.

Go to Www.aartvark.co.uk/interior to see what we have. Offers welcome.

♡
We want to pay for fuel to drive our landrover to Greece!

17/01/2024

Congratulations to newly made British citizen Cobus Swart! What a fantasticly important and wonderful day. We are so happy Cobys has been granted citizenship and to have all of our family on the same passport. Thank you so much to the UK home office.
I don't think we have the words to express how releived we are. After 8 years of running an exciting business in the UK, being a great contributing citizen ( we hope!) and 4 very stressful and expensive visa applications ( with the recent 8 months apart from my family waiting for my citizenship), Cobus has been accepted to be a Brit. Hurray.

No more complaining about Brits at the workplace now Coubs, because you are one ; )

16/12/2023

NEW BLOG
At the beginning of the year we were presented an exciting proposal and plans by architect Andrew Pettican from Bluesketch Studio, to build a stainless steel clad boathouse, in Goring, in an idyllic spot on the banks of the river Thames.

We embarked on the project in June 2023 with our small team, and Cobus is within a week of completion at time of writing.

The building was built with timber framing on steel posts. The architect designed the building to be elevated to give the wildlife room to live under and not affect the surrounding natural environment, as well as protect against flooding.

The roof will be a “Green Roof” with grasses on the edges to also contribute to it’s sustainable footprint, and to disguise the building even further.

The highlight and defining factor of the mirrored outside cladding was a challenge but Cobus figured it out. The outside panels were made by stainless steel sheeting bent around panels mechanically fixed to batons on the building. It took a while, but I am sure you agree the outcome is magical.

The main living room includes an open plan living area with kitchen and bathroom with mod cons including under floor heating, incinerator toilet, hot water with fully fitted kitchen with oven, dishwasher fridge freezer etc, which includes a bespoke concrete counter top made by Cobus at the Aartvark Collective.

The internal was clad with birch ply and 18 mil laminate oak flooring.

The bathroom was micro cemented throughout including walls and the vanity unit was also made and designed by Cobus Swart bespoke for the project.

It was a privilege to be involved in such a special project and within such a setting. The architect Andrew Pettican from Blue Sketch Designs did an incredible design and we are very very grateful that we were able to bring it to fruition.

A beautiful last project for the UK for now. x

https://www.aartvark.co.uk/news-clay/2023/12/13/disappearing-boathouse-goring-upon-thames

At the beginning of the year we were presented an exciting proposal and plans by architect Andrew Pettican from Bluesketch Studio, to build a stainless steel clad boathouse, in Goring, in an idyllic spot on the banks of the river Thames. We embarked on the project in June 2023 with our small team

06/12/2023

Hi all.

Our brilliant festive flat packed reindeer are back, and avaliable to purchase.

We have 20 of the life sized adults left for 20 lucky families this year. Selling at cost price as we are closing our Oxford workshop. £70

They are designed and made by master-craftsman Cobus Swart and made from high quality ply wood; sanded and rowted and ready for you to build ( and paint) with your family in time for Christmas.

Please get in touch if youd like one. We can deliver locally Oxfordshire and West Berkshire.

Thank youcollective

23/11/2023

Hi guys.
I cannot beleive it's coming up to Christmas again.
We just wanted to let you know we are have some exquisite of Master-Craftsman Cobus Swart furniture avaliable. .collective

This includes our retro tv sideboard, the internationally reknowned curvy concrete sofa, and river shelves.
We will release more details over the weeks about each individual item and there will be more info on our website.

Please tell your friends and get in touch for more information.

Cobus +447551009570