5 km Elastic cord Christmas Tree

Studio Roso was invited to do the V&A’s annual Christmas tree in 2011 as part of the V&A’s ongoing series of winter commissions. Before us, Tord Boontje , Alexander McQueen, Jasper Conran Matthew Williamson amongst others had the honor of the prestigious task.

Inspired by the intricate craft of “bobbin lace”, an Italian lace technique that dates back to the 16th century and used in traditional Christmas decorations, we created a handmade tree of 5 km elastic cord standing 4 feet tall.

A total of 1,500 individual strands create the outline of a traditional Christmas tree. Within these strands a number of geometric shapes are created, referencing both traditional Christmas ornaments and the crystalline structure of snowflakes and icicles, providing an intricate and decorative garland throughout the installation.