Design Reflects Canada’s History At The G7 Summit

When world leaders congregated at this year’s G7 Summit in Kananaskis, Canada, they were sitting among furniture that revealed the depths of the country’s natural history. Montréal-based designer Thom Fougere, whose work is rooted in craftsmanship, was commissioned by the government of Canada to create the pieces on display, which mark the Summit’s 50th anniversary and emphasize the appeal of Canada’s natural elements.

Constructed using Tyndall stone, a fossil-rich limestone found in Manitoba—where Fougere attended university and worked—two identical 1,200-pound tables create a striking presence while a matching side table with a carved recess at center, filled with flowering Saskatoon berry branches, serves as a focal point in the Summit’s intimate Leaders’ Lounge. Historically used in some of Canada’s most important public buildings, including the Parliament buildings in Ottawa, Tyndall stone has long held architectural significance. However, its potential in furniture design has remained largely unexplored until 2011, when Fougere sourced some for a coffee table.

“It was a little difficult to source clear, structural stone in the dimensions I specified,” the designer shares. “Tyndall stone is a wild, and varied stone with wild mottling and patterning that can often affect the integrity of the stone.”