overview - aemmceby chris lefteri, wgsn-homebuildlife, 21 december 2011 alpicord by alpi a con...
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Overview
By Chris Lefteri, WGSN-homebuildlife, 21 December 2011
With its warm tone and natural textured grain, there really is no other material comparable with wood. Butit seems that people often take this wonderfully versatile yet humbly reliable material for granted.
We tend to generalise the term "wood" much in the same way as plastics, yet the sheer diversity affordedby the enormous quantity of species and varieties available is astounding, each exhibiting uniquephysical and aesthetic characteristics. For instance the timber from a pine tree is relatively soft and easilycarved, whereas something like larch is naturally very hard and durable. For any given species theattributes will vary tremendously and there is a real beauty in applying these properties in a sensitive andappropriate way.
Wood is undergoing a huge transformation in order to keep up with modern alternatives like plastic andmetal that offer unfounded processing and moulding capabilities. In the plight to compete, excessiveexperimentation and inspired material concoctions are being investigated to fashion exciting newcomposites that are reviving wood for the technical and mass-produced markets – as witnessed withinjection mouldable wood in Evolve. In addition, alternative processing techniques are being exploredsuch as Wood Welding in Process, that are broadening and cross-breeding manufacturing opportunitieswhile the contrasting combination of wood with advanced electronics in technology sees everything frommobile phones to bicycles crafted from this classic material to add unusual charm to typically plasticproducts.
Wood paper at Inventables
KEY TRENDS
A growing awareness towardsresponsible green living is seeingdesigners shun the use of virginmaterials in favour of recyclingweathered woods that add characterand romanticism through a storytellingelementExperimental manufacture ischallenging our perception of thisancient material and defying previousrestrictions in its production to broadenfuture fields of applicationUnexpected combinations of materialsare being blended with natural woodsto enhance their inherent propertiesand deliver greater performance forspecific and diverse usesElectronic and technical goodsconventionally produced in plastics ormetals are given a craft-like aestheticwhen combined with a carved woodenexterior that evokes a nostalgia fortimes pastMaterial perception is challenged whensurprising or unusual sources such ascoconut shells are tapped into andapplied to mass-produced goods
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Fakers
By Chris Lefteri, WGSN-homebuildlife, 21 December 2011
Alpicord by Alpi
A con artist of sorts, wood laminates offer thebeautiful appearance and texture of naturalwood in a huge variety of grain patterns andtones to any material when it is applied to thesurface like a second skin.
www.alpi.it
Syntrewood by Lasentiu
Recycled bottles and caps, plastic bags and cardare all blended together to produce this woodimitation material that can be machined andworked just like a wood.
www.lasentiu.com
Wooden Forms by Peter Marigold Wooden Forms by Peter Marigold Decorative wood composite at Inventables
British furniture designer Peter Marigold has fashioned woodenimpressions in metals and plaster using hot wax to cast thetexture. He says of the project, "The forms are wooden in thatthey have been created using wood rather than being made ofwood. They therefore reference wood as an active verb ratherthan a monumental noun."
www.petermarigold.com
Replacing both fine wood andlumber in architecturalapplications, this versatile woodcomposite with its dramatic grainpattern is made from the stalksof the sorghum plant that areheat pressed with a water-basedadhesive to produce this
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Technology
By Chris Lefteri, WGSN-homebuildlife, 21 December 2011
Solid wood iPhone dock by Koostik
These hollowed out, hemispherical soundchambers hand-carved from a single solid blockof wood, amplify the sound of any iPhone for alo-fi, low cost and technologically simplisticsound system that requires no power.
www.koostik.com
The Perfect Unison by David Burela
Dutch designer David Burela seamlessly fusesthe natural and classic aesthetic of wood withmodern technology in these sleek, single stripheadphones carved from birch plywood.
www.theperfectunisonnews.blogspot.com
Maple Phone by Hyun Jin Yoon and Eun Hak Lee
Comprising two smooth blocks of maple woodthat slide apart, this mobile phone conceptcombines the timeless classicism of woodenforms with advanced electronics that expressesa romantic juxtaposition of materials andtechnology.
Biodegradable car by Albrecht Birkner in collaboration with Kenneth Cobonpue
This futuristic concept vehicle by Albrecht Birknerin collaboration with Kenneth Cobonpue,presented at Milan design week 2011, isconstructed from a combination of sustainably-sourced rattan wood and bamboo so that the carwill biodegrade at the end of its life of use.Although in the early stages of its conception and
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www.yankodesign.com far from roadworthy, the concept presents analternative future of materials within automotivedesign.
www.albrechtbirkner.com
iTree by KMKG Studio
Merging the natural and unassuming aestheticof raw wood with digital music technology, thishuge tree trunk has been delicately carved intoa high performance speaker system by AustrianDesign house KMKG Studio.
www.kmkg.org
Wooden radio by Magno
Toy-like in its appearance, the simplistic detailingof this wooden radio with its clunky large dialsand contrasting wood shades translateselectronics into pieces of crafted furniture.
www.magno-design.com
Contemplating Monolithic Design by BarberOsgerby & Sony Design
Exploring the ways in which technology andfurniture can co-exist, British design duoBarberOsgerby collaborated with Sony Designsto present this solid wood speaker with a 360degree acoustic field that embodies a newarchetype for speaker design.
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Salvage
By Chris Lefteri, WGSN-homebuildlife, 21 December 2011
Richmond Olympic Oval by Cannon Design
Arching over an impressive speed skating rink,this elegant skeletal structure is constructedfrom a cross-laminated lumber that is sourcedfrom trees that were killed by the Pine beetleinfestation that has devastated almost half ofColorado’s forests. Strong, fire-resistant andattractive, this cross-laminated timber provides aviable alternative to concrete and steelconstruction materials while preventing thewaste of an enormous quantity of wood.
www.cannondesign.com
Yucca Crater by Ball Nogues Studio
Located in the desolate and sparse plains of adesert in California rises this organically shapedcrater made from plywood that has beenreclaimed from a previous building project. In factthe two structures were designed in unison toallow for the greatest re-use of material with theskeleton structure and method of productionbecoming the central aesthetic that doubles asboth a climbing frame and pool.
www.ball-nogues.com
Hardwood flooring by Bolefloor
Snaking seamlessly, these unusual curvededges portray and follow the natural curvature of
Mango wood bowls
The mango tree is worth far more than just thefruit it bears. The species grows at a notably fast
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Artist, musician and renowned treehouse builder Roger Romero has constructed this explosive andenergetic framework structure from a blend of 100% reclaimed Brazilian hardwoods described as a
the tree growth that not only creates a visuallystriking aesthetic but reduces wasted wood byusing as much of the tree as possible. Bothsurreal and poetic in its appearance, thisproduct offers a responsible alternative to thetypically straight edged boards that we havebecome accustomed to and ultimately offersmore flooring per forest.
www.bolefloor.com
rate but are often cut down and burnt oncereaching a certain size when they stop producingfruit. However, this wood has a beautifully richand colourful grain pattern exhibiting an array ofcolours including green, yellow and even hints ofpink when delicately carved.
www.mangowoodhome.com
Salvaged wood headboard by House Tweaking
Raw and distressed fencing planks arereclaimed and amalgamated to create thiselegantly rustic headboard that breathes a newlease of life into this otherwise waste material.
www.housetweaking.com
Home Emperor Seat by Still Novo Design
French wine barrels are reimagined as solidstools by Still Novo Design with the red wine-stained oak cut into small strips that preserve andintegrate the natural arch of its previous form tocreate this alluring bowed silhouette.
www.etsy.com
Treeless Treehouse by Roderick Romero Treeless Treehouse by Roderick Romero
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Process
By Chris Lefteri, WGSN-homebuildlife, 21 December 2011
Folding wood by Snijlab
Dutch digital designersSnijlab have accomplished amanufacturing feat with theirfoldable wood sheet that usesthe conventional laser cuttingtechnique to create tiny andintricate cuts that allow for therigid sheet to bend in multipledirections without snapping orbreaking.
www.snijlab.nl
Wood welding
The result of a fortunateaccident in a woodworkingstudio, the process of weldingcan now be applied to woodallowing two surfaces to bejoined without the need forglues or screws. The processuses ultra high-speedvibration that "melts" the cellstructure within the wood andcauses the fibres to entangleand form a single piece.
www.nordicforestresearch.org
Bendy Wood
Warping our perception of therigid and stiff properties ofwood, Bendywood transformshardwoods into fluid andflowing forms that maintain thewarm and gentle feel of woodwhile offering unprecedentedopportunities within furnitureproduction.
www.bendywood.info
Tree-D Printing by Freedom of Creation Tree-D Printing by Freedom of Creation Poured Wood Stool by Henry Lawrence
In development for over two years, Dutch rapid-prototypingexperimentalists Freedom of Creation have invented a methodfor constructing intricate and delicate forms in wood using a 3D-
Equal parts of wood and rubberare combined to create a mouldfor concrete to be poured into,
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printing technique conventionally used for plastics.
www.freedomofcreation.com
culminating in a flowing grain-like impression on the exterior ofthe moulded stool.
www.henrylawrencestudio.com
©WGSN 2012
Evolve
By Chris Lefteri, WGSN-homebuildlife, 21 December 2011
Wooden bone
Scientists in Italy have madea ground-breakingdiscovering in thedevelopment of artificialreplacement bones using atype of wood that is typicallyused to produce furniture.Injected with chemicalsincluding calcium, the crosssection of the rattan woodsubstance created is almostidentical to human bone andactually fuses with the naturalbones so that eventually thejoin will no longer be visible.
Injection mouldable wood by Werzalit
Combining the workability andappearance of a wood withthe manufacturingpossibilities and viscosity of aplastic, this hybrid material isblended from polypropyleneand wood chips to mouldforms in such detail andcomplexity never beforepossible in wood.
www.werzalit.com
Valchromat engineered coloured wood byInvestwood
Dubbed as an evolution ofMDF, this panel sees woodfibre dyed with organiccolourants before beingchemically bonded with aspecial resin to give it uniquephysical and mechanicalproperties.
www.investwood.pt
Thermowood by Finnforest
The moisture content of thisFinnish timber is reduced
Medite Ultralite MDF
Preserving the uniformsurface smoothness and
Translucent wood at Inventables
Light and shadows becomevisible through the grain
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using a steam-heatingprocess to deliver alightweight and stable woodthat is naturally water andfungi resistant without the useof any chemical additives.
www.finnforest.co.uk
stability of a conventionalMDF, this lightweightalternative is exceptionallystrong and rigid whilesignificantly reduced in weightto alleviate handling andmachining.
www.medite-europe.com
pattern of this thin slice ofwood that has beensandwiched between twoplastic sheets.
www.inventables.com
©WGSN 2012
Unconventional
By Chris Lefteri, WGSN-homebuildlife, 21 December 2011
American Black Walnut bicycle by Lagomorph
Combining his passion for both wood andcycling, furniture-maker Seth Deysach designedthis elegant single speed bike with a powerfulgeometric structure and exposed joins from arich American Black Walnut timber.
www.lagomorphdesign.com
Wooden glasses frames by Proof
Not only visually striking but environmentallyfriendly, these glasses frames use 100%sustainably sourced wood instead of theconventional plastic. The initiative is not only eco-friendly in terms of materials – for each pairpurchased one is sent to a recent sight-surgerypatient in India.
www.iwantproof.com
Bamboo Chocolate Factory, Sibang, Bali
Credited as the largest all-bamboo commercialbuilding ever constructed, this impressivelydaring structure in Bali houses a chocolatefactory. The bamboo imposes a uniquely rawaesthetic while offering a strong and sustainable
Eco-Sustainable House, Antony, France by Djuric Tardio
At first glance the roof of this house may appearincomplete, but this exposed frame structure is apivotal design feature of this eco house as itserves as a food growing facility.
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alternative construction material.
www.bigtreefarms.com
www.djuric-tardio.com
Bamboo flooring by Top Wood Flooring
Hard-wearing and strong, this sustainablealternative to hardwood flooring has a beautiful,fine and distinctive grain pattern.
www.topwoodflooring.com
Stadthaus, London by Waugh Thistleton
The pixelated exterior cladding of this nine-storeytimber building in Hackney is composed from 5,000 individual British Sweet Chesnut panels inshades of grey, black and white that portraypatterns in light and shadow. The structure willsave 125 tonnes of carbon emissions incomparison to a concrete structure.
www.waughthistleton.com
Coconut shell tiles at Inventables
Reclaimed coconut shells from the food industryimpart a tropical flair in these decorative tilesthat propose a unique and novel new purposefor this discarded material.
www.inventables.com
Wood paper at Inventables
Real woods including maple, cherry and birch aresliced into ultra-thin sheets that bring the naturaland warm appearance and texture of wood toapplications such as electronics where woodcould not be used before.
www.inventables.com©WGSN 2012
Wood pellets by Forever Fuels
Rising oil costs have caused the popularity ofwooden pellet stoves to soar as a sustainableand efficient alternative for heating the home. Made from recycled sawdust without the use ofany plastic binders, these pellets areinexpensive and produce very little waste.
www.forever-fuels.com
©WGSN 2012