
Dutch designer creates flexible wood for furniture range
Dutch designer Carolien Laro has pioneered a revolutionary approach to woodworking, demonstrating that solid wood can be transformed into a pliable, flexible material capable of bending and flexing under pressure. Her innovative Spring Wood collection challenges traditional perceptions of wood as a rigid material, opening up vast possibilities for furniture design, product development, and even architectural applications. The collection, which was showcased at Milan Design Week 2016, is the result of extensive experimentation with conventional wood sawing techniques combined with the precise cutting of slots into solid wood pieces.
The core of Laro's technique involves collaborating with woodworking company Ritmeester to produce a specialized ash wood material. This process begins with gluing multiple layers of wood together to form a single, highly durable panel. Following this, intricate grooves are meticulously cut into both the top and underside surfaces of these wooden panels using advanced CNC milling technology. These precisely engineered grooves are what imbue the wood with its remarkable elasticity, allowing it to flex and spring while retaining its structural integrity.
Crafting the seating surfaces, particularly the 'pillow' components of her designs, is a labor-intensive process, requiring more than 480 individual CNC groove-milling steps. This level of precision and detail highlights the sophisticated engineering behind Laro's work, ensuring both the aesthetic appeal and functional flexibility of each piece.
The Spring Wood collection features several distinctive furniture designs, each showcasing the versatility of this new material. Among these are 'The Paperclip,' a contemporary stool characterized by its stainless steel legs, offering a modern aesthetic combined with the unique flexibility of the wood. Another notable piece is 'Restless Legs,' which stands out with its innovative four-wheeled design, suggesting mobility and dynamic interaction. Finally, 'The Bridge' is presented as a three-seater piece, supported by a robust steel frame that complements the supple wooden elements, demonstrating the material's capacity for larger, more functional designs. These creations collectively redefine the potential of wood in design, merging the natural beauty of the material with cutting-edge manufacturing techniques to produce furniture that is both aesthetically pleasing and remarkably adaptive.
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