Inspiration

The façade of London’s famed Victoria & Albert Museum has had a makeover, as a massive wooden installation is towering over a main entranceway. Created for the London Design Festival, Timber Wave is three-dimensional lattice spiral made of American red oak wood. Fully self-supporting, the structure rises 12m high. Visitors are invited to ‘walk through’ its circular form as they enter into the museum. The project was commissioned by AHEC (American Hardwood Export Council) and designed by architect Amanda Levete of AL_A. The wooden structure was constructed by Cowley Timberwork and engineered by Arup. ‘The V&A’s Cromwell Road entrance is vast, multi-layered and very ornamental,’ says David Venables, European director of AHEC. ‘The form responds to this with a single dynamic gesture in timber; the use of wood as a structural material is well documented at the V&A.’

Scottish installation artist Lee Borthwick has created an urban tidal wave made from waste pallets. Using 500 wooden pieces, Borthwick arranged the strips from darkest to lightest and threaded them together like a tapestry. The result resembles a waterfall with a sense of movement, curve and a dramatic towering effect. ‘The piece is responding to environmental changes and reflecting on how the urban environment can engulf us leaving us disconnected with nature,’ Borthwick explains. Borthwick graduated from RCA in 2008 and now has her own studio at Bainbridge Studios West Norwood, London. In With The Tide premiered at Tent London during London Design Festival.

While fast-food restaurants often feature dingy plastic furnishings and retro lighting, Australian chain Nando's is introducing refreshingly modern, bright and designed spaces. Inspired by the history of Portuguese sailors exploring the world, the 135-sq-m Nando’s Canberra has a raw, natural concept. The focal point, a ceiling installation made of curved plywood panels, is above the raised seating area and accented with rope and copper detailing. ‘These panels evoke and abstractly convey the interior structure or “ribs” of an explorer’s sailing ship,’ says Kristina Hetherington, director of Design Clarity. ‘The finishes include tone-on-tone decorative floor and wall tiles, white washed brick and copper details to create a natural aged, raw look.’ Laser-cut timber combines with rustic wall paint to accent the concept of being on a ship.

A former 1940s brick and timber warehouse has been converted into a modern office in San Fransisco. The challenge for IwamotoScott Architecture was to respect budget and schedule constraints while redesigning the space to include workstations for digital production, prototyping, a showroom and meeting space. The office is owned by interactive media brand Obscura Digital. The impressive 3345-sq-m space is divided between three levels. The lowest level contains the workshop and showroom, while the reception, meeting spaces and main offices on the middle level. Production space is on the top floor. A focal point is the custom-made BookCaseScreenWall – an array of 186 folded sheet metal modules. The pieces were laser-cut and attached to 31 vertical ribs suspended from an existing steel structural beam.

Wood Technique