De Burgemeester multi-tenant complex renovation by Studioninedots, photo: Peter Cuypers

Architects Studioninedots have transformed an abandoned and anonymous office building into a vibrant multi-tenant complex with the De Burgemeester multi-tenant complex in Hoofddorp, Netherlands.

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‘Tria’ chair by Catharina Lorenz and Steffen Kaz for Colé

The young Italian furniture brand Colé has teamed up with two German-born Milan-based designers Catharina Lorenz and Steffen Kaz, founders of Lorenz*Kaz studio, to create this three-legged, plywood chair called ‘Tria.’ Made of curved plywood and available in either natural oak, stained black oak finish or veneer, the form of the chair was inspired by the complexity of works of M. C. Escher which frequently featured impossible and infinite constructions and tessellations. (more…)

‘Strates’ desk by Mathieu Lehanneur for Objekten

‘Strates’ is the latest interlocking desk and storage collection realised by the Parisian designer Mathieu Lehanneur for the Brussels-based furniture brand Objekten. Composed of multiple layers of plywood elements, the series is manufactured in Belgium and it can be viewed from tomorrow on (7 September) as part of an installation at Blank, 9 rue de la Régence, Brussels.

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'Hoc' stool by Jehs + Laub for Brunner

An updated, modern reinterpretation of the archetypal, simple stool, ‘Hoc’ is the latest design created by the Stuttgart-based design duo Jehs + Laub. Originally developed for the US manufacturer Davis Furniture, ‘Hoc’ has recently been released in Europe by Brunner. Made of plywood and composed of three identical parts, the streamlined design is available in two heights. (more…)

Dragon Skin Pavilion by LEAD and EDGE, photo by Dennis Lo

A young Hong Kong and Antwerp-based architectural design and research practice LEAD and EDGE – Laboratory for Architectural and Urban Research from Finnish Tampere University of Technology have joined their creative forces to develop this striking pavilion designed for the the 2011-12 Hong Kong & Shenzhen Bi-City Biennale of Urbanism\Architecture. Formed of a tight array of scale-like, overlapping bent plywood sheets, is took the team six hours to assemble the self-supporting Dragon Skin Pavilion which is on view until 23 April at Shenzhen Pavilion, Kowloon Park – Roof Garden 2, Hong Kong. (more…)

'Plywood: Material, Process, Form' - exhibition view; photo courtesy of MoMA

Cheap and widely accesible, plywood gained its popularity thanks to a number of renowned early-20th century as well as mid-century modernist designers who favoured what was once described by the American magazine Popular Science as ‘a layer cake of lumber and glue’. Now, to celebrate this versatile material, New York’s MoMA has gathered a number of examples from its collection of modern designs which have been developed in plywood. Titled ‘Plywood: Material, Process, Form’, the installation features a number of instantly-recognisable exhibits such as Alvar Aalto’s iconic Armchair 41 Paimio, pieces from Charles and Ray Eames’ Plywood Group, Sori Yanagi’s beautifully simple Butterfly Stool as well as designs by Eero Saarinen, Arne Jacobsen, Tapio Wirkkala, an architectural model for a prefabricated house devised by Marcel Breuer in 1943 and ‘experimental designs for plywood in the aeronautics industry.’ (more…)

'Jo' stool by Eric and Johnny Design Studio at imm cologne 2012, photo: © Architonic

While we caught ourselves glancing at this plywood stool for an above-average period of time before we finally unravelled its intertwining form, the structure of ‘Jo’ is, in fact, surprisingly simple. Developed by two Taiwan-born Berlin-based design students Eric Chang and Johnny Hu of Eric and Johnny Design Studio, ‘Jo’ is made up of three, j-shaped legs which all connect in six points. Member of ‘J Family’ collection of moulded wooden furniture, the stool was presented at the [D³] Contest during last week’s edition of imm cologne. (more…)

'Jill Tube' by Alfredo Häberli for Vitra; photo by Marc Eggimann ©Vitra

Following the number of high-profile collaborations with some of the most prominent contemporary designers, Swiss furniture-manufacturing heavyweight Vitra has unveiled ‘Jill’ during this year’s Milan Salone del Mobile.

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