“Plywood is made by gluing together thin sheets of wood called veneers, with the grain of each sheet running in an alternate direction. This creates a material that is stronger and more flexible than solid wood. The technique has been around for a long time – as early as 2600 BC in ancient Egypt – but it was not until the 1850s that plywood started to be used on an industrial scale.”
In the 1920s “..modernist architects and designers began to exploit and celebrate plywood’s ability to be shaped into curved forms. Plywood was of particular interest as it was considered an industrial material – it was well suited to mass manufacture and its factory production symbolised the new machine age.” (V&A Short history of plywood)
We often use plywood in our designs: from sheathing ply to aid the construction process but remain largely hidden to the eye to the furniture grade ply to lend its warmth and beauty to the interiors.
Visiting this girl’s bedroom, cleverly and beautifully retro-fitted mid-century into an early-century Venetian room, showing off the ply in all its richness was a delight. From curved details and different facing veneers to sharp edges and beautifully carved solid-wood edging with the monogram of its owner Titti Vitalba.
