High Tech Cabinetry Inspired by an Era of Craft
This is the first picture we have of a new library wall cabinet we designed. We were really excited to use our in-studio computer modeling software to run a CNC Router which carved the door and drawer fronts. Our clients are from Finland, and one of my favorite designers is Finnish architect Alvar Aalto. He’s known for designing some wavy glassware for iittala. And so the idea of incorporating waves into the piece seemed appropriate. Of course, that glassware from the 30′s, was handmade. We needed to update the process here to suit our abilities, materials, and budget. I still like drawing by hand, so it felt right to begin with some freehand sketches. But very quickly we took those line drawings and converted them into 3d relief panels. These panels were then sent over to the fabrication shop where the pattern was routed into 1″ thick mdf sheets. The cabinetmaker installed them more or less like any other cabinet fronts. The piece is painted with white conversion varnish. We’re just waiting on the stainless steel library ladder to arrive from Germany, and then our clients can start filling up the shelves. Look for an update coming soon! And if you’re looking to do something similar, let us know. We’ve got a bunch of ideas.
