Utilitarian Veneer
Design by Jeremy Walton, 2008. developed together with København Møbelsnedkeri.
Designed as part of the GlobalMadeLocal project and exhibited at SE Fifty fifty.
The unit consists of four open shelves and one drawer unit. The unit has a public facade, consisting of a thick veneer of wood. The unit also has a private side where the facade is no longer necessary and the thick (very thick) veneer comes off and acts as a utilitarian object, a pair of step ladders.
Above photo by Jeppe Gudmundse-Holmgreen
The removable steps have a wooden hinge and is credit to cabinet makers Kim and Søren of København Møbelsnedkeri. The design is developed in a way that it can be shared between cabinetmakers. In this case it presents some challenges for cabinetmakers to get their teeth into. Kim and Søren asured me that cabinetmakers would also like to make furniture that presents them a challenge and allows them to use some of their skills.
The inspiration for the Utilitarian veneer came about in relation to my journey ‘Around the globe in 80 Chairs – Islands Brygge’ part of the GlobalMadeLocal project.
Inspired by the restoration of the old industrial buildings that expose the charm of our working and utilitarian roots, set against the shiny facades of the developing quarter. Here space is at a primium and if you can’t fit a pair of step ladders in a broom cupboard then fit the broom cupboard into the step ladders.
The original piece was made in conjunction with the Danish SE exhibition (Cabinetmakers Autumn Exhibition). Due to this, it was decided to use smoked oak wood throughout the construction of the piece, with laminate on the private exposed areas of the shelving. The principal of the piece is a public veneer becoming a private utilitarian ladder. Different cabinetmakers may opt to use different woods and veneer.
When the thick veneer is removed, it leaves exposed a secondary non finished wood. Similar to the effect of opening a drawer on a chest of drawers, where the outside of the unit is veneered for public presentation and opening the the drawers is a private affair.The more extreme the variation in the finish, the better. In relation to the SE exhibition, I could not convince Kim and Søren the cabinetmakers to use chipboard for the internal private wood. This piece evolved into an exhibition piece and due to the complex wooden hinge and special drawer inlays becomes a specific piece of furniture that will be in the GML Grandie registration category. I have together with Kim and Søren worked out a simpler version on the same principal. We hope to add this to the collection in the not to distant future, together with a Utilitarian veneer - step cupboard, clothes horse cupboard, step chair.
Tags: EXHIBITION, FURNITURE, GlobalMadeLocal, Jeremy Walton
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