Don’t Hide it Away: Plywood Can be Beautiful
Plywood, long considered a material best hidden in any finished space, has been slowly making its way into the mainstream material handbooks of architects and interior designs – and for good reason. Aside from being inexpensive, it is rich in texture and can be purchased in higher grades than what people typically think of (though, for some, knots are part of the fun, too).
With fewer knots and potential splinters, higher quality finish-grade plywood provides a particularly potent way to juxtapose more variegated patterns with flat white walls, monotone floors and solid expanses of glazing. Don’t relegate it to subfloors and sheathing when it could provide so much texture and visual interest to an otherwise minimalist space.
This particular design by Paul de Ruiter with i29 interior architects shows its versatility – it can serve to create accent walls, doors, beds shelves and more, and serves as a great backdrop for more colorful belongings.
More from i29 Architects
“This sustainable villa in Bloemendaal was built on the edge of Kennemer Duinen ; a beautiful nature reserve in the Dutch dunes. Paul de Ruiter, the architect, designed it with utmost respect for man and nature. Glass facades make the villa and the landscape almost feel like one.”
“Minimalism, loads of daylight, perfect detailing and connection with nature were also the starting point for the interior we designed. Paul de Ruiter architects gave special attention to sustainability and energy-efficiency. The villa has geothermal energy storage, a heat pump and solar panels on the sedum covered roof.”
“We used pine wood panels – a basic yet beautiful natural material- for bespoke cabinets, wardrobes, walls, sliding doors, beds and even the fire place. Fine details give the material a high end feeling. The pine wood connects the different areas of the house; it also connects the house to nature even more.”
