Natural, beautiful, affordable and modern.Plywood as a finishing material has almost no disadvantages. It is not surprising that it wins the hearts of not only architects, but also their clients. In our article - detailed stories about Western and Russian interiors finished with plywood. We assure you, now you will love it too
Ancient mill with plywood filling
When Edinburgh architects were askedThey had serious doubts about turning an abandoned mill into comfortable modern housing at the price of building a typical cottage. But when they arrived, they couldn't refuse - the dilapidated house was huddled on a steep slope of a heather-covered hill. And through the gaps in the stonework, worn by wind and time, a breathtaking view of a magnificent Scottish valley opened up. This only happens in the movies.
View after reconstruction
View after reconstruction
View before reconstruction William Tunnell, WTArchitecture: — The clients — a family with children — wanted to create a holiday home. They asked us to create a modern, comfortable space, but to preserve the historic view of the valley outside and the Scottish spirit inside. At the same time, to fit into a moderate budget. And we succeeded. We spent no more than if we had built a regular cottage from scratch. This is a rarity for reconstructions. wtarchitecture.com
William knows what he's talking about:The architectural bureau WT Architecture has received several European awards for projects of this kind. And this mill was shortlisted for the main architectural competition in Scotland in 2015. The total area of the building is 150 meters. The roof and internal floors were beyond restoration. By and large, the architects had to build a new structure into the old stone shell. The missing stones for strengthening the masonry were found in the valley, and the wood from which the upper part of the building, which goes under the steep roof, is made was tinted in the uneven dark color that pine boards acquire in these places over time.
William Tunnell, WT Architecture:— Both we and the future owners wanted the magnificent and slightly severe surrounding landscape to be part of the interior, just as the mill itself is an important part of this landscape. Therefore, we immediately planned a large panoramic window on the south side and an atrium that would illuminate the middle of the long narrow building. And we began to think about how to design the interior space simply, utilitarianly, solidly and in complete harmony with the landscape. So that it would not distract from the landscape, but would continue it, while remaining warm and natural. wtarchitecture.com
The solution was to cover the walls with pine plywood,at the same time it is additional thermal insulation. This warmth immediately immerses you in a rural atmosphere, but does not interfere with enjoying the views. The visual monolithicity of the wooden texture is broken by the plastered central part of the building, which contains storage systems on all three levels. The floors are polished concrete and the same pine boards, depending on the purpose of the room.
Most of the furniture is vintage from the collectionowners and replicas of designer items. The furnishings are spare, only the bare necessities. But each item, thanks to its placement away from the walls, high legs and well-thought-out lighting, seems weightless, floating in the air. And the interior itself is permeated with light.
William Tunnell, WT Architecture:— As an Englishman, I like plywood for its lack of pretentiousness, and as an architect, for its ability to emphasize structure and form without losing coziness. “Dream big, build small” is the motto of the “small house” movement, which is now very popular among us, Europeans, and even in America with its traditions of gigantomania. No one wants to spend their lives paying off debts for a house that is falling apart before their eyes. Today, people need simple, reliable and affordable solutions. wtarchitecture.com
Russian experience
Plywood has a flexible and easy-going character.Like any wood, it can have a different pattern - darker or lighter, bright or neutral, strongly expressed or barely noticeable, etc. It can be moisture-resistant - accordingly, used in bathrooms and showers. It can be varnished, painted, stained, and even wallpapered if desired. In a practical sense, it can perform all the functions of plasterboard, but at the same time "breathes" and does not require additional costs for finishing: putty, plaster, etc.
Our opinion:— Architects have long been familiar with plywood as . It allows you to do without wet processes and speed up construction, connect structural elements (very useful in frame houses), absorb noise (an excellent option for "children's floors" and home theaters). Technically, working with plywood sheets is quite simple - sheathing walls with them will not be difficult even for a person with minimal experience in construction and repair work. The question is only in one thing - in the wishes of customers, who are still wary of plywood.
The interior was created by architect Alexey Rosenberg
The interior was created by architect Alexey Rosenberg
The interior was created by architect AlexeyRosenberg The environmental friendliness and convenience of plywood explains why it was first widely used by convinced "greens" and modernists who avoid empty decoration: everything must be functional. Such is the famous plywood house near Moscow by the architect Sergei Nasedkin, the leading Russian specialist in this material. ( ). Created by him for his own family, the rust-colored house became a real creative manifesto of the author. Literally everything is made of plywood there, both outside and inside.
The house was designed by architect Sergei Nasedkin
The house was designed by architect Sergei Nasedkin
The house was designed by architect Sergei Nasedkin
The house was designed by architect Sergei Nasedkin
The house was designed by architect Sergei Nasedkin
The house was designed by architect SergeiNasedkin The 2010 finish does not require any restoration to this day, and the house itself was completed in just four months. The next project was the T_9 House — a business-class plywood frame house. A one-story modern parallelepiped with panoramic glazing, perfectly integrated into the landscape, was built turnkey in just three months.
The house was designed by architect Sergei Nasedkin
The house was designed by architect Sergei Nasedkin
The house was designed by architect SergeiNasedkin There are already plenty of examples of using plywood in the interiors of Russian apartments. Some have even been featured in interior design programs on TV. And they have invariably caused heated discussions, finding both active fans and ardent opponents.
The children's room was designed by the architectural studio Ruetemple
The children's room was designed by the architectural studio Ruetemple
The children's room was designed by the architectural studio Ruetemple
The children's room was designed by ArchitecturalRuetemple workshop Perhaps one of the most striking examples is the apartment designed by two "experts" in wooden coverings and functional spaces, Alexey Rosenberg and Petr Kostelov, for the eccentric Moscow director Vladilen Razgulin. An exceptionally appropriate interior for Ginzburg's constructivist house on Gogolevsky Boulevard. Even in the photographs, which are emphatically "anti-glossy", the 36-meter space seems at least twice as big. Those who have been inside say that in reality the effect is even more noticeable.
The interior was created by architects Alexey Rosenberg and Petr Kostelov
The interior was created by architects Alexey Rosenberg and Petr Kostelov
The interior was created by architects Alexey Rosenberg and Petr Kostelov
The interior was created by architects Alexey Rosenberg and Petr Kostelov
Price of issue
Nowadays plywood is used mainly inmodern interiors. But this does not mean that something else is impossible. With the current tendency of design towards eclecticism, mixing this material with elements of “historical” styles is rather a matter of time and a good idea. Moreover, the price of the issue compared to solid wood or even veneer is impressive. A sheet of furniture plywood (16-18 mm thick, it is rarely used for finishing works) costs about 950-1,000 rubles. High-quality “ten”, the most common plywood for interior decoration, will cost about 500-600 rubles per sheet (usually 1.5 m by 1.5 m, but there are other options).
Inplywood, Russia
Inplywood, Russia
Inplywood, Russia
Inplywood, Russia Sheet of softwood plywood thickness9 mm and 2.4 by 1.2 meters in size — that is, approximately the same as was used in the Scottish interior — will cost 700-800 rubles. With a modest budget, you can buy sheets half the price. They will either be thinner or of lower quality (knots are more noticeable on them, for example, but this disadvantage can easily be turned into an advantage — it all depends on your idea).
The interior was created by the architectural studio of Totan Kuzembaev
The interior was created by the architectural studio of Totan Kuzembaev
The interior was created by the architectural studio of Totan Kuzembaev
The interior was created by the architectural studio of Totan Kuzembaev
