Plywood friction creates harmony

3 October 2014


A timber structure that explores the bending capacity and connection possibilities of timber panels was an eye-catching display during the London Design Festival.

Fingers Crossed, constructed from 9mm birch plywood, was a collaboration between TRADA, the Architectural Association School of Architecture and engineers Arup. It was exhibited at Arup's London office during the design festival, and then dismantled to be erected at Timber Expo in Birmingham from October 7-8.

TRADA's brief was that the sculpture would be easy to transport and erect; fit on a 5x7m plot; and, ideally, not need any mechanical fixings.

Architectural Association course tutor Evan Greenberg said this created a challenge but the resulting work has no metal joints, replying instead on the friction of the plywood's interlocking teeth.

"This pushed our students to develop different jointing techniques that would provide the connectivity necessary while working with how plywood wants to behave and how we could machine it," he said.

He added that the exercise had changed the students' perceptions of timber.

"This year's project has given the students an insight into the importance of understand the machining process while designing, particuarly with plywood," said Mr Greenberg. "The material and fabrication limitations given to us became an opportunity to explore novel design strategies."

The plywood was supplied by Hanson Pywood.

The Fingers Crossed sculpture relies on the friction of the interlocking plywood, rather than mechanical fixings