Beginning with material investigations by students with hardwood veneer, Luminaire highlights some of the subtler properties of hardwood. The thinness of veneer allows wood to bend, twist, and glow—revealing latent and innate qualities of the thinly sliced wood. Described by a fully-parametric digital model, the shape and proportions of the “Luminaire” can be easily customized, with precision laser-cut veneer components. These components are coated in polyacrylic and assembled by hand using notching and slip joints. The detailing of the slip joints was inherent in the design development, such that no hardware is necessary, and anyone can assemble the final form. Once linked to a web interface, the product of the design can be uniquely customized by consumers and shipped flat-packed.
