FEATURES
Eight reasons why
wood is still good
From its longevity, character, environmental impact and
good looks, wood just works inside and out.
By By Jacques Cronje, founder and designer at minima | Images courtesy of minima
Wood is good and can be customised into small pieces or large statement show-stoppers.
J
ust as a good pair of jeans never goes out of fashion,
wood retains a timeless beauty that remains relevant
year in and year out. It’s also the only material that
withholds its authentic elegance while being extremely
flexible and adaptable.
Adding significant value to your home – as a building
material, furniture and feature – it’s no wonder that
architects, carpenters and designers love to work
with wood. Wood has an extraordinary ability to transform
any style of home restoring relaxation and balance while
complementing most other materials like concrete, stone,
metal, fabric and glass. Whether you use wood in your
flooring or roof, in furniture or lighting, it’s a feature that
affords a distinctive style and sophistication.
WHY WOOD REMAINS A FIRM FAVOURITE ON
DESIGN AFICIONADOS' MUST-HAVE LISTS
AND IS A KEY TREND FOR 2017:
1 Sustainability: Wood is a renewable material. In a
sustainable managed forest, for each tree harvested,
another is planted as it replenishes itself. Using wood
reduces carbon dioxide emissions, as the carbon dioxide
stored in the timber typically outweighs any that is
created during the production of the product. Ideal for
the conscientious consumer, it’s both environmentally-
friendly, good to the touch and easy on the eye.
2 Digital detox: Our always-on lives are busy enough
meaning that your home should provide a place of calm,
balance and tranquillity to restore and re-energise. A
natural material, the texture, colour and feeling of wood
is a powerful antithesis to the artificial and always-on
digital world we surround ourselves with daily. Adding
even a pop of ply into your interiors can add a welcome
surge of serene. It’s no surprise then that spas and
wellness cafes use this material en masse.
3 Malleable: Because it can be cut into an endless variety
of different shapes and styles, working with wood allows
the designer to create an endless range of options to suit
different rooms within your home. Pieces can be
customised to suit a specific space, be it a high-ceiling
foyer or an outdoor lounge area. This versus plastic
products that use just one mould to reproduce the same
‘piece’ thousands of times, therefore limiting its
versatility and originality.
// JUNE / JULY 2017 45