Plywood for the Office

There is a fascinating material that is used in many places. It is bendable, flexible and easily accessible. It is called plywood.

Plywood has been around for a long time, and for good reason. The earliest known use of this process dates all the way back to the ancient Egyptians. Since then, it has evolved and grown to serve many purposes. From WWII fighter planes to the flat-pack furniture of today, we are just starting to see the many possibilities of plywood.

Plywood is made from thin sheets of wood that have been sandwiched and pressed together. This lightweight material is extremely strong and flexible, making it useful in many design applications, especially furniture.

As a less expensive option compared to regular wood, it has maintained popularity due to lower costs and decreased environmental impact.

Although plywood is an affordable option, is it definitely not a cheap looking material. It can be sanded smooth and bent into many beautiful shapes. For example, the Butterfly Stool by Sori Yanagi (1956), which is a classic piece with a curved seat.

Back in WWII, plywood was used as a lightweight, low cost shell for airplanes. Nicknamed "Wooden Wonder", the multi-use Mosquito bomber was used by the British.

Many modern plywood designs aim for sustainability. A great example is flat packs, which are easy to ship and assemble. Surprisingly sturdy, furniture is put together from flat pieces of plywood like a puzzle. Here are some examples:

Offices around the world utilize plywood because it is more affordable, but still looks great. Here are a few office designs that feature plywood in the gallery below:

For some more plywood designs, click here.

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