Behind the Design

Flexible Wood

Dukta’s patented incision process makes wood and engineered wood flexible. A series of complex incisions allow textile-like properties plus create transparency and sound absorbing properties unexpected from wood products. These innovative products adapt to a wide range of applications including wall and ceiling panels, free-standing screens, and acoustic installations.

We sat down with Serge and Pablo Lunin of Dukta to chat more about the inspiration and process behind their work.

Where do you look for inspiration when starting a new project?

On the one hand, we look at the material itself by testing and stressing its functional abilities, its structures and compositions. Patterns, shapes and movements in geometry and nature can therefore be a great source of inspiration. On the other hand, thinking about possible applications, we look at the context and its functional and esthetical requirements and start researching from there.

What inspired this design specifically?

The original experiments incising wood where inspired by the wish to build an ergonomically shaped lounger out of wood. At the time, gluing and pressing veneer layers or steam bending wood in such dimensions were not an option. Through intuitive experimenting with manually incised wooden parts the astonishing effect of flexibility was detected. Shortly after testing possible applications, its fantastic acoustic properties showed, especially when applied in undulating shapes.

Can you walk us through the evolution of this project?

It all started with a workshop taught by Serge in the year 2006 at the Zurich University of the Arts. Christian Kuhn, one of Serge’s students at the time, wanted to build a lounger made from curved wood elements. Looking for alternatives to the common bending techniques, like steam bending or gluing veneer layers together, they carried out numerous experiments, which showed that certain arrangements of incisions give the wood a great deal of flexibility without weakening it too much. Triggered by the potential applications the flexible wood might allow, they strived to elaborate the technique. In 2009 the team successfully launched a state-supported Innovation project, with the partnership of two universities, allowing to further research on systematization of the technique and professionally evaluate its acoustic properties. In 2011 the dukta GmbH was founded with the aim of developing a range of products ready for the market using plywood, MDF, and three-layer boards. A first series of incised wood boards were produced that met both acoustical and aesthetical needs. dukta applied for an international patent and hence followed the strategy to build licensing contracts with international partner companies that produce and distribute the dukta flexible wood panels.

When you approach a new design, where do you start? (sketching, working directly with the material, digital rendering, etc.)

Designing a new application, mostly there are a few rough sketches at the beginning. Depending on size and complexity, models out of cardboard or directly out of wood follow to evaluate proportions and structure. Mostly we use digital modeling and rendering to visualize different versions and scenarios as well as for technical drawings.

From start to finish, how long did it take to get to the final design we see today?

The development of the incision technique didn’t go all straight. The first two years, it was Serge and Christian worked weekends at the workshop. From there it was another three years until the technique was ready for efficient mass production. Up until today, we constantly improve and seek to expand the technique in different directions.

What feelings do you want this design (and your work in general) to elicit?

As the developers of a machining process, turning wood-based materials flexible, we want to open new ways and possibilities for wooden panels to be used. We strive to merge their exceptional functional abilities with a distinctive, honest and elegant appearance. Flexibility, transparency and lightness are not only functional but also esthetical and emotional attributes applying to dukta flexible wood. Even today, it’s still amazing for us to see, the way the incisions allow the wood to bend without breaking.