By: Roberto Emilio
Submitted: 2010-01-22 22:48:12 | Word Count: 544
When people talk about working with plywood many think about boat building but furniture designers have also been big fans of this versatile material.
The earliest examples of plywood furniture appear in the 18th century but it was not until the 1850s that it went into commercial production in the United States. Innovation continued during World War I when the aviation industry contributed to the continuing success of plywood by creating a product with additional quality, flexibility and durability.
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When the furniture makes of the 1920s were looking for a cheap alternative they turned to plywood. The first to make a breakthrough in using plywood was Dutch cabinet maker Gerrit Thomas Rietveld, who in 1927 built a chair with a seat made from a single piece of plyboard.
This single seat set in motion a domino effect in design. Many examples of classic modernist furniture have been designed and built using plywood during the 20th century among the most famous are the Eames chairs by Charles and Ray Eames. These chairs are still prized as design icons to this day.
Keryn Hughes continues this tradition by creating a stunning collection of contemporary moulded plywood furniture for adults and children. Her style reflects the early modernists using uncluttered lines in functional pieces embracing the warmth and quality of wood and laminate.
In the beginning Keryn created a small range of children’s furniture made by hand. When demand became too intense Keryn took time to reflect and thus created her current signature range of contemporary moulded plywood furniture for adults and children.
The aim of the collection was to create contemporary designs with a classic edge, that are affordable, durable and could serve more than one purpose. Keryn also wanted to include a funky aspect to her creations so she has added the ability to include a splash of colour using a laminate.
Keryn’s company philosophy is to combine the use of environmentally sensitive materials with designs that enable the one piece to be used in numerous ways thus maximizing the efficiency of the piece.
The making of plywood is an environmentally sensitive technique that creates a material of outstanding strength and stability that also weights little. The wood used to make the ply is a natural renewable resource harvested from plantation forests.
Keryn’s love affair with wood continues into her design studio, designed by eminent architects Peter Stutchbury and Sue Harper, it looks like an overgrown tree house in the back garden.
Her tree house/office combines the best of both worlds creating a short communte to work but also keeping the office separate from her home life. The open plan design uses recycled blue gum and glass to create an airy feel and, of course, her beloved plywood creates the ceiling, floors and a large deck for work.
Keryn’s hard work has paid off with her Y Front Side Table being selected as a finalist in the Furniture category of the Home Beautiful Product of the Year 2008 awards.
The panel of judges chose only 3 finalists, based on the criteria of excellence in design, innovation and practicality.
Keryn’s collection is designed and made in Australia. And in 2008 they were formally initiated into the not for profit Australian Made, Australian Grown campaign.
