AICHI METAL
Case Studies
Ukizukuri is a traditional sawmilling treatment that accentuates the grain of the wood by leaving the hard parts of the grain and cutting away the softer parts. The mission was to create a bar counter with this distinctive grain. After spraying with tin, a hand-polished finish was applied to achieve a beautiful silver surface. The challenge was to create the impression of a single piece of wood. Due to transport and timber availability, it was not possible to construct everything in one piece, so it was necessary to use split pieces of timber, but assemble them with a close grain. The difficulty of combining the grains was also extremely difficult and important, as everything from the top board to the rising surface is made of a floating structure.
Ping and tension temperature
The surface is all tin. The expression created by polishing it is breathtaking. The feel and temperature of the metal fits the tense space of the bar. The moment you touch it, you will be surprised by the temperature of the metal. The interesting fact that you can trace the grain of the wood with your finger also creates a sense of luxury, and the way the glass on the counter reflects on the surface is also a surprise. The designer’s intention was felt in this space. The challenge was how to create the thickness of the metallic film, as the thickness would match the interesting grain of the wood and the metallic treatment. The solution was to spray tin multiple times, which creates the thickness of the metal and the ideal quality for the surface finish.
Futuristic look
This time, the bar space is futuristic: concrete, wood grain and a silver-skinned finish. The alien presence of a huge metal box with a raised wood grain can only be understood when this counter is installed in the space. For us, it was also a project where the combination of non-metal and metal was the most exciting aspect of the decorative treatment. We realised once again that any material is not just a metal surface, but that the expression of the original material itself has value, which can be further emphasised by applying a decorative metal treatment to it. I can’t wait to see how the presence that speaks for the term “”metal with expression”” will evolve into a look that will be loved by many more and more people.
