AICHI METAL
Case Studies
Ukizukuri is a traditional lumber treatment that accentuates the grain of the wood by leaving the hard parts of the grain and shaving off the soft parts. The mission of this project 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. Because it was impossible to construct the entire piece in one piece due to transportation and lumber availability, it was necessary to use split pieces of wood, but assemble them with close grains. The difficulty of combining the grains was also extremely difficult and important, as everything from the top panel to the rising surface is made of floating construction.
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 a bar. The moment you touch it, you will be surprised at 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 reflection of the glasses on the counter on the surface is also a surprise. The designer's intention was felt in this space. The thickness of the metallic film was a challenge to create because the interesting grain of the wood matched 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 was futuristic: concrete, wood grain, and a silver-skin finish. The alien presence of the wood grain floating in spite of being a huge metal box can only be understood when this counter is installed in the space. For us, the combination of non-metal and metal was one of the most exciting aspects of the decorative treatment. We realized once again that the expression of the original material itself has value, which can be further emphasized by applying a decorative metal treatment to it, rather than simply creating a metallic surface. I can't wait to see how the presence that speaks for the phrase "metal with expression" will evolve into a look that will be loved by many more people.
