Atmospheric wood treatment technique

Atmospheric Wood is a research project based on a historic contact printing technique. Invented by Sir John Herschel in 1842, first used as a means of illustration and documentation by Anna Atkins, blueprint, or cyanotype, was re-purposed to reproduce technical drawings for architectural and engineering projects. Reviving and interpreting this traditional knowledge, Atmospheric Wood aims to bring back this process to contemporary architecture.

Inspired by the night sky

While exposed to light, the process transforms untreated wood into an elegant assortment of blue hues and a maze of pointillist patterns using natural minerals. The immersive patterns and tonalities draw visual associations to the night sky. My goal is to create products for inhabitants of the modern metropolis yearning to stay close to nature in creative and unexpected ways.

The key element in this process is sunlight and, more specifically, its interaction with an UV light sensitive solution.

While exposed to light, the process transforms untreated wood into an elegant assortment of blue hues.

In addition, a maze of pointillist patterns is created using a scattered application of natural minerals. The results vary depending on the environmental conditions during production and types of wood used. The project is aimed to find synergies between embracing the raw material and enriching it.

Atmospheric Wood captures and praises sunlight as a significant aspect of architecture with the intention to be used within a built environment as a means of helping residents to reconcile with their urban surroundings.

Click here to see how it was made.