Create furniture as a Lego with PlayWood connector, recycle materials, store it or transport. PlayWood is not only a product but a contemporary sharing platform.
So much more than just a forniture
PlayWood is proud to present AN INNOVATIVE RECONFIGURABLE FURNITURE SYSTEM that uses 3d print prototype connectors and boards to make desks, shelves and stools.
The flexible, user-friendly design caters to endless applications. Like a “Lego”, you can build, destroy and rebuild again. You can use PlayWood to set up your coworking space, your creative studios, your pop up store, your art show and much more…
the only limit is your fantasy!
Through the use of eco-friendly recyclable materials, our aim is to satisfy your needs. PlayWood products are innovative, easy to use and suitable to the evolution of your business. Most of working spaces were designed according to industrial models for business that have evolved into different directions. We believe in modularity and creativity freedom.
OUR MISSION IS TO INSPIRE CREATIVITY.
How it works:
The Connectors
After wide-ranging researches and several iterations, we have simplified the hardware down to 3 connectors modules that let you attach the boards with three different angles: 90° square module,
105° or 150° hexagonal module. PlayWood connectors are prototyped in 3D print and then realized in polyamide, one of the most versatile engineering thermoplastics. Because of its excellent balance of strength, ductility and heat resistance, nylon is an outstanding candidate for metal replacement applications. Widely used in complex and thin walled housing.
PlayWood does not damage the wood, its connectors do not need specific tools to drill and to fix the different parts. You can choose every kind of material with a variable thickness from 1,5 cm to 2,0 cm. To add more creativity you can decide to cut the board with a CNC machine that let you craft curves and radii.
Connectors do not need specific tools to drill and to fix the different parts.
You can choose every kind of material with a variable thickness from 1,5 cm to 2,0 cm.
The open source design:
We have made some freebuy designs under common creative licenses to help you understand how to project your furniture.
You can follow the designs that we have prepared or take some fresh inspiration from the photos inside the gallery
The materials:
You can choose every kind of material with a variable thickness from 1,5 cm to 2,0 cm. To add more creativity you can decide to cut the board with a CNC machine that let you craft curves and radii.
Benefit:
FOCUS ON THE DESIGN
Simply combine connectors and boards together. Stay focus on the design. You can test your project by making basic prototypes and saving time. You can improve the design of your furniture: add a piece or simply try out different configurations. Save time and energy by not having to align every board and precisely drill and screw all the pieces together.
AFFORDABLE COST
Choose the material you like, saving time and being flexible. You can reorganize your space if the needs change. PlayWood let you increase your furniture step by step, adding new pieces every time you want. PlayWood does not damage the wood, so easily disassemble
your creations for storage or moving needs, recycle old projects into new ones.
MADE TO CHANGE
Whether you are moving to a new place or thinking your shelf might be better used as a coffee table, we have got you covered. Our furniture is easily reconfigurable to whatever suits your needs. Get creative.
ECO-FRIENDLY
Minimize environmental impact and use 0km (0miles) materials. You can keep your waste very low by optimizing materials and you can recycle by using the connectors more times. At the end of the life of the product, wood components can be industrially composted and the connectors can simply be recycled.
Since when has Playwood been in development?
It’s now two years that we are developing this project, but we have launched it online on September the 10th 2015.
Our project was born from a research of D. School Stanford “Make Space”: we were impressed, but at the same time we could not apply it to our context.
We live in provincial small town in Italy, so we have developed an easy system to quickly prototype and implement workspaces, accordingly to the needs of the team at that time.
PlayWood connectors are strong, entirely made of polyammide. We have developed a research in materials, in order to implement the variety of choice in the future. We thought about a system that minimizes the use of CNC machines or laser cutting, allowing everyone to create furnitures.
The main concept behind the project can be explained as follows:
“We experience the physical space just as like we read human emotions. Without even realizing it, we sense and internalize what the space communicates us and that affects the way we work. The immediate feeling you get after walking into most offices isn’t that of a place where people share ideas and work together but rather a place for lone workers and meaningless working hours.
A real reinterpretation of spaces is a strong message to participation; just like plants your ideas need space and air to grow. We believe that people should be able to shape their own places according to what they do, we believe in modularity and creativity freedom.
It doesn’t matter if it is a freelance studio or a billion dollar corporate office, the ability to organize your space is a powerful tool that brings office relationships to the next level and fosters innovation. Make Space (John Wiley & Sons, 2012) ”
Which was the design process for the Playwood system?
At the beginning we designed the connectors with the 3d print machine, then we made the molds to produce them faster and for a lower cost.
Now we follow the entire production process, using only local resources.
We are now ready to involve other designers and makers. Our aim is to realize products with km0 (local) materials, in order to reduce the impact of transport on environment and costs.
How strong are the connectors? Has any stress/strength testing been carried out?
These connectors are very resistant, the plastic we use is very similar to that one used for snowboard’s bindings. Furniture’s structures are made to balance the weight on more connectors. The resistance depends on how the weight is distributed and on which levers are generated (a statistic would not be correct, because you can create your own design). It’s difficult to indicate but it’s comparable to a corner made of aluminum or iron, which is often available on the market.
How do you propose people source the wood or other additional materials?
We recommend to buy wood from a local producer or makerspace and we suggest the ones coming from neighboring areas and managed forests.
Normally it’s easy to find planks of wood with the correct thickness (approximately from 1.5 cm up to 2.0 cm). We chose a standard thickness, the cut service is often offered by the vendors. On our website you can find all the measures for the planks to create different furnishings.
Do you have plans to add to the range?
We are now working extremely hard to publish new designs and very soon we will increase the range of connectors. Next year we will launch IOT device (Internet of Things) to add advanced features.
Credits:
PlayWood is a product of Space Matters s.r.l.s.
via elba 11 – 42124 Reggio Emilia – Italy
