WOOD & LAMINATE
Rome Auditorium
one of the most remarkable public buildings in Europe - the Rome Auditorium. When he won his battle with the Rome City authorities to use wood in his designs for a new auditorium in Rome,
“ Amsterdam School of Music
and small gum pockets which give it its unique appearance. It is hard and stable with a smooth texture that takes a finish very evenly, resulting in a silky lustre. The simple lines of the Shaker furniture of the 19th Century showed off its distinctive, fine and uniform grain and smooth texture.
The distinctive appearance of American cherry attracted designer Renzo Piano, whose legendary love of wood is exemplified in the use of American cherry for
www.tomorrowsflooring.com
he chose American cherry for the floors and walls throughout a group of performance venues which were part of the Auditorium complex.
It is an outstanding species, often with distinctive and unique markings which enhance its appeal and reputation as one of the most beautiful of American hardwoods.
In the middle of the colour spectrum, American red oak is pinkish brown, straight
frames, doors and even individual pieces of furniture creating dramatic contrasts with the glass, steel and concrete used throughout the building. Not always a great proponent of oak, his opinion changed through his own experience of designing a staircase for his own house when the choice of oak paid off in terms of the strength and beauty he was looking for.
After examining many samples, van Dongen chose American red oak for the
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grained and coarse textured. Hard and heavy, the species is strong and durable, and it was chosen by Frits van Dongen for the Amsterdam new School of Music. Van Dongen’s selection of American red oak as the most used
species in the building becomes immediately obvious in the foyer.
He has used it over immense areas for ceilings, floors, stairs, window
Amsterdam School of Music because of its strength, adaptability, practicality and beauty.
The variance in colour and treatment became evident through the supply chain and van Dongen saw the opportunity for specifying red oak, with all its variety, for a wide range of applications.
He wanted to introduce the style of French and Spanish cafes where floors become well trodden and weather beaten with customers’ footfall over many years.
“Wonderful how these floors look” says van Dongen “totally weather beaten by many years’ use”.
The world’s most natural material transcends the vagaries of fashion to become the most sustainable choice, with, of course, more than enough aesthetic appeal to satisfy designers and architects.
He has even created this effect in his own home. So special untreated red oak, in rough sawn boards was laid throughout the central area of the School in dramatic contrast with the fine sawn ceiling surfaces and walls for which red oak has been treated and oiled to warm reddish brown tones.
For more information on American hardwood species log on to the website to order or download your free copy of the ‘Species Guide’ which features details of the physical, mechanical and working properties of 20 of the most important commercial American hardwood species.
www.americanhardwood.org
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