When I hear the phrase "imitation wood grain panels" I immediately think of station wagons from the 1970s, particularly my family's Ford Pinto wagon, similar to the one below. The phrase connotes that time period, when plastic started to replace just about every other material, yet people still grasped for the look of "real" materials. And nothing says class like wood panels on the side of a car.
[1977 Ford Pinto station wagon | image
source]
The use of wood in architecture is typically of two broad categories: solid and veneer. The former is prevalent where trees are, such as Scandinavia and countries in tropical climates. The latter requires industrial processes and is used for flooring and other applications in the United States and elsewhere. One big difference between these two is that veneer is focused solely on the surface and its appearance, since the ultra-thin wood ply is adhered to a plywood, MDF or other base. Veneer exudes the warmth of wood without the depth, cost and durability of solid woods.
[House of Sweden by Gert Wingårdh | photo by archidose]
A third variation, one in tune with the focus on surface of veneer, is imitation wood grain panels, used primarily for façades and usually in combination with other materials. The
House of Sweden in Washington, D.C. by
Gert Wingårdh and Tomas Hansen, completed in 2006, incorporates a number of materials on its exterior, including blond wood. But it also uses a laminated glass printed with a wood grain pattern:
[House of Sweden by Gert Wingårdh | photo by archidose]
This pattern (the middle horizontal bands in the top photo) reads as more of a wood caricature than the actual blond wood band (bottom band in same photo), with the former's strong grain contrast. The difference between the vertical face and the soffit in the photo above also illustrates this effect.
[Hudson Hill Condominium by FXFOWLE | photo by archidose]
It's been a couple years since seeing the House of Sweden in person, and I don't think I've seen a similar façade of wood panels since, until coming across
FXFOWLE's
Hudson Hill Condominium last week. From a distance (above) the façade looks like it is composed of aluminum panels powder-coated a brick or terra-cotta color. A closer look reveals a variation in color:
[Hudson Hill Condominium by FXFOWLE | photo by archidose]
And an even closer look reveals a wood grain:
[Hudson Hill Condominium by FXFOWLE | photo by archidose]
Looking at both the architect's and the building's websites, the exterior skin is described respectively as a "wood-paneled façade" and "a warm natural dark wood appearance." The first says, "this wood is real" while the second says the opposite. The condo web page reveals that the material is
Trespa, most likely the
Meteon panels, a rainscreen which "consists of thermosetting resins, homogeneously reinforced with up to 70% wood based fibers." These panels utilize wood in their make-up, but the aesthetic affect is completely artificial, given that metallics, "naturals" and plain colors are also available. It's like Pinto in building form, though more appealing in appearance.
Recently while reading a post about steel windows from one of my favorite blogs, Things that Inspire, I was reminded of Hopes Windows. Hopes has been making steel windows since 1912 and is known as the 'go-to' company for metal doors & windows with that slim profile everyone loves. Michael Graves used them in his own house, a convereted warehouse in NJ, seen above.
One of the local firms here in DC, McInturff Architects, has used Hopes in a number of projects. This rowhouse above is a nice surprise for traditional DC, modern!
Another house in DC by the same architect had this beautiful black and white scheme, which the windows help along. The steel windows are beautiful, but they make the focus the views; one of the reasons architects love steel windows with slim profiles!
Yet another McInturff project, this one in VA which features Hopes in this round bay - again, all about the view!
The steel is sturdy enough to hold large panes of glass, this apt by Frederick Phillips and Associates in Tower House gives the room the outdoor /indoor quality that modernists love.
The view from this project in Colorado was incredibly important. Look at that setting! 
The house is by Abramson Teiger Architects; you can see the kitchen above. I think the red frames help warm up the room in the snowy climate.
Not everything has to be modern though, in fact I normally think of a certain type of classical design popular in the early 20th century (well, that and warehouses!). The project above is in CA by Jesse Castaneda, a former employee of Michael Graves.
Even more traditional are these french doors in a project by Grunsfeld Shafter Architects in Illinois.
Steel windows work especially well with Mediterranean styles, as seen in this 1920s house in Palm Beach renovated by EBTA architects. I'll have steel windows in my dream house, how about you?
