2011 International Wood

Page 24

Veneers A TRADITION OF ADDING CLASS

What do Oprah Winfrey’s dermatologist and the Chairman of Nike have in common? VENEER.

T

he technique of veneering goes as far back as ancient Egypt when craftspeople would hand-cut thin slices of precious wood species to adorn ceremonial art. Exotic wood species with their intriguing grain structures and broad color palette have long inspired designers with their mystique and sophistication. Modern technologies applied to veneering make the process more refined than ever, giving architects and designers access to seemingly unlimited aesthetic expression within the media of wood. To achieve an exotic look, designers can choose between real wood and composite wood veneers, both of which are made from imported wood. The performance of a veneered panel is further customizable depending on how the material is laid up on the substrate and finished. DERMATOLOGIST TO THE STARS

You may have seen him on the final season of the Oprah Winfrey Show. You may have seen the benefits of his skin care line touted throughout the media, or read his book 20 Years Younger. But unless you live in Beverly Hills and have a dedicated dermatology budget, chances are you’ve never seen Dr. Harold Lancer’s office situated in a penthouse suite on Rodeo Drive, above the global fashion houses of Giorgio Armani and Ralph Lauren. The interior design alone is worth the trip. The space is the work of interior architect and artist Cosimo Pizzulli, principal of Santa Monicabased Pizzulli Associates, Inc. Pizzulli, a native New Yorker, draws on the design values of postwar Italy, a comprehensive approach that includes beauty and economy in equal measure. And though his expertise extends to fine art (Pizzulli is also an accomplished painter) his practice is heavily influenced by new technologies and environmental sensitivity. 24

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