'Wave' desk

‘Wave’ desk
In 2005 I created the ‘Wave Wall’ in the lobby of an Atlanta ad agency. This wonderful sculptural technique I discovered stacks layers of wood with smaller mdf spacers in between each layer. Five years later is the first chance I have had to explore this idea more with my recent creation , the ‘Wave’ desk. It applies this unique ‘slice’ technique to cabinetry, allowing for drawers or larger pull out units that are flowing and sculptural. Having been able to create cabinetry that breaks away from flat and square surfaces is a very liberating feeling. I hope to explore the idea more very soon.
This desk all starts with two basic mdf cabinets that have drawer boxes suited to meet the clients needs. Layers of stacked and sculpted 10/4” Poplar lumber with a ¾” spacer between each layer was applied to the exterior of each box, ten layers tall in all. Starting from the bottom and working my way up, each layer taking shape from the layer below it. First rough cut on the bandsaw and then later refined with grinders and sanders. The vertical surfaces of the desk front and sides were worked with a wire wheel mounted in a drill to roughen and expose the grain. All of the flowing artistic design choices of the wave pattern were created on the shop floor in the moment. There were no patterns made and each work in the future will be totally unique.

-- Robert Brou, Atlanta, GA, www.naturalismfurniture.com