W* Bespoke | 3 June 2019
The Italian Boiserie: Skeens by Tabu
Italian boiserie Tabu treats wood with a new lightweight, skin-smooth technique
On a quest for symbiosis between nature and man, Italian boiserie Tabu has long been perfecting its innovative approach to wood. Part of the art is combining three generations of knowledge of the material, with a tailor-made approach to how we live today – that’s where the innovation happens.
From its base in Cantù, Italy, Tabu sits at the heart of a global network of sustainable timber sourcing – and it’s always sending out roots in new directions. A well-travelled adventurer, Tabu has been traversing the globe since 1927. Searching for the highest quality materials has always gone hand in hand with respect for the environment. Tabu holds the highest respect for the cycles of nature, reforestation policies and standards certified by the FSC (Forest Stewardship Council).
A love of wood, centuries of rings deep, has cultivated Tabu’s sophisticated, scientific approach to innovation. From wood tailoring, to dyeing, and multilaminar veneers, each technique developed is the result of careful studies of wood – from its strengths, weaknesses and nuances, to its colour, veins and natural texture.
A Tabu timber effect is wood, as never quite experienced before. The warmth, rich colouring and strength of wood – all retained. The flexibility, versatility and durability – all enhanced. Preserving the natural abilities of wood is central to Tabu, yet so is adaptability, and meeting the needs of the market.
The latest collection ‘Skeens’, launched at Salone del Mobile this year, is a revolution in the flexibility of a natural wood finish. Like the name suggests, the texture is smooth like skin. The product has been designed to wrap, protect and beautify, with a thickness close to zero.
The Skeens system of lightweight, pre-finished wood sheets is also backed with a solution that allows designers to apply the skin directly to walls, doors, surfaces and panels – boiserie has never been so compliant.
Skeens combines natural materials with practical new properties, and now, the freedom to experiment with touch, tactility and character too. The collection features 40 different codes that each contributes a subtle, individual effect. Seven types of wood – Ash, Bolivar, Eucalyptus, Larch, Lime, Oak and Walnut – provide inspiration for the naturally dyed veneers, all made with sustainable North American and European wood species.
The rich range of hues presents Tabu’s widest ever selection of colours – and personalisation doesn’t stop there. The new vision for boiserie brings three simple and delicate embossed patterns to the fray – Flower, Leaf and Tweed. And, to make the match smoother, the design team has grouped the collection into three moods – classic, style and creative – to help you find the right skin to live in.
Tabu compares its most tailor-made technique of boiserie to the art of couture. Combining the precision of decoration with the lightness of its touch and the bespoke element of multiple combinations, Skeens is tri-dimensional just like the brocaded textures of history. The expertise of a designer, just like a couturier crafting a piece of textile, can bring shape, balance and texture to the fabric of daily life, energising each of the five senses along the way with the natural properties of wood.
