Dukta is a brand based in Zurich, Switzerland, born from the idea of activating a new process to engrave wood, in order to make it flexible without weakening it. The material engraved by Dukta acquires quasi-textile characteristics that make it suitable for a variety of applications, from
office partitions, to
acoustic panels, both wall and ceiling, to
furniture,
lighting or
art objects. Due to both their visual and technical properties, dukta panels are perfect in a variety of contexts and open up new possibilities for planners and designers. The company provides advice and assistance at all stages of design and in the most technical matters.
Dukta panels for sound insulation, furniture and lighting
Dukta panels are perfect in environments where acoustic design is required, such as absorption or diffusion. Their flexibility allows easy application to achieve the acoustic solution best suited to various needs. Also used as
partitions, they find a place in large rooms such as offices, libraries or restaurants to create small islands of privacy, to be screened visually and acoustically. If necessary, casters can also be mounted to facilitate their mobility. The
JANUS-TEX panel is the most suitable for acoustic applications because it has an intermediate layer of colored fabric or felt in the center, and this, in addition to creating a visual effect different from other panels, goes a long way toward increasing acoustic performance. The flexibility of the panels also allows them to be used innovatively in the field of furniture. One example is the
TSCHAIR lounge chair, with a curved steel rod frame, in which the seat, made of flexible dukta panel, is active and helps relieve back tension. Another natural application of dukta panels, thanks to the partial transparency resulting from the cuts, is in lighting: the
ORA collection, in pendant, floor and table versions, is made with dukta wood cylinders that let light through softly.
Dukta flexible wood, the innovative engraving process
dukta's patented engraving process is suitable for a variety of wood-based materials, such as plywood, MDF and three-ply panels. After the process, the engraved panels acquire high sound-absorbing performance, as well as a unique visual effect characterized by a contemporary design, which opens up new scenarios in finishes and interior design. The appearance of the panel changes depending on the type of engraving, thus offering a range of aesthetic possibilities to choose from. From a technical point of view, engravings profoundly change the structure of the panel, which becomes flexible on the side opposite the engravings, maintaining static stability along the direction of the cuts. Panels can be etched on one or both sides, for different transparency and flexibility effects. Based on the appearance of the cuts and the portion of the surface that is open after engraving, different types of semi-finished products are distinguished:
SONAR,
LINAR,
FOLI and
JANUS are feasible on all commercially available wood-based panels, while DUNA is applicable only on solid wood.
dukta, genesis and development
The idea for dukta was born in 2007 in a further education course led by Serge Lunin at the ZHdK. At the beginning there was the wish of Christian Kuhn, who was still a student at the time, to build a couch out of multi-curved wooden elements. Together they tested alternatives to the well-known methods such as steam bending or layer gluing. Countless experiments showed that certain cutting arrangements give the wood great flexibility, but also weaken it at the same time. The playful beginnings gradually turned into more targeted investigations, which led to various awards and, in 2009, to an 18-month CTI research project. From the wood bending experiments of 2007, a complex and extremely versatile process has developed to this day. Thanks to a CTI research project, exhibitions and awards, dukta has become a byword for flexible wood worldwide. In August 2011, Serge Lunin and Christian Kuhn founded dukta GmbH. Since 2015, the company has been managed by Serge and Pablo Lunin. They have set themselves the goal of establishing dukta on the European market and further developing the process in terms of design and technology.
