Researchers at the University of Cambridge in collaboration with PLP Architecture have developed moveable wooden walls to counter costs of remodeling interior floor plans.

Removing interior walls to achieve a more open-plan living or change layouts can be rather expensive, and cause a lot of waste. To counter this, the researchers at Cambridge developed a cheaper and reusable alternative.

Unveiled at London Design Biennale (1 – 25 June), ‘Ephemeral’ is an engineered wooden wall that is kerfed (a series of cuts in close proximity so that the wood can bend without breaking) and acts like a partition wall. The wall can be built into the building from the beginning, or seamlessly retrofitted. It can be used all around the world, both in the workplace and in homes.

Photo: Ron Bakker