reSAWN Timber used reclaimed barn siding in Ink Block project
By Drew Diehl, reSAWN Timber
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Photo By reSAWN Timber

In the building that housed the "Boston Herald" for over fifty years, Ink Block Boston had a lot of history to consider in its six-acre residential complex. The South End apartments feature three different buildings--Ink 1, Ink 2, and Ink 3--restaurants, entertainment venues, and condominiums. With deep roots in Boston's immigrant, working class population of the 1800s and early 1900s, architect Elkus Manfredi incorporated many design elements that celebrate the city's history and maintain contemporary aesthetics. Specifically, reSAWN TIMBER co.'s WEATHERWORN reclaimed barn siding in the lobby of Ink 3 stands out as a perfect representation of Ink Block's overarching design theme.

At the beginning of the project, Elkus Manfredi found old shipping containers on the property, which inspired the architectural team to merge old and new. Their design challenge was to revitalize the urban industrial block into a lively, upscale community that appreciates the history of Boston. Elkus Manfredi Architects specified the dark brown and slightly maroon coloring as an ode to the building's former use as a print facility. Referencing the CMYK color palette used in newspaper printing, WEATHERWORN evokes the rustic, working-class essence of print publications with a warm, residential coziness.

Breaking the complex into three buildings, Elkus Manfredi wanted a distinct design identity for each building. The designers pictured three differing personality types who would match the design aesthetics. In Ink 3--the location of reSAWN's WEATHERWORN wall cladding--the architects envisioned a maturing couple who is looking to downsize with style and comfort. They hoped to create features that were simple, warm, and refined. Ink 3's lobby exudes these vibes with its maroon and brown colors that are accented by reSAWN's WEATHERWORN wall cladding.



In addition to Ink Block's visual appeal, the complex strived to be exceptionally sustainable. Elkus Manfredi seeks to achieve four basic sustainable design goals in all of its projects: resource efficient, support health and wellness for its users, be flexible and adaptable, and be durable and maintainable. With WEATHERWORN, Ink Block used a reclaimed wood that has lasted for countless decades, provides a warm, natural look with virtually no maintenance, and offers numerous sustainable qualities to the building including several LEED credits.

reSAWN TIMBER co's WEATHERWORN reclaimed barn siding is a part of their enCORE collection that features reclaimed wood in a variety of different species and colors. reSAWN TIMBER co. is committed to providing the highest-quality, sustainable building products, and the reclamation of antique wood is an excellent way to extend wood’s product lifecycle. Reclaimed wood also has exceptional performance qualities. Long before Columbus founded the new world, the seedlings of the great North American forests were taking root. Left undisturbed for centuries, these seedlings were able to slowly grow into massive trees, basking in the ample pollution-free air and water of pre-industrial America. This slow growth and natural habitat is key to the unique beauty and strength of antique reclaimed wood. Due to over-milling during the industrial era, all that remains of these majestic woods is preserved in the barns, homes, and buildings of that era.

reSAWN TIMBER co. ships anywhere in the USA & abroad. reSAWN works with an international network of distributors and sales reps to make their products easily accessible throughout the global design community.
 

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