Was CNC milling part of the concept from the outset?
Our design was determined by the possibilities of the milling process. That’s why we do not have windows that extend to the floor or the ceiling—otherwise a wall element would not be stable enough to be craned. Furthermore, as you may have noticed, the windows’ corners are round; this is due to the size of the milling head—you can’t mill sharp corners. More after the jump. + moma.org How did you choose spruce as the primary material? It had a gorgeous pinky undertone that worked nicely against the architecture’s rigorous lines. Spruce is not too expensive, not too hard, and easy to process. On all outside surfaces, including the roof, we used a marine coating, which protects against weather and yet is diffusion permeable—similar to a Gore-tex jacket. Inside, we used one layer of oil to protect the wood and make it easier to clean. These treatments, which we would have done anyway, were, fortunately, O.K. for U.S. customs. In addition, they wanted us to treat the wooden parts that prote
