Four-Board Bookshelf
CMU, Spring 2025 | Four-Board Bookshelf
Timeline: 3 Weeks
This bookshelf is an exploration of structure through reduction, crafted from four poplar boards with only 90-degree cuts. The intersecting planes form a striking X-shaped profile when viewed from the side. Assembled using a mix of traditional wood joinery and concealed screws, the design highlights balance, clarity, and the natural beauty of the material.
Despite its sculptural presence, the bookshelf is highly functional. The angled surfaces cradle books securely, while the open form allows it to double as a rest for tablets, sketchbooks, or personal items. Its compact footprint makes it ideal for small spaces, offering both utility and a strong visual statement.
Tools: Jointer, Planer, Disc Sanders, Chop Saw, Table Saw, Router, Chisels, Sandpaper
Materials: Poplar Wood, Screws
Collaborators: Luke Shen
Concept Sketches & process:
I started this project by building 1:4 scale foam core models to explore form, structure, and joinery. The brief required using simple joinery methods with screws only (no glue) and encouraged experimentation through different cuts across four wooden boards, which guided my early iterations.
After landing on a clear design direction, I transitioned to full-scale cardboard mock-ups. This step helped me test structural stability and fine-tune the joinery at a realistic scale before moving into the final material.
Initial prototypes:
The final bookshelf was constructed using a range of woodworking tools and machines, including the jointer planer, chop saw, table saw, disc sander, chisels, and screws. To ensure precision in measurements and the placement of components.
Solidworks teckpack:
