Origins
The origins of dukta – flexible wood go back to 2007. In a training course run by Serge Lunin, Christian Kuhn had the idea to construct a lounger made from multiple curved wooden elements. Together they tested the alternatives to the well-known processes such as steam bending or gluing layers together. They carried out numerous experiments which showed that certain arrangements of incisions give the wood a great deal of flexibility but also weaken it. From humble beginning, the investigations soon became more targeted and, by 2009, they had received many awards and started to lead an 18-month CTI research project.
Research
Together with the Institute for Design and Technology at the ZHdK, the architecture, wood and construction departments at Bern University, as well as Schreinerei Schneider AG in Pratteln, Serge Lunin and Christian Kuhn started an 18-month CTI research project under the leadership of Ralf Michel. This enabled them to attain the fundamentals for further product development and manufacture. Both founders investigated technical production issues in addition to the phenomenological investigations.
Founding of the Company
In August 2011, Serge Lunin and Christian Kuhn founded dukta GmbH with the aim of establishing dukta on the market. In 2013/14, work concentrated on large contracts such as the cinema and concert hall in Toni-Areal, as well as on the two large Wood Loop exhibitions in the Winterthur Museum of Commerce and the Brengenzerwald Exhibition Centre in Andelsbuch. The designer Pablo Lunin has been Serge Lunin’s business partner since early 2015. Developing new products and working with new partners in production and distribution domestically and internationally are the current focus.
