Coney Island Boardwalk Bookshelf
The Coney Island Boardwalk is a historic New York City landmark. It was built in sections starting in the late 1800's, and has been a summer entertainment destination for New Yorker s for over a century.
In 2010, the New York City Parks Department began replacing decades old sections of the boardwalk with more durable, more environmentally friendly plastic materials. The original boardwalk was made of a Brazilian hardwood called Ipe, a durable rain forest wood perfect for decking and outdoor use. The Ipe wood was salvaged and put to various uses, including small batch resale to the public in the original condition with its natural ocean-weathered gray patina.
I arranged the beams so that the boardwalk sides faced out, highlighting the uneven wear and screw holes created by the boards that lay on top. I think the resulting chevron pattern really brings the whole thing together. The boards are incredibly heavy, and so rather than cutting them at the shop I made each cut by hand in my apartment. I decided on a doweled construction so the piece can be easily taken apart and moved. The finish is tung oil, which provides protection and brings out the natural highlights.
