Combining historic character and modern conveniences through WISA^®-Birch LG plywood

Vilma Kojola

Editor, Tulus

Finding materials that respect a building’s 16th-century heritage while meeting 21st-century standards can be challenging. At Southspace, a co-working space in Dorking, UK, WISA^®-Birch^LG plywood provided a solution that visually complements the historic building, while offering the durability required for a commercial workspace and supporting the project’s sustainability goals.

When Southspace founder Matt Livey set out to create a modern co-working space in a 16th-century building, his vision was clear: to provide local creatives and freelancers with a workspace offering all modern conveniences, while respecting the building’s heritage and architecture. Meeting both requirements became the defining challenge.

Located in Mount House in Dorking, Surrey, UK, the project was further shaped by the building’s Grade II listed status, which recognizes its special architectural and historic interest and sets constraints on any alterations. The answer lay in careful material choices.

Having long admired birch plywood for its natural beauty and versatility, Livey began exploring premium options that would suit both the aesthetic and functional demands of the space. The search led him to WISA plywood and a collaboration with James Latham, a distributor of timber, panels and decorative surfaces across the UK and Ireland.

The long grain of WISA-Birch^LG adds a tranquil feel that complements the building’s historic character.

Birch plywood balances visual appeal and durability

Working closely with James Latham’s panel team, Livey’s material of choice was WISA®-Birch^LG – a long-grained, light-colored and strong birch plywood suited to a wide range of applications from shopfitting and carpentry to interior lining.

“We wanted to use materials that would sit happily in a historic location and, most importantly, age beautifully. A longtime plywood fan, as soon as I saw WISA-Birch with its striking long grains, I really wanted to have it as the foundation of my material palette,” Livey explains.

“However, that was only half the story behind the selection. Not only is WISA-Birch a timelessly beautiful product, it’s also dimensionally stable and ages incredibly well, making it perfectly suited for hard-wearing commercial workspaces,” he adds.

James Latham supplied 10 sheets of 18mm WISA-Birch Long Grain plywood (2440mm x 1220mm) for Southspace, with their role extending beyond product selection and delivery.

“What sets WISA apart is found in the manufacturing process, where every sheet is produced to EN636-2 and EN314-2 Class 3 standards, which delivers dependable performance time after time,” James Latham’s Birch Plywood Expert David Briggs says. “From a structural point of view, the robust cross-banding in each panel provides strength and stability needed for multiple furniture and finishing applications,” he notes.

“James Latham’s support was exceptional, and its panels team provided invaluable insight into how to get the most out of WISA-Birch,” Livey says.

The offcuts of WISA-Birch^LG were used to create custom trapezoid table legs.

Responsible and versatile choice for a wide range of applications

WISA plywood also aligned with the project’s low-carbon ambitions, having been engineered with responsibility in mind. WISA-Birch^LG carries FSC™ (FSC C009856) or PEFC (PEFC/02-31-112) certification and meets E1 formaldehyde emission requirements, helping ensure healthy indoor air quality.

To reduce construction waste and make the most out of WISA-Birch, all of the offcuts were utilized and repurposed across various interior features and fittings, including custom-made table legs. WISA-Birch was also used to create everything from adaptable pegboard storage systems and durable desk surfaces to hybrid planters, bookshelves and custom window displays.

“WISA-Birch^LG’s smooth and even surface makes it ideal for visible interior applications, while its strength allows it to perform in commercial environments. As Southspace shows, that combination opens up a wide range of uses,” UPM Plywood’s Sales Manager Robert Allinson notes.

All WISA-Birch components used in Southspace, including the adaptable pegboard systems, were precision-cut locally using CNC machining (Computer Numerical Control).

A material choice that connects past and present

The overarching design philosophy for Southspace was to create a warm and natural look and feel across the entire interior. WISA-Birch^LG played a key role in shaping a tranquil and harmonious atmosphere that feels both contemporary and connected to the historic setting.

Completed and opened to the public in November 2025, Southspace demonstrates how WISA-Birch plywood's warm, natural appeal can complement a historic building rather than competing with its character.

“Southspace captures the true potential of plywood and what can be achieved when you push it to its limits in an unusual space with strict limitations of what you can and cannot do,” Livey concludes.

Learn more about WISA-Birch LG

Photos: Matt Livey

Story | 01/31/2024 13:20:07 | 4 min

Design fresh out of the oven

Story | 10/22/2025 10:46:02 | 4 min

Fire-retardant WISA^®-Spruce FR helped meet fire classification requirements at Puumerkki’s premises

Story | 12/19/2025 11:06:31 | 4 min