Story at a glance:
- Wood is a muse in surprising ways, from finishes to mass timber to clever, luxury furniture.
- Some designers want the look of wood, without the maintenance, and more solutions are stepping up to meet that demand, too.
We love these creative solutions from across the built environment.
From finishes that look like wood to large-scale wood architecture, these latest finds are inspired by nature.
PAC-CLAD Timber Series wood grain finishes
The Waterford Bay project is a partial-wrap residential concept with a parking structure at its center and dwelling units surrounding it on three sides. Photo by Alan Blakely
Is it wood? Is it metal? The new PAC-CLAD Timber Series wood grain finishes from Petersen include a range of colors from rich browns to shades of gray and white. The simulated PVDF finishes can be applied to all PAC-CLAD soffit and wall panel systems and feature a consistent wood grain pattern that may make observers pleasantly pause when they realize the appearance of wood is actually metal.
The five finishes combine the beauty of wood with the durability of metal. The Waterford Bay project in St. Paul, Minnesota was designed by BKV Architects using multiple PAC-CLAD profiles in weathered zinc, matte black, a custom rustic amber, and a custom classic II bronze.
Luma Collection by Tuuci
Photo courtesy of Tuuci
This deep-seating furniture, designed by Tuuci founder Dougan Clarke, combines luxury, durability, and craftsmanship. The innovative Aluma-Weave technique from Tuuci enhances each frame, while the Aluma-Forge joints use cold-weld technology for superior structural resilience and artisan quality.
The collection is accented by the Meritage Bezel, adding a fine jewelry detail that elevates its sophistication. Choose from six Aluma-TEAK finishes for the timeless look of wood without the upkeep. You also have the option to blend with eight powder coat colors.
Keyhole Collection by Fyrn
Photo courtesy of Fyrn
San Francisco–based sustainable design and build company Fyrn recently unveiled its new Keyhole Collection. The collection gets its name from the proprietary brackets seen through “keyholes” in the solid-wood tops of the table and bench. Made in the USA of high-quality, North American Hardwoods, each solid wood piece is one-of-a-kind, celebrating the unique natural characteristics of the material. Table lengths can be customized between 66 and 144 inches (bench lengths from 39 to 92 inches).
Fyrn was created by a fourth generation woodworker with furniture design rooted in circularity. The company prioritizes minimal raw material waste, maximum durability, and easy repair or refurbishment for a long life for its pieces. Shipping, too, is considered, as the pieces are built to flatpack, ensuring efficiency. fyrn.com
Katajanokan Laituri
Photo by Kalle Kouhia
This new landmark in Helsinki’s iconic Market Square ushers in a new generation of Finnish large-scale wood architecture. Anttinen Oiva Architects designed the building entirely of mass timber elements. The four-story project now houses the head office of Finnish forestry company Stora Enso and a 164-room hotel, all made from Finnish and Swedish timber. For the facade, a special two-layer solution was developed.
“A double skin was the best solution given the architecturally and technically challenging maritime context,” says Selina Anttinen, architect and partner at Anttinen Oiva Architects. “The outer protective layer integrates with its stone-built surroundings and is made of glass with vertical white metal lamellas and natural stone. The building’s appearance transforms in different times of the day and lighting conditions and fits the various scales and motifs of the surrounding buildings from the different historical eras.”
Promoting wood construction is key to achieving Finland’s carbon neutrality goals. “We have a long tradition of wooden construction building in Finland, but larger-scale examples in urban environments are still few,” Anttinen says. “In Katajanokan Laituri we had a possibility to work in a demanding context with clients, partners and builders that understood, supported and pushed forward not only our design vision, but also our common goals to research and test the new type of large-scale wooden constructions.” Inside, wood continues to tell the story of strong Nordic nature.
RIVA Wood Tile Collection
Photo courtesy of RIVA Spain
Inspired by nature with all of the benefits of tile, the RIVA Wood Tile Collection features porcelain tiles in seven colors—pearl, cotton, crystal, sand, smoke, earth, and amber. Measuring 10-by-60 inches, the tiles are designed to match the color and width of RIVA MAX natural wood flooring, which is sourced sustainably from European forests. Tiles have a sleek, knot-free appearance, designed to look like wood with the durability and cleanability benefits of tile.
The large-format tiles coordinate with wood collections, allowing for seamless designs from interior wood to match tiles in high-moisture areas. RIVA Wood Tiles are water-resistant, slip-resistant, and easy to clean, offering a feeling of elegance and timelessness in any space.
The fourth-generation family business with roots in Spain uses rectified porcelain tiles sourced from reputable factories in the country through established relationships the brand has made over the years.
