Top five ash wood interiors

We explore how the benefits of ash have been beautifully realised in our pick of five stunning projects.

Ash is a versatile wood that has many benefits that designers and architects have harnessed in a variety of different projects. We highlight a handful of exceptional schemes that showcase both its beauty and practicality.

Ash has much to offer architects and designers. A highly versatile material it’s also aesthetically pleasing. It typically has a straight grain and an attractive light-brown colour, with a uniform look. It can be used in a number of areas of the home from hallways to kitchens, as well as commercial environments and for elements including furniture, flooring and kitchen worktops, as well as wall panelling. A detailed guide to different species of wood including ash is available here. Further ash wood inspiration can be found in the following projects, designed by a number of Swedish architects.

LINEAR PLANK

The beauty of natural ash at the Melting Pot

Torlslanda, on the island of Hisingen around 12 kilometres to the north west of the city of Gothenburg, is home to one of the largest production facilities of Volvo Cars. The Melting Pot restaurant, which opened last year, is one of the main gathering places for the automotive manufacturer’s employees. A cylindrical kitchen is at the heart of the restaurant, designed by architects Wingårdhs. This is clad in light, natural ash panels which provide a gentle contrast to the rest of the richly coloured design details. Gustafs Linear Plank system has been installed on a panel wall with an open joint, allowing for an attractive ash infill.

HOTEL INTERIOR

A winning combination of wood at Stockholm’s AC by Marriott

Living Design worked on the first AC Marriott Hotel in Sweden, a hospitality brand where the focus is on a comfortable and elegant stay for its guests. The hotel in the north of Stockholm features 223 guest rooms as well as ample common areas such as a reception, lounge and meeting rooms. The lobby is the centrepiece of this carefully crafted interior with an innovative installation of wooden panels and Gustafs Linear Ribs in different types of wood including ash as well as walnut and oak veneers cut into eye-catching triangular patterns, a great example of how ash’s paler hue can provide a beautiful contrast to darker species of wood.

CONGRESS HALL

The power of perforated panels in Borås

Less than an hour’s drive from Gothenburg, the city of Borås is where you’ll find the Borås Congress with multiple meeting options designed by Tengbom together with Johan de Sousa Mestre, acoustician at ÅF. “The proposal was to develop a state-of-the-art congress facility for the entire region,” says Bo Karlberg, architect with Tengbom. This specialist meeting facility provides space for small gatherings as well as conferences of up to 1000 people. Perforated and plain ash Gustafs Acoustic Panels installed on the walls and in the ceiling cleverly control the sound. The acoustic panels have been perforated in a diagonal pattern, with the ash producing an elegant, typically Scandinavian feel. Sound can be deftly directed around the 1000-seater congress hall thanks to angled wood panels.

CONCERT HALL

Hitting the right note with painted ash

Architects AIX together with acoustician Jan-Inge Gustafsson from Norconsult created the interiors of the Royal College of Music in Stockholm getting creative with colour while harnessing the natural properties of ash. In the main hall, Gustafs Wooden Panels were painted red. Bespoke curved panels in various shades of blue were used in the Nathan Milstein Hall while the ‘Little Hall’ has a mix of Gustafs Planks and Gustafs Panels in painted ash veneer, the smallest hall or ‘Black Box’ uses a mix of Gustafs Planks and Gustafs Wooden Panels in black painted ash veneer. The feeling of wood is retained through the still-visible grain and patterns.

DISTRICT COURT

Customised solutions at Lund District Court

“We have designed a modern building, which at the same time connects well with Lund’s building tradition,” says Kjell Adamsson, FOJAB Architects. The district court façade consists of copper and glass resting on a pedestal of limestone. Inside, the visitor is greeted by billowing wooden panels in oiled ash. These work in harmony with the robust external materials. Modules of ash can also be found in the public spaces in one entrance and on the second floor, as well as on the doors of the courtroom, where black stained ash veneer integrates harmoniously with the bright Gustafs Linear Modules.

As ash can be treated in many different ways, from painting to perforation, as well as complementing an overall material palette, it gives architects and designers the freedom to customise and express their creativity, making it a truly versatile species.

Sign-up for future Stories

SIGN-UP

Our latest news and views English

Underpinned by our Scandinavian design heritage, we bring you regular stories about architecture and interiors, exploring natural materials, acoustics, and the creation of safe and harmonious environments.

September-24 Acoustics, Design,