Curved walls are becoming an increasingly desired design feature in both residential and commercial projects, emerging from a wider aesthetic shift towards softer, more organic forms. Traditionally it has been difficult to achieve these contours in a timber finish with the material being not naturally inclined to bend, however, Forté has recently completed two separate projects that incorporated a curved timber wall: Mode Studio in Ponsonby and Forté’s own Christchurch Experience Centre. In both cases this detail was achieved using products from the Muuro collection of premium prefinished interior linings, to create a smooth and sculptural effect.

What is Muuro?

Crafted from the highest quality European Oak and American Walnut, Muuro offers a range of thin and lightweight engineered timber wall and ceiling linings for a refined architectural aesthetic. With its fixed lengths, Muuro is designed for seamless installation on standard wall heights. This feature not only enhances the aesthetic of any room but also minimises visible joints, creating a sleek and uninterrupted look that lends itself beautifully to curved applications.

Crafted to curve 

Both Mode and Forté Christchurch Experience Centre were designed by Auckland-based Wonder. The concept and interior design studio were already familiar with the Muuro collection, having used it in a number of previous projects. However, these two fitouts invited the opportunity to apply it in ways that transcended traditional timber limitations.

At Mode, a boutique fitness and wellbeing studio, a curved wall in Muuro Buff (a diffused golden hue) gently guides visitors through the space, demarcates between the gym and restoration suites, and provides a warm and tactile contrast to studio’s concrete shell.

As Buster Caldwell, Director of Wonder, explains: “The vertical linear tongue and groove structure [of Muuro] added a quiet visual repetition that wouldn't have been present in a ply-clad solution. There’s a richness to Muuro — the tone, the grain, the consistency of the battens. It felt elevated but not showy, and had a simplicity with the installation.”

Prefinished and easy to install

Muuro is lightweight and features a Locking Unifit X joint profile on both sides and ends. This allows for straightforward installation directly onto framing, eliminating the need for additional materials like plasterboard, thereby reducing both time and cost associated with installation.

In Forté’s Christchurch Experience Centre, this ease of installation really came into play in a swooping curved feature wall that subtly partitions a meeting room from the main showroom space. The wall is visible in both concave and convex, the former finished in warm Muuro Fawn and the latter in the dramatic Muuro Noir. A recessed shelf also runs along the interior curve.

With the product supplied pre-finished and ready to go, Muuro allowed full control of the outcome, with no surprises on colour or finish, explains Caldwell: “[Muuro] solves a real need: it installs easily and curves cleanly, without compromising texture or form. It gave us both the flexibility and the finesse on finish we were after."