Public spaces are often designed around safety requirements with materials selected primarily for compliance and performance. But what if those same materials could also help shape the visitor experience—how people feel, move, and connect within a space? A compelling example of this idea in practice is ‘The Clearing’, a permanent installation at the Folkestone Triennial visitor center in Folkestone, UK. Inspired by a forest clearing, the project uses Garnica Fireshield® plywo