How can public spaces feel more human?

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® plywood to create a dramatic, immersive architectural environment that transforms light, acoustics, and spatial perception.

The Clearing' underscores how fire-rated engineered wood products can support ambitious design concepts in public environments without compromising safety. Fireshield® specifically uses a unique treatment process that allows panels to retain their fire rating even after cutting, machining, or sanding, making it particularly well-suited for complex, custom-fabricated architectural applications.

As designers and architects place greater emphasis on experiential design, material selection is becoming about more than performance alone—it's also about atmosphere, comfort, and emotion, and how people interact with the spaces around them.