The scale of the oak allows the structure to remain visible and expressive – bringing warmth, rhythm and the permanence of old-growth timber into an otherwise restrained interior.
Project Overview
The design called for substantial exposed timber members to become part of the architecture rather than being concealed within it. Large 250 × 250 mm solid French oak beams establish a strong horizontal rhythm through the interior, balanced by vertical oak posts and a quiet palette of white walls, glazing and polished concrete.
The result is a space in which the structural timber carries much of the visual character. The generous sections provide the mass required for the beams to read as deliberate architectural elements rather than decorative additions.
Material Response
Vernay’s old-growth French oak is particularly suited to substantial sections. The timber is selectively harvested from PEFC-certified forests, air dried and supplied as solid single-origin oak. At 250 × 250 mm, the beams retain the natural variation, checking and grain associated with large-format solid timber, giving each member an individual character while maintaining a consistent material language throughout the project.
Application Exposed architectural / structural beams
Material Solid single-origin French oak
Section 250 × 250 mm
Origin Burgundy, France
Certification PEFC certified
250 × 250 mm sections – substantial dimensions give the beams genuine architectural presence across the large open volume.
Old-growth oak – slow-grown timber provides the density, grain character and scale required for large solid sections.
Air-dried material – traditional drying allows the timber to season gradually while retaining the authentic character expected of substantial solid oak.
Natural variation – checking, knots and tonal movement are treated as part of the material expression rather than disguised.
The exposed beams create a repeated structural rhythm that visually connects the full length of the living space.
Their warmth offsets the polished concrete, white surfaces and extensive glazing, giving the otherwise minimal interior a strong natural material anchor.
At this scale, French oak is no longer simply a finish. It becomes architecture – structure, proportion, and material character expressed as one.
