Re-examining the Showroom Experience – Forté Showroom and Experience Centre by Wonder

Forté and Wonder have come together to create an inspirational flagship showroom for the flooring brand. The space is carefully designed to showcase the company’s premium timber and provide a space where clients’ visions come to life.

A leading supplier of refined timber surfaces, Forté consistently designs with care, this time crafting a showroom whereby every detail is designed to enrich the visitor experience and nurture the visions that clients and professional partners have for their projects. Located in Grey Lynn, Auckland, the collaborative project exceeds the expectations of a showroom by merging it with an experience centre, solidifying the project’s innovation, design awareness and craftsmanship.

Forté’s vision for the space is to serve the needs of clients seeking inspiration and guidance, an aspiration that has been transformed into something palpable with the help of Wonder.

Forté’s vision for the space is to serve the needs of clients seeking inspiration and guidance, an aspiration that has been transformed into something palpable with the help of Wonder. The initial brief was grounded by some challenges – the existing structure was old, with uneven flooring and demanded a significant amount of attention through furniture, custom joinery and other bespoke elements. Forté also wanted a space that was warm and inviting, drawing on the team’s commitment to care for their partners and clients.

Despite initial challenges, the showroom achieved this vision. The structure features a large spatial display area, a second-level mezzanine with a boardroom and offices, a hosting kitchen fitted with bespoke appliances and private rooms with the brand’s timber adorning the walls, floor and ceiling. Large windows and open spaces also welcome filtered light into the space, creating a warm, welcoming atmosphere atypical of most commercial environments.

The showroom’s textures and materiality also invite visitors to envision the ways they could employ the showcased timber flooring in their designs.

The showroom’s textures and materiality also invite visitors to envision the ways they could employ the showcased timber flooring and panelling in their designs. Dark timbers and raw natural materials are used throughout, and the space is pared back to ensure the timber remains the hero, whilst colours are kept bold and rich to create a captivating space.

Wonder seamlessly showcases Forté’s premium products, choosing a range of tones, materials and styles so that visitors gain the full scope of the brand’s offerings. Featured is Muuro Noir Oak, an engineered architectural interior panelling product with a real timber top layer, designed specifically for wall and ceiling applications. Moda Verona Feature flooring is also displayed, a beige-toned, natural European oak with an extra-matte finish that pairs a lightly brushed texture with a raw, untouched look. A neutral, blond European oak in herringbone pattern, Moda Capri Light Feature flooring showcases Forté’s unique pastel blond timber. Also featured throughout is Murro Buff Oak panelling, a creamy European oak with a natural, matte finish. Products are presented throughout in a rounded way, paying attention to context and celebrating the beauty and versatility of timber.

By offering an inspiring space where visitors can explore all that Forté has to offer, the showroom becomes a genesis for craftsmanship, collaboration and creativity.

The process of designing the showroom was an example of a positive collaboration. Wonder and Forté worked together to create a space that reflects Forté’s investment in the visions their clients and professional partners have for their projects. Forté partners with the best architects and designers to achieve architectural homes that exceed clients’ expectations. By offering an inspiring space where visitors can explore all that Forté has to offer, the showroom becomes a genesis for collaboration and creativity.

A shining example of the art of craftsmanship and thoughtful collaboration, the Forté Showroom and Experience Centre truly shines in both its palpability and the way each design choice has been so carefully considered to enrich the client experience. The considered showroom offers a glimpse into the future of commercial design.