top of page

ECHOES OF THE WOODS: Red Oak, Cherry, and Maple Reimagined

In collaboration with AHEC and Cooollect

Photos Courtesy of AHEC


American red oak, cherry, and maple—three of the most abundant yet under-specified U.S. hardwood species—are gaining new relevance in contemporary design. In Echoes of the Woods, a cross-cultural exhibition created by the American Hardwood Export Council (AHEC) and curated by Cooollect, ten Chinese designers explore American hardwood through sculpture, spatial interventions, and functional art.


The resulting works reveal how red oak, cherry, and maple deliver beauty, structural performance, and emotional depth across modern design applications. Often overlooked in global markets, these species demonstrate exceptional versatility when placed in the hands of contemporary designers—an idea explored here through a visually driven selection of works that foreground material behavior and form.

PROJECT HIGHLIGHTS


Red Oak | Organic Rhythms in Sculptural Form

Man in black outfit stands near abstract black furniture on a white background. Modern, minimalistic atmosphere with geometric designs.

Designer Zhao Yun uses American red oak to interpret the structural logic of plant growth.


•Why it matters for designers: red oak’s open grain takes on fluid shapes without losing stability. It steam-bends reliably and finishes beautifully in both matte and satin applications.


•Design takeaway: red oak can move—literally. Its grain direction enhances organic curvature, making it ideal for biophilic interiors and expressive millwork.


The piece spotlights how red oak behaves at tight radii—useful evidence for curved millwork and sculptural cladding.


Maple | Cultural Space Reimagined


Designer Zhang Zhongyu reconnects architectural heritage with contemporary minimalism through maple.


• Why it matters for designers: Maple’s consistent grain and smooth surface support crisp detailing and clean architectural lines, from minimalist to heritage contexts.


• Design takeaway: Maple offers warmth through clarity rather than saturation, creating calm, balanced spaces without visual heaviness.


Maple brings restraint and cultural continuity to a contemporary architectural space.



Red Oak | Dialogue Between Material & Craft

Wooden geometric sculptures and a circle frame in a minimal gray setting. Light brown and deep red hues create a modern, abstract feel.

Designer Tang Chengxi combines raw red oak with handcrafted lacquer to explore contrast in surface and structure.


• Why it matters for designers: Red oak accepts stain, lacquer, and translucent finishes exceptionally well—its grain can be either emphasized or muted depending on technique.


• Design takeaway: Red oak performs beautifully in mixed-material environments. It’s a clear reference for pairing open-grain hardwood with high-gloss finishes in hospitality and retail interiors.


Red oak and lacquer form a refined dialogue of surface and color


Maple & Cherry | Micro-Organic Interior Expression

Tall sculpture with white spiral top and dark base, resembling a tree. Set against a plain, neutral background, creating a minimalist feel.

Interior designer Li Man enlarges botanical patterns and renders them in maple and cherry, pairing the hardwoods with metal elements to create layered, sculptural interior expressions.


• Why it matters for designers: Maple and cherry both machine cleanly, allowing for fine detailing and intricate cuts. Maple contributes clarity and precision, while cherry adds warmth and tonal depth—together supporting highly detailed feature walls, screens, and custom millwork.


• Design takeaway: Combining maple and cherry allows designers to balance lightness and warmth within a single composition, creating mixed-material interior statements that feel both refined and organic.


Together, maple and cherry translate botanical patterning into architectural surface—ideal for feature walls, screens, and custom millwork.


Hard Maple | Watching Sunset

Wooden architectural installation with angular panels in a spacious room. A blue artwork above. Windows reveal greenery outside. Minimalist decor.

Creator Xia Murong constructs an interactive architectural installation from American hard maple, guiding visitors through a narrow threshold into a compact wooden space that frames a distant, untouchable sunset.


• Why it matters for designers: Hard maple’s density and dimensional stability make it reliable for installations that depend on crisp edges, tight tolerances, and long-term durability—especially in interactive or high-contact spaces.


• Design takeaway: Hard maple supports lightfilled, refined spaces without sacrificing durability. Its restrained palette and subtle grain help designs that prioritize perception, atmosphere, and long-term performance.


American hard maple shapes a contemplative architectural experience focused on light, distance, and restraint.


Maple, Red Oak & Cherry | Architectural Assemblies for Urban Reflection

Wooden cube structure with stairs and tiny furniture, including chairs and a TV. A glowing orb sits atop. Placed on a wooden table.

Artist Zhang Min assembles maple, red oak, and cherry into stair- and doorway-inspired forms that playfully critique modern urban living.


• Why it matters for designers: Using three species in one assembly lets designers tune contrast: maple for clean geometry, red oak for expressive structure, and cherry for warmth—useful for complex joinery and layered thresholds.


• Design takeaway: Using multiple hardwood species within a single composition allows designers to tell richer material stories, balancing contrast, structure, and nuance through geometry and grain.


Maple, red oak, and cherry come together as a playful architectural commentary on modern urban life.



SPECIES SPOTLIGHT:


Close-up of red oak wood grain with prominent vertical patterns and a warm, natural tone, filling the entire frame.
Quarter-Sawn Red Oak

American Red Oak

Abundant. Expressive. Versatile.

Red oak is the most plentiful hardwood species in U.S. forests— making it not only sustainable but exceptionally reliable for large-scale projects.


Designer Benefits:

• Prominent, open grain adds natural movement and texture to interiors

• Steam-bends reliably for curved millwork and sculptural applications

• Accepts stain, fuming, and specialty finishes evenly—highlighting or softening grain as desired

• Strong, durable, and widely available for consistent specification across large projects

• Competitive price point compared to many imported hardwoods, with dependable domestic supply


Applications: Biophilic interiors

• feature walls

• sculptural installations cabinetry

• seating

• millwork


Close-up of a Cherry wood grain texture with distinct swirling patterns. The image is evenly lit, highlighting natural beauty.
Cherry (Heartwood)

American Cherry

Warm. Refined. Classic.

Cherry’s warm tone and fine grain make it a strong option for interior architecture where softness, depth, and aging patina matter—especially in millwork, casework, and feature elements.


Designer Benefits:

• Satin-smooth texture for minimalist applications

• Machines exceptionally well for intricate detailing

• Color deepens gracefully over time

• Works beautifully in mixed-material compositions


Applications: Premium millwork

• custom interiors

• sculptural elements cabinetry

• furniture


Hard Maple (Birdseye) Soft Maple (Wormy)



American Maple (Hard & Soft)

Clean. Precise. Contemporary.

Maple’s light color and fine grain make it a versatile choice for modern design.


Designer Benefits:

• Tight, consistent grain

• Smooth finishing surface

• Hard maple offers superior durability

• Soft maple is easier to machine and shape for certain applications


Applications: Furniture

• interior components

• modern millwork detail-focused installations



WHY THIS MATTERS FOR ARCHITECTS & DESIGNERS

Echoes of the Woods demonstrates what is possible when three underutilized American species—red oak, cherry, and maple—are reintroduced through global design culture.


The exhibition proves:

• These species can compete visually with imported hardwoods

• They excel in both sculptural and architectural contexts

• They offer reliable supply + standout material performance

• Their sustainability story is unmatched in global markets


For designers shaping the future of interiors and the built environment, red oak, cherry, and maple offer a compelling toolkit: expressive structure, emotional warmth, and clean precision— backed by reliable supply and strong performance.

bottom of page