Elevating Trafford Centre’s Eastern Garden
with Bespoke Wooden Slat Systems
Trafford Centre Eastern Garden, UK

The Trafford Centre is one of the UK’s most iconic shopping and leisure destinations.
To meet evolving visitor expectations and highlight Manchester’s vibrant culinary scene, the Centre unveiled Eastern Garden,
a reimagined dining precinct blending traditional and modern Asian design elements.
Once a Chinatown-themed area, it has now been transformed into a calm, visually striking hospitality space. Designed to host local, independent food vendors in a high-footfall environment, the challenge was to strike a balance between cultural immersion, acoustic performance, and flexible architecture.
Product
Click-on Battens
Materials
Timber
Species
American Oak
Applications
Wall
Sector
Hospitality, Commercial
Architect
Design International
Builder
TA Knox Fit Out
Location
Manchester, UK
Completion
2024
Photographer
The Trafford Centre
Creating Atmosphere with Acoustic Performance in Mind
Architecture firm Design International was appointed to lead the revitalisation, with a brief to:
- Maintain the immersive, theatrical vibe of the Trafford Centre
- Use natural materials to soften the space visually and acoustically
- Balance form and function in a busy hospitality environment
- Addressing structural limitations while achieving maximum design impact
A vision emerged of warm wooden tones, ambient lighting, and distinctive architectural features such as the illuminated Moon Gate and a floating blossom canopy. This required finding a wooden slat system that delivered both stunning design and high technical performance.


Design Versatility with Custom Wooden Batten Layout
To meet the unique demands of the Moon Gate feature, we supplied American Oak wooden battens, fixed using swivel slide clips.
This enabled:
- Seamless alignment with lighting and curved structures
- Clean, concealed fixings for a seamless visual result
- Fast, modular installation
- Low maintenance and long-term durability
- A sleek, modern slat wall finish with a custom layout


Acoustic Wood Slats for Hospitality Comfort
To reduce ambient noise in busy areas, our standard wooden Click-on Battens were installed with integrated acoustic backing to absorb noise and enhance the guest experience. This enabled:
- Effective reduction of background noise
- A warmer, more relaxing atmosphere
- Improved comfort and customer experience in high-traffic zones
Explore Timber Click-on Battens Tech Specs

Culture, Comfort and Commercial Impact
Sculptform’s wooden slat systems helped create a memorable, sensory dining space. From the ambient Moon Gate entry to the acoustic comfort of the main dining areas, the Eastern Garden project demonstrates how custom wood slat solutions can transform a hospitality environment.
Key Outcomes:
- Acoustic ambient noise levels reduced significantly
- Installation time decreased using our modular fixing systems
- Design flexibility allowed seamless integration with lighting and structural features
- Sustainable American Oak selection supports long-term durability and low maintenance

Like the look?
The following table highlights the specification details for the Click-on Battens used in Trafford Centre's Eastern Garden. Use this as a guide to create your own specification or use our online Price & Spec tool which allows you to quickly envisage, budget, and specify your project. Learn more about our tool below.
Product Specifications
Moon Gate Battens
Product
Click-on Battens
Material
Timber
Species
American Oak
Profile
Block, 30mm x 60mm
Spacing (Gaps)
60mm
Mounting Track
Direct Fix Clips
Wall Battens
Product
Click-on Battens
Material
Wood
Profile
Block, 60mm x 19mm
Track
Standard Track
Acoustic Backing
Yes


Bring This Level of Design to Your Next Project
Are you designing a high-traffic hospitality space that needs visual impact and to perform acoustically?
Sculptform works with architects and designers globally to deliver acoustic slat systems, and modular ceiling features that bring projects to life.
Let us help with your next project.
Related Projects
