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

American Oak

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

Specification Details – Moon Gate Battens

Product	Click-on Battens
Material	Wood
Species	American Oak
Profile	Block, 30mm x 60mm
Mounting	Standard Track with Swivel Slide Clips
Spacing (Gaps)	60mm

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

Specification Details – Wall Battens

Product	Click-on Battens
Material	Wood
Species	American Oak
Profile	Block, 60mm x 19mm
Mounting	Standard Track
Acoustic Backing	Yes

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

Project Summary

Architect

Design International

Builder

TA Knox Fit Out

Location

Manchester, UK

Date of Completion

2024

Sector

Commercial

Photographer

The Trafford Centre

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.

Request wood samples