Veneer project in Switzerland:Roser AG modernises Thun Grammar School
Zülpich/Birsfelden. When architecture and the choice of materials harmonise, a sense of space is created that immediately appeals to people. It is precisely this interplay that characterises the interior fit-out of Thun Grammar School, where Roser AG has contributed custom-produced ash rotary-cut veneer to a project that exemplifies the modern, warm yet functional design of public educational buildings.
The special atmosphere is evident as soon as you enter the building: light-coloured, large-scale wall cladding, harmoniously coordinated doors, built-in furniture and acoustic elements define the ambience. The ash rotary-cut veneer used here really shows its strengths. It is a natural, vibrant material which, with its wide sheets and calm grain, creates a clear, contemporary aesthetic.
Expertise that shapes spaces
For the project, Roser AG supplied around 10,000 square metres of custom-made ash rotary-cut veneer for veneered chipboard, non-woven-backed fixed-size panels and micro-perforated acoustic panels. The latter not only ensure a high-quality appearance but also improve the room acoustics. The precise workmanship, the dimensionally accurate panel installation and the coordinated surface treatments were achieved in close collaboration with the cabinetmakers from Mock Schreinerei AG in Wattenwil. Fabian Sager, responsible for veneer projects at Roser AG, describes the project as follows: “The architects at Stirnemann Architekten in Freienwil and Scheu Architekten in Zurich wanted to showcase the natural character of the material whilst creating a calm, modern overall look. Rotary-cut veneer in these dimensions opens up enormous design possibilities. The large sheet widths allow for flowing surfaces with few joints – this creates a particularly striking effect in long corridors. And yet every veneer sheet remains unique. It was precisely this natural quality that we wanted to emphasise.” Depending on the type of room, the veneer was pigmented with varying shades of white: subtle in the classrooms, warmer and more homely on the ground floor. The result is a finely balanced interplay of colours that supports the use of the spaces whilst preserving the character of the wood. Particular challenges were posed by the precise alignment of the joints in the long corridors and the deliberately varied veneer pattern, which highlights the material’s natural origin. For Roser, this was not only a technical challenge but also a design one: here, wood was intended to create a sense of identity.
A project that showcases the potential of veneer
Thun Grammar School exemplifies a trend in modern interior design: wood – and veneer in particular – is once again being valued as an atmospheric, sustainable and versatile design element. Rotary-cut veneer combines cost-effectiveness, natural beauty and technical precision. The Birsfelden-based company supports such projects with comprehensive consultancy, bespoke manufacturing and a deep understanding of the requirements of contemporary architecture. Dirk-Uwe Klaas, Managing Director of the Initiative Furnier + Natur (IFN), puts the project into context: “Thun Grammar School impressively demonstrates just how contemporary veneer is. It combines sustainability, aesthetics and functionality in a way that is becoming increasingly important, particularly in public spaces. Projects such as this prove that veneer is not merely a traditional material, but a highly modern one – versatile, resource-efficient and possessing a warmth that no other surface material can match.” IFN/DS
Initiative Furnier + Natur (IFN)
The Initiative Furnier + Natur (IFN) e.V. was founded in 1996 by the German veneer industry and its partners. Today, it is supported by European companies from the veneer industry, the retail sector and the veneer-processing industry, as well as trade associations within the timber industry. The association’s aim is to promote veneer as a natural, all-round material.
Further information on veneer is available at www.furnier.de or www.furniergeschichten.de, as well as on Instagram under #furnier_und_natur
Images 1–4: Combined with coloured accents, this elegant veneer creates a bright and welcoming atmosphere: it’s a great place to study. Photos: Roser AG
9 June 2026
Initiative Furnier + Natur e.V. – Antonigartzem 1 – D-53909 Zülpich – m +49 171 2116 650
Images 1–4: Combined with coloured accents, this elegant veneer creates a bright and welcoming atmosphere: it’s a great place to study. Photos: Roser AG
Images 1–4: Combined with coloured accents, this elegant veneer creates a bright and welcoming atmosphere: it’s a great place to study. Photos: Roser AG
Images 1–4: Combined with coloured accents, this elegant veneer creates a bright and welcoming atmosphere: it’s a great place to study. Photos: Roser AG
Images 1–4: Combined with coloured accents, this elegant veneer creates a bright and welcoming atmosphere: it’s a great place to study. Photos: Roser AG