Pebble Ceiling

Project Info

Crafted from 5,500 English ash ‘pebbles’, this sculptural ceiling installation transforms a utilitarian concrete surface into an immersive architectural feature for a contemporary home.  

Inspired by the geometry of a sunflower seed head, the design translates the mathematical principles of the Fibonacci sequence and the golden ratio into a richly textured timber composition. A central skylight anchors 120 radiating laminated birch plywood staves, onto which individually hand-carved ash pebbles have been carefully sized, shaped and positioned to create an intricate arrangement of undulating forms. 

The construction required exceptional precision, technical ingenuity and craftsmanship, with every element contributing to a composition that appears organic despite its rigorous geometric order. As daylight moves across its surface, the sculpted ash reveals a constantly changing interplay of texture, shadow and depth, while concealed lighting animates the ceiling with a warm glow in the evenings. 

The English ash was sourced from a local Wiltshire woodland, using trees affected by ash dieback. By giving this threatened material a permanent place in the home, the ceiling serves as a long-lasting celebration of the beauty, character and value of native timber.