“Wood can only fully develop its positive features for man and his living space when it is used in the most natural way possible.” This is the first thing you read upon entering the homepage of the Mafi website. Their philosophy may be represented using this one sentence, but its easier just to see the natural, positive features that come through their product when you see the Duna, Rombo, or Punto of the Vulcano floor that won a Reddot Design Award: Honorable Mention in 2009.

Vulcano Wooden Plank. Designs by Mafi

Wave, Square, or Diamond Patterns: The Textured Wood Vulcano Collections by Mafi

Manufactured with the resilience of Beech wood (among other woods), Mafi’s Vulcano Fresco flooring achieves consistent coloring as a result of their natural heat treatment that includes no chemical additives. The planks come in 3-layer construction with bevelled (2.5 mm) edges on the long side. Duna, Rombo, and Punto designs of this Vulcano flooring include a tongue and groove on all sides, making your decision a cinch knowing that its installation will be easy.

The Duna looks like patterned strips of sand with a wave-like design cutting across its surface. The Rombo and Punto are slightly similar in appearance, only the former looks embossed, like a relief pattern of diamonds, while the latter is less dramatic, in a small squared texture. All of these decorative Fresco planks measure 185 mm W x 16 mm H x 2400 mm L and although they’re typically seen on the floor, they can also be used on the wall and ceiling.

According to Mafi, the Beech Vulcano flooring “is particularly suitable for zones often walked on barefoot, as its 3-D structures have a massaging effect on the soles of the foot.” To most, the 3-D patterns sell the floor by themselves. It’s almost like the natural motto of the company just adds that much more to the final product.