Timber Design & Technology Middle East - April 2015 by Andy MacGregor

April 2015 Issue

MIDDLE EAST

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Two years with the EUTR: Rooting for enforcement Zemberek Design Office shapes Vigoss R&D studio with curvilinear forms Milan Expo 2015: Feeding the Planet, Energy for Life Design Days Dubai completes its fourth and most successful edition to date Banana Island Resort: A glulam success story

ANALYSIS

INTERVIEWS

DESIGN

April 2015

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SUSTAINABILITY

TECHNOLOGY

Farlin group of companies are vertically integrated with an established presence worldwide in timber logs, sawn timber, plywood, panel products and coal for energy sectors.

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April 2015

T: +971 4 8809889 F: +971 4 8809779

www.farlindubai.com info@farlindubai.com April 2015

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April 2015 Issue

MIDDLE EAST

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ANALYSIS

INTERVIEWS

DESIGN

SUSTAINABILITY

TECHNOLOGY

Vigoss R&D Studio | Image © Şafak Emrence

April 2015 Issue 19 DIRECTOR Andy MacGregor publisher@citrusmediagroup.net +971 55 849 1574 MARKETING DIRECTOR Eric Hammond marketing@citrusmediagroup.net +971 4 455 8400 INTERNATIONAL SALES DIRECTOR James Hamilton james@timberdesignandtechnology.com EDITOR Tony Smith editor@timberdesignandtechnology.com INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT Eamonn Ennis eamonn@timberdesignandtechnology.com +91 98676 54952 INTERNATIONAL REPRESENTATIVES Rabia Alga AntExpo Org. | Turkey +90 216 541 0390 rabia@antexpo.net ELIAS AGGELOPOULOS Med Expo | Greece +30 210 2931011 info@epipleon.gr Timber Design & Technology is published 6 times a year

EDITOR’S NOTE When Dubai won the rights to host the World Expo 2020 back in 2013, the entire nation celebrated along with the UAE rulers and the UAE delegation in Paris at the time. All the while, Milan was working hard to ensure the success of the Milan Expo, which runs from May 1 to October 31, 2015. Over this six-month period, Milan will become a global showcase with more than 140 participating countries showcasing their best to over 20 million visitors. The core theme of this year’s expo is ‘Feeding the Planet, Energy for Life’ and given that sustainability is a key element of the expo, it comes as no surprise that timber plays an important role in the design of several pavilions. Our sustainability feature then takes a closer look at some of the country pavilions where timber is the defining material and has been specified to represent the theme of the pavilion. As the official magazine for the Dubai WoodShow, our April issue always includes a special supplement on behalf of the American Hardwood Export Council and a preview on some of the key players at the show. And this issue is no different. However, I am pleased to announce a major revamp in the design and layout of the magazine and website. In addition, preparations for our first seminar and networking evening for the industry - ‘Talking Timber’ - supported by the American Hardwood Export Council, Swedish Wood, Malaysian Timber Council and American Softwoods are well underway at the time of going to press. Due to take place on April 13 at the Address Hotel, Dubai Marina, the event has attracted positive interest from the different elements of the ‘timber chain’ and we hope to welcome all of our readers and supporters to the event. Held in March, Design Days Dubai wrapped up its fourth edition as its most successful to date. The event, which presented purchasable and highly desirable works of modern and contemporary design, staged a record breaking fair for 2015; attracting increased visitor numbers of 13,500 people and having featured 150 designers and more than 780 items from 44 exhibitors across 20 countries. We had the opportunity to visit the event, where timber was once again the predominant material of choice for the works on display. As such, we feature a selection of some of the best pieces from the fair. In addition, we also take a closer look at the hand-made ‘Haywire’ timber chandelier by David Krynauw in this issue. On display at Design Days Dubai, the design is a product of the fascination with functionality and the technical capabilities of certain materials. As always, I would like to encourage you to log on to the website - www.timberdesignandtechnology.com for the latest updates and please get in touch if you have any suggestions for subjects we should consider covering. In closing, I would like to thank our advertisers, our partners and our readers and I hope to meet you either at our seminar or at the Dubai WoodShow 2015.

by Citrus Media Group (powered by WillyMac Associates FZ LLC) Level 14, Boulevard Plaza - Tower One, Emaar Boulevard, Downtown Dubai, PO Box 334155, Dubai, UAE is designed by UC Design and is printed by MASAR Printing Press Great care is taken to ensure the accuracy of the contents of Timber Design & Technology but the publishers accept no responsibility for any errors or omissions. All contents are © 2015 Citrus Media Group and may not be reproduced in any form without prior consent. Letters and readers’ contributions may be edited at our discretion.

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April 2015

CONTENTS

06 News

31 SUPPLEMENT

The latest industry news from within the region and around the world

American Hardwoods: Endlesss possibibilites

12 SUSTAINABILITY

60 COMMENT

Milan Expo 2015: Feeding the Planet, Energy for Life

Design Days Dubai completes its fourth and most successful edition to date

26 MARKET REPORT

74 INDUSTRY FOCUS

Rising lumber demand coupled with tighter log supplies in North America should allow for recordlevel U.S. prices in 2017

Taking a look at key exhibitors of the Dubai WoodShow 2015

28 ANALYSIS

88 INTERVIEW

Two years with the EUTR: Rooting for enforcement

Record number of exhibitors and visitors expected at interzum 2015

DESIGN & DECOR

TECHNOLOGY

51 Sharifa-ha House

56 Vigoss R&D Studio

66 Banana Island

70 ‘Hoho’ Tower

Rotating rooms give Sharifiha House a shape-shifting facade

Zemberek Design Office shapes Vigoss R&D studio with curvilinear forms

Banana Island Resort: A glulam success story

Reach higher with wood: 84 meter, 24-storey ‘HoHo’ tower

April 2015

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NEWS

EXPORTS OF U.S. SOFTWOOD LUMBER TO THE MENA REGION REACH USD 27.445 MILLION IN 2014

Image © AMSO

Total exports of U.S. softwood lumber to the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region reached a value of USD 27.445 million in 2014, according to American Softwoods (AMSO), the promotional partnership formed by three major U.S. softwood trade associations. The statistics, which have been compiled from the latest data released from the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), reveal an overall increase in value of 26 percent over 2013. The top five markets for American softwoods in the region last year were Egypt (USD 8.268 million), Libya (USD 5.245 million), Algeria (USD 2.981 million), Jordan (USD 2.252 million), and the UAE (USD 1.845 million). The most significant increases were seen in Algeria (up by 701 percent to USD 2.981 million), Bahrain (up by 476 percent to 1.115 million), Jordan (up by 276 percent to 2.252 million), and Morocco (up by 150 percent to 1.265 million). Double-digit growth was also seen in other markets such as Egypt (66 percent), Turkey (62 percent), Lebanon (76 percent) and Kuwait (36 percent) whilst a marginal downturn in shipments was seen in Libya, Saudi Arabia, and the UAE. In terms of species, Southern Yellow Pine dominated exports with over 59 percent of all softwood lumber exports to the region. “The MENA region is growing in importance for producers of American softwoods and we have been pleased with how well the market has accepted our species and products. We would like to expand further particularly in the UAE and in other Gulf markets such as Saudi Arabia. In North Africa, Libya and Morocco are significant importers as well as Egypt,” said Charles Trevor, Consultant to American Softwoods. “Testament to

the increasing stability and demand for American softwoods in the region, exports of U.S. softwood lumber to Iraq topped USD 902,000 in 2014 following years of almost no exports to the country.” American softwoods have many uses in the MENA region, including concrete forming; structural uses including wood framing for residential and light commercial buildings up to five storeys high; outdoor uses such as walkways, bridges, cladding, decks, marinas, and playground equipment; and in joinery for windows and doors, furniture, cabinetry, flooring, moulding, paneling and staircases. Trevor is particularly positive on key drivers including the housing and construction boom in Dubai, which he believes will accelerate as Dubai Expo 2020 approaches. “Looking ahead, we would like to interest and influence specifiers across the region and ensure that they have as much information as they need to design and build with American softwoods. Not only are American softwoods available in a wide range of grades and sizes, but they come from some of the most sustainably managed forests in the world, they are of excellent quality and are competitively priced. Our role is to help specifiers and other decision-makers to develop a greater understanding of wood as a viable, suitable and environmentally-friendly material for numerous applications, which should, in time, lead to greater use of this wonderful and sustainable resource,” concluded Trevor.

NORTHWEST HARDWOODS COMPLETES ACQUISITION OF INDUSTRIAL TIMBER & LUMBER Northwest Hardwoods Inc. (NWH) has recently completed the acquisition of Industrial Timber & Lumber Company (ITL) based in Beachwood, Ohio, in what is a major deal in the U.S. hardwood industry. Headquartered in Tacoma, Washington, Northwest has operations in the United States, Canada, China, and Japan. ITL on the other hand is one of the largest global suppliers of North American hardwoods. It sells over 200 million board feet of high quality hardwood lumber annually and has approximately 400 employees. ITL owns two integrated sawmills, four concentration yards and one dedicated service center with operations in Ohio, West Virginia, North Carolina and Pennsylvania. “We couldn’t be more pleased to acquire a great company like ITL to better serve our customers. NWH is adding a business with highly motivated and experienced employees, outstanding quality products, highly automated www.timberdesignandtechnology.com

April 2015

and efficient mills, and an attractive worldwide customer base that relies on ITL for essential products and industry leading customer service. The highly respected ITL brand name is the perfect compliment to the NWH brand which has been recognized as the ‘Gold Standard’ for hardwood for nearly 45 years,” said TJ Rosengarth, President and CEO for NWH. “Our employees are very excited about this combination of two great companies. Our customers have grown accustomed to the high quality products and industry leading service model that ITL provides. This combination with NWH will allow us to better serve those customers with an even wider array of products” said Larry Evans, President of ITL who will continue to lead the ITL organization for NWH as it operates as a wholly owned subsidiary of NWH.

NEWS

INDIA LAUNCHES PROCESS TO DEVELOP FOREST CERTIFICATION SYSTEM

India has announced the launch of a process to develop its own forest certification system at the recently held ‘International Conference on Forest Certification - Positioning India’, which was co-hosted by the Network for Certification and Conservation of Forests (NCCF) and PEFC International. The conference brought together government, business and civil society stakeholders to discuss the status of forests in India and to learn from international experts about the benefits of functioning certification systems of sustainable forestry in other countries. “With forestry in India being at a critical crossroad, the decision to develop our own national forest certification system will be an important driver to promote the sustainable management of our forest resources,” said KK Singh, Chairman, NCCF. “While India is among the world’s most forested countries, we also have a growing demand for wood products, and unsustainable use of forests, for example for wood fuel, is a significant challenge. Forest certification will help us not only in mainstreaming sustainability in forest management, but also in raising awareness with companies and consumers about the importance of sourcing and buying responsibly sourced wood products.” Organizations such as ITC, Export Promotion Council for Handicrafts (EPCH), Chemical and Allied Export Promotion Council of India (CAPEXIL), Quality Council of India (QCI), International Network for Bamboo And Rattan (INBAR), Green Initiatives Certification & Inspection Agency (GICIA), Indian Institute of Forest Management (IIFM), Lok Vaniki Kisan Samiti, Building and Wood Worker’s International (BWI), Greenply and State Forest Departments participated in the conference and pledged support for the development of an Indian national system. In addition, the Ministry of Environment, Forest & Climate Change, Govt. of India has also extended its support to this initiative and has nominated two members in the Governing Council of NCCF. “It is promising and inspiring to learn about the strong support in India for the development of a national forest certification system in alignment with PEFC’s globally recognized Sustainability Benchmarks,” said Sarah Price, Head of Projects and Development at PEFC International, welcoming the announcement. “We appreciate the commitment by government officials, industry stakeholders, civil society representatives and forest owners and managers to collaborate on moving this process forward, and we strongly believe that a future PEFC-endorsed Indian national forest certification system will have a positive impact on forest management far beyond India, given the country’s strategic position in international markets.” The development of the Indian national forest certification system will benefit from the experiences of other Asian countries, with China, Indonesia and Malaysia already benefitting from PEFC-endorsed systems, with Japan anticipated to apply for global recognition through PEFC shortly. Other countries, including the Philippines, Thailand and Vietnam, are at various stages in the development of their respective national forest certification systems.

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WEINIG OFFERS MORE April 2015

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NEWS

CONSTRUCTION SECTOR IS THE BIGGEST CONSUMER OF WOOD IN THE GGC

The demand for wood products in the GCC is expected to witness unprecedented growth driven by the surging construction activity according to Ventures Middle East. Currently, all wood demand in the region is primarily met through imports due to lack of native forests in the GCC region. Combining both primary and secondary research in its latest report - ‘Future Outlook of the Wood Industry in the GCC’ - Ventures throws the spotlight on the major wood products consumed in the region and the future outlook of wood industry. The report highlights Saudi Arabia and the UAE as the two big markets for timber in the GCC region. A large population (28 million in 2013) in Saudi Arabia is generating self-opportunities for the country while the UAE is a prime re-export destination to regional countries. According to the report, the growth in the construction sector in the GCC is leading to a growing interest of the world to partake in the region. GCC building projects awards witnessed an increase over the last few years. Total

GCC building contracts awarded were worth USD 52,303 million in 2012 and this is expected to surge to USD 91,516 million by 2015. As a result of the construction market boom, overall regional wood imports have witnessed a phenomenal growth. Further, the usage of wood products is escalating across UAE and Saudi Arabia with increasing imports over the last three years. The report highlights the different uses for hardwoods, softwoods and wood panels in the region. Hardwood products are mostly used in wooden furniture manufacturing such as wardrobes and kitchen cabinets whereas softwood products are used in the construction sector for concrete forming, scaffolding and other applications such as pallets, crates, boxes etc. MDF and plywood are used as an economical option to substitute hardwood products in the furniture sector. According to the report, the price advantage of MDF boards makes them a preferred choice amongst furniture manufacturers.

Accoya, the revolutionary modified wood product produced by Accsys Technologies, is hosting a sustainability event at its plant in Arnhem to highlight the importance of using Cradle to Cradle (C2C) principles during design and production. The event will be held on April 22, 2015 and will feature presentations from several of The Netherlands’ prominent, leading environmental experts as well as a behind-the-scenes tour of the Accoya plant. The event will feature Hein van Tuijl from the EPEA institute who will discuss the importance of C2C accredited products as well as the benefits of building with them. Architect / Partner Hans Goverde of Kraaijvanger architets will then bring this to life by discussing the construction of the country’s first fully functioning C2C building, the city hall in Venlo. Pablo van der Lugt of Delft University of Technology will round up the event by presenting the sustainability aspects of Accoya from Cradle to Cradle. Bryan Crennell, Sales and Marketing Director at Accsys Technologies, said: “This is the first event we’ve held at the factory focused solely on importance of sustainability and C2C in construction and we are confident that this will be an informative and inspiring day for attendees. As one of the very few building materials worldwide, Accoya was recently awarded a Gold Standard in the C2C certification process for the third consecutive year, which is a great achievement and one of which I am extremely proud. This event reflects the ongoing and passionate commitment we have to the C2C process as well as responsibly sourcing wood and manufacturing our products using environmentally friendly processes and practices.” Accoya received its superior Gold Standard certification after demonstrating zero trace of toxic chemicals within the product, sustainable wood sourcing, the use of more than 50 percent renewable energy in the www.timberdesignandtechnology.com

April 2015

Image © Venlo City Hall

ACCOYA BRINGS SUSTAINABILITY MESSAGE HOME

manufacturing process and for achieving a material reutilization score of 89 percent. The C2C certification scheme is a rigorous and comprehensive certification program administered by the Cradle to Cradle Products Innovation Institute (C2CPII), which evaluates products and materials in terms of human health, environmental health and recyclability. Products put forward for C2C certification are analyzed within the confines of five stringent categories: material health, material reutilization, renewable energy use, water stewardship and social responsibility. Accoya successfully met all of the given criteria at the elusive Gold level.

April 2015

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10 NEWS

Image © Tham & Videgård

THAM & VIDEGÅRD DESIGNS WOODEN RESIDENTIAL TOWERS FOR STOCKHOLM WATERFRONT Leading Swedish architectural practice Tham & Videgård have designed a new mixed-use development with 240 apartments in Frihamnen, Stockholm. The row of high-rise apartment blocks constructed from timber will tower over an old harbor in Stockholm as part of a wider regeneration of the industrial area. The architects were commissioned to design the 24,700 sqm scheme by Folkhem - a local developer specializing in the construction of solid timber buildings. The four 20-storey apartment blocks proposed for the site will be constructed and finished entirely in Swedish pine, according to the firm. The project investigates the possibility of building high-rise buildings along the quay next to a planned six-storey urban block structure that follows the classical carré typology. The project thus aims to create new urban and spatial qualities through careful study of placement, outlooks, solar angles, street section and architectural form. The selected site in the northern part of the former harbor area sits directly on the quay next to the sea. Four 20-storey apartment buildings form together a new landmark, a cornerstone within the new area. Gaps between the buildings leave open views from the block behind towards the sea and also let direct sunlight reach the north-facing quay promenade. The high-rise towers are interconnected by a three-storey base that supports a clear street section. Its folded plan shapes exterior spaces for meetings and outdoor activities in wind sheltered and sunny locations. The buildings are constructed entirely in one material, Swedish solid wood, from the load bearing structure to the facade, finishes and windows. Through consistent use of a renewable material like wood, the result is a sustainable, well-insulated and robust house structure with good potential to perform well over time, and minimize the total energy consumption.

Image © TRADA

TRADA TAKES CENTER STAGE AT ECOBUILD

TRADA enjoyed its busiest Ecobuild yet as the world’s largest event for sustainable design in the built environment returned to London’s ExCeL for 2015. It certainly was a busy show for the TRADA team whose experts delivered a series of interactive sessions on the stand. With a multitude of connection types available, visitors found out which is best for any given situation; they also learnt how to identify timber species under a microscope; as well as discussing how to best deal with the root cause of overheating stopping the sun coming in - using solar shading. Another focal point for TRADA’s stand this year was the Timbmet Dan Kemp Memorial Pavilion. In previous years, the winning design has had its own stand, but for 2015, it took pride of place on the main TRADA stand. Alice Howland’s winning entry at Oxford Brookes architecture department www.timberdesignandtechnology.com

April 2015

comprised two intertwined curved structures to create a private space to share secrets about timber. The beautifully shaped frame was clad in a variety of timber species supplied by Timbmet, the competition sponsor. The design for her pavilion was inspired by her previous project where students had to elevate value in an object derived from something that had reached the end of its serviceable life. “After choosing an empty disposable lighter, I transformed the object into a secret container for nicotine gum. The reason for its disguise was to save the embarrassment of someone struggling to quit,” says Howland. “After asking 20 people on my architecture course to write a secret and to post it in a box, I realized that if they were to have more privacy and were able to post a secret without being seen they would be more willing to share deeper secrets.” The spiral form of Alice’s structure has been designed to ensure users are hidden from the street once entered. With both an entrance and an exit, a user can enter the pavilion and leave the other side in secret. As originally designed with all timber joints and connections, the spiral also provides structural support. Each panel within the pavilion increases in height starting with the height of an average 10-year-old child. The heights then increase until it reaches its center. The idea being that a user is encouraged to walk into the pavilion until hidden behind a suitable panel. Each panel provides a shelf to write a secret on as well as holes for a secret exchange. The gaps between the uprights show that the pavilion is occupied without revealing that user’s identity. Commenting on the fact that she had never used timber before this project, Howland says: “When researching its uses, I quickly learnt how versatile this material proves to be. I particularly enjoyed researching the art of Japanese joinery and it was this that inspired me to use timber-only connections. With only four weeks to produce my pavilion and not enough time to produce test pieces, I was unable to use timber-only connections due to the risk of safety for the Ecobuild show. I know that, with more time, we would have been able to carry out multiple tests for joints and altered the connection pieces until the structure was safe, robust and durable.”

NEWS

LIGNA 2015: MAKING MORE OUT OF WOOD

www.interzum.com Furniture production Interiors Cologne

Image © LIGNA

The future starts here.

With a unique format covering the entire wood value chain, from forestry and forestry technology, right through to wood processing, woodworking and wood bioenergy, LIGNA is so much more than a presentation platform for state-of-the-art machines and solutions for the wood processing and woodworking industries. Its vast supporting program of special presentations and forums makes it the world’s number one networking, communication and information hub for the forestry and wood industries – a showcase that is without equal in its ability to bring together industry professionals from around the world Visitors to this year’s show will benefit from in-depth coverage of innovative and green forestry and bioenergy technologies, not to mention plenty of first-class networking events, on the open-air site, in Pavilions 32 to 35 and in Hall 13 at the Hannover Exhibition Center. There, they will find a comprehensive lineup of forestry and forestry technology exhibits, including the latest forestry machinery, equipment and tools; new technologies and processes for the harvesting, recovery and transportation of timber; mobile sawmills; logistical and storage systems; information and communication systems; and training and careers programs. In Pavilions 33 and 34, the German Forestry Council (KWF) will bring German forestry training programs and the latest forestry technologies to life with hands-on demonstrations. In addition, the KWF has partnered with the Lower Saxony branch of the German Association of Forestry Contractors (AfL Niedersachsen) and the Lower Saxony Forestry Service (represented by the Lower Saxony School of Forestry - NFBz) to take a vendor-neutral look at a range of technical and market issues of key importance to forestry business operators. Another highlight will be a presentation on the applications for and benefits of using drones, or unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), in the forestry industry. On the open-air site in front of Pavilion 33 there will be a demonstration on forestry vehicle driver training that will incorporate the latest insights and findings from teaching practice and research and will feature a forestry crane control system. There will also be presentations on the new KWF seal of quality for providers of chainsaw training courses and the latest guidelines for chainsaw training courses promulgated by Germany’s Statutory Accident Insurance Association (DGUV).

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12 SUSTAINABILITY

Milan Expo 2015: Feeding the Planet, Energy for Life

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April 2015

The Milan Expo is a universal exhibition that Milan, Italy, will host from May 1 to October 31, 2015. Over this six-month period, Milan will become a global showcase where more than 140 participating countries will show the best of their technology that offers a concrete answer to a vital need: being able to guarantee healthy, safe and sufficient food for everyone, while respecting the planet and its equilibrium. In addition to the exhibitor nations, the expo also involves international organizations, and expects to welcome over 20 million visitors to its 1.1 million sqm exhibition area. â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;Feeding the Planet, Energy for Lifeâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; is the core theme of Milan Expo 2015 and runs through all the events organized both within and outside the official exhibition site. As such, the expo will present an opportunity to reflect upon, and seek solutions

to, the contradictions of our world. On the one hand, there are still the hungry (approximately 870 million people were undernourished in the period 2010-2012) and, on the other, there are those who die from ailments linked to poor nutrition or too much food (approximately 2.8 million deaths from diseases related to obesity or to being overweight in the same period). Participating countries have the opportunity either to build their own exhibition space or to exhibit inside one of nine Thematic Clusters. Given that sustainability is a key element of the theme, it comes as no surprise that timber plays an important role in the design of The Tree of Life and several pavilions. We take a closer look at some of the country pavilions where timber is the defining material and has been specified in keeping with the overall theme of the expo.

Image © Balich Worldwide Shows

SUSTAINABILITY

THE TREE OF LIFE: AN ITALIAN FOOTPRINT, A GLOBAL ICON Ever since the first true Universal Expo was held in 1851, the event has attracted countries from all over the globe that participate by creating their own themed pavilion, which embodies the technological and cultural achievements of the nation. Each edition leaves a legacy embodied in a symbol such as the Eiffel Tower in Paris or the Atomium in Brussels. This year the Milan Expo will host 140 countries that will confront each other on questions related to the theme ‘Feeding the Planet, Energy for Life’. At the heart of the expo and in essence a symbol of the Milan Expo 2015 is The Tree Of Life, which will have a trunk of about 30 meters and an umbrella, composed of branches, with a diameter of 45

meters. With its 100 trees, the Lake Arena is the wider open green space of this global appointment with a surface of 28,000 sqm and a capacity of 20,000 spectators. At its center stands The Tree Of Life, a 37-meter high sculpture made of steel and wood. This icon is linked with the concept of the Italian Pavilion - ‘Vivaio’ - a fertile ground for green innovation and sustainable solutions. Each project, presented within this incubator, is perceived as a seed of imagination and possibilities that Italy plants and cherishes until it blossoms. The branches of this mighty Tree deliver to the world, embodied by the Milan Expo 2015, the fruits of the most brilliant Italian rising minds.

The project’s Artistic Director, Marco Balich, was inspired by the mosaics of the Duomo of Otranto and by Michelangelo’s pavement in Piazza del Campidoglio. Given that The Tree of Life is deeply rooted not only in Italian culture but also in many cultures from around the world, it serves as a perfect hyphen between the diversity of the Universal Exposition. Marco Balich is a reference in the world of live shows and entertainment, therefore his monument to groundbreaking creativity is also an outstanding scenographic machine able to produce one show per hour for the entire period of the expo. Water and pyro fountains, light and projection effects will animate this spectacular creature, with a view to April 2015

create emotions. Whilst studio Giò Forma designed the entire structure, it is important to note that The Tree Of Life wouldn’t have been a reality if it weren’t for the extraordinary contribution of Orgoglio Brescia, a consortium of 19 industrial companies that felt bound to the essence of this symbol. The structure is composed of 456 curved and torsional wooden parts joined by steel rods. The timbers were provided by Albertani Corporates and Wood Beton, who also processed the material. The paint was supplied by Renner Italia. Altogether, they produced and installed the Tree Of life in less than three months, breaking all predictions and assumptions. www.timberdesignandtechnology.com

14 SUSTAINABILITY

Image ÂŠ Studio Link-Arc

THE LAND OF HOPE

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April 2015

The underlying theme is the pursuit of balance between mankind and the environment, between humanity and nature. roof and create evocative light and transparency effects below. Beneath the roof, the building’s ground plane is defined by a landscape of wheat (the ‘land of hope’) that references China’s agrarian past. This natural landscape transitions seamlessly into an LED multimedia installation in the center that forms the centerpiece of the building’s exhibition program. Agriculture, food, environment, sustainable development are the focal points of China’s participation in Milan Expo 2015. Its aim is to recall the tenet of Chinese philosophy that ‘man is part of nature’, and to illustrate its cultural traditions and progress in the areas of agriculture, showcasing the great strides made in the use of resources for providing a sufficient

supply of good and healthy food. The pavilion’s full exhibition and cultural offerings are experienced as a sequence of spaces, beginning with an exterior waiting area in the landscape, leading to a themed exhibition space with interactive installations and cultural offerings from forty Chinese provinces. After this, visitors are guided up a gently sloped public stair to a panoramic viewing platform above the multimedia installation, after which they are guided to a multimedia space featuring a short film focusing on family reunions during China’s annual Spring Festival. This sequence concludes with visitors stepping outside the building onto a platform above the bamboo roof that enjoys expansive views of the expo grounds.

Image © Studio Link-Arc

Rejecting the typical notion of a cultural pavilion as an object in a plaza, the China Pavilion is instead conceived as a field of spaces. Envisioned as a cloud hovering over a ‘land of hope’, the pavilion is experienced as a series of public programs located beneath a floating roof, the unique design of which creates an iconic image for the project and a unique presence within the expo grounds. The theme for the China Pavilion is ‘The Land of Hope’. The project embodies this through its undulating roof form, derived by merging the profile of a city skyline on the building’s north side with the profile of a landscape on the south side, expressing the idea that ‘hope’ can be realized when city and nature exist in harmony. The underlying theme is the pursuit of balance between mankind and the environment, between humanity and nature. Just as the farmer looks after and protects the earth, so must people care for the planet. Conceived as a timber structure that references the ‘raised-beam’ system found in traditional Chinese architecture, the pavilion roof uses modern technology to create long spans appropriate to the building’s public nature. The roof is covered in shingled panels that reference traditional terracotta roof construction, but are reinterpreted as large bamboo leaves that enhance the roof profile while shading the public spaces below. Designed as layered screens, these panels add texture and depth to the pavilion’s

Image © Studio Link-Arc

SUSTAINABILITY

April 2015

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16 SUSTAINABILITY

Future development depends on having an awareness that the prosperity achieved over the centuries can contribute to promote in solidarity, protecting the environment and achieving sustainable growth. As such, Co-operation, Governance and Education are the three guiding principles behind the message the Monaco pavilion wishes to spread. Co-operation means the better sharing out of international wealth; Governance as the opportunity of giving incentives for responsible policies in support of research and innovation; and Education as a true and essential resource for the future. On the back of the tradition which has seen Monaco bring together Italian and French cultures, the contribution of the Principality of Monaco is based on a culture of sharing and the exchange of ideas elements that typify both countries. The Monaco pavilion aims to represent collection and recycling through the container, the tent and Mother Earth as universal and recognizable symbols. www.timberdesignandtechnology.com

April 2015

Image ÂŠ Enrico Pollini

EXCELLENCE AND SOLIDARITY: A NEW LOOK AT FEEDING THE PLANET

Image © Enrico Pollini

SUSTAINABILITY

Image © Enrico Pollini

The Monaco pavilion aims to represent collection and recycling through the container, the tent and Mother Earth as universal and recognizable symbols. The pavilion has been designed by the Italian architect Enrico Pollini and is made up of a series of containers above which lies a wooden laminated roof that imitates the shape of a huge tent. The whole structure is covered by a hanging garden which takes up an area of 500 sqm. Based on permeable sphagnum moss, there are broad green vertical surfaces fed by a rain water collection system. The aim of the project is to emphasize innovation for the fostering of a new and greater environmental sensitivity. The container is the world’s most commonly used means for freight transportation and is as such emblematic of trade and exchange; the tent ‘shelters’ all those countries to which the Principality sends help; while the idea of Mother Earth is revived through the use of the greenery and the many species of plants that sketch out the lines of the five continents to represent the universality that characterizes Milan Expo 2015. The interior of the Monaco pavilion is made of piles of wooden April 2015

transport crates stacked upon each other to symbolize all the initiatives and actions that will, thanks to the Milan Expo 2015, be ready for export all over the world. This interior is conceived of as an ‘ideas hangar’ with eleven interaction stations that illustrate the themes presented by the Principality of Monaco. The contractor responsible to build the pavilion is ES-KO, a Monte Carlo company that specializes in the building of modular structures. Visitors can come in through a number of different entrances, which themselves reflect the multiplicity of points of view there are with regard to the environment, recycling, sustainable fishing, deforestation, the problems afflicting the oceans and the programs of co-operation that have already been embarked upon in Madagascar, Burkina Faso and Mongolia. The recycling theme will also see the start-up of new initiatives at the end of Milan Expo 2015. The whole structure will be dismantled and reused in Burkina Faso as an operational headquarters for the Red Cross.

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18 SUSTAINABILITY

Image © XTU

AN OPEN AIR MARKETPLACE

Image © XTU

How can we feed the world, today and tomorrow? How can we ensure adequate food for mankind that is of good quality and healthy in the long term? France is focusing on this central issue posed by the Milan Expo 2015, with a commitment to participate fully in the discussion, providing answers based on its capabilities and points of excellence. Conceived by Paris studio XTU Architects, the competition-winning French pavilion design responds to the expo theme ‘Feeding the Planet. Energy for life’ by proposing a building based around a vision of the market hall as a center for agricultural production. Represented by an inverted landscape, illustrating the French identity born from its territories, and materialized in the Pavilion through a ceiling landscape, its communication is based on four pillars: contributing to global food production, through the potential of France’s productive infrastructure; developing new food models, to address the need for better production; improving self-sufficiency in developing countries, with a policy of skills and

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April 2015

The pavilion represents a model of sustainability and economy, as it will be removable and reassembled, and all the wood will be locally sourced from the forests of the Jura mountains. technology transfer; and aligning quantity with quality in all areas, be they health-based, nutritional or culinary. Envisioned as a covered market built from locally sourced reusable wood, France’s pavilion is centered around the theme of ‘producing and nurturing in another way’. Designed by XTU architects, the 3,600 sqm structure utilizes lightweight construction methods that ensure that the pavilion can be disassembled and reused after the exposition. Throughout the scheme, particular attention has been given to reducing energy consumption, waste recycling and water purification. As a result of the various crops, XTU Architects imagines the underside of the undulating ceiling as an upside-down landscape that mimics the rolling hills of the French countryside. Further, all of the wood

(structures, floors and facades) in the project showcases French expertise in timber frame, in its most ‘innovative’ form: free forms. Assemblies are invisible, complex geometry is made of digital cutting, all technologies that the company controls, serving the architectural quality. It is spectacular, innovative, and graphic. It is both elementary and founding. It is bare wood. Using digital fabrication techniques, cross-crossing layers of timber gives the building its ridged structure. Curved hollows will frame interior spaces, while the designers hope that vines of hops will grow up through the gaps in the lattice. The pavilion represents a model of sustainability and economy, as it will be removable and reassembled, and all the wood will be locally sourced from the forests of the Jura mountains.

SUSTAINABILITY

THE WORLD’S MOST VERSATILE TIMBER

For more information on your choice of sustainable American Softwoods, including certified Southern Yellow Pine, Western Red Cedar, Douglas Fir, Hemlock and Eastern White Pine, visit www.americansoftwoods.com

American Softwoods represents: APA–The Engineered Wood Association Southern Forest Products Association Softwood Export Council

AMERICAN SOFTWOODS www.americansoftwoods.com April 2015

12 www.timberdesignandtechnology.com

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20 SUSTAINABILITY

Image ÂŠ SCHMIDHUBER/Milla & Partner

FIELD OF IDEAS

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April 2015

Image © SCHMIDHUBER/Milla & Partner

SUSTAINABILITY

Image © SCHMIDHUBER/Milla & Partner

The use of different native woods, with varied grains and tones, creates a highly distinctive design. The fields and meadows evolve into a walkthrough wooden deck.

Image © SCHMIDHUBER/Milla & Partner

The German pavilion offers visitors an insight into innovative and at times surprising approaches from Germany to human nutrition in the future, and invites visitors to take action themselves. Germany depicts agriculture as a strong, modern sector as well as an intrinsic aspect of its unique cultural landscape. At the Milan Expo 2015, Germany presents itself as a vibrant and fertile landscape filled with ideas and solutions - evolved from a new and respectful relationship with nature. The pavilion offers visitors an image of Germany that is open, warm, friendly and whimsical - clearly bringing the pavilion’s title to life: ‘Fields of Ideas’. The German pavilion translates the German field and meadow landscape into its architecture in a striking and surprising way: a building consisting of a gently sloping landscape level with a freely accessible surface and a thematic exhibition inside. In this landscape, with clearly discernible fields, stylized plants grow as ‘idea seedlings’ up from the exhibition to the exterior surface, creating a large, protective canopy. These are the connecting elements, dovetailing the exterior and interior, the architecture and the exhibition itself. The organically flowing design language - floating leaves hovering over the landscape - creates a distinctive and unforgettable image. With its open and freely accessible landscape level, the German pavilion doesn’t feature explicitly prestigious architecture. Rather, it is a meeting place for fascinating encounters and exchanging ideas - clearly communicating ‘Fields of Ideas’. The pavilion is welcoming and lively, uniquely reflects Germany’s attitude towards environmental protection, and communicates its messages with authenticity. With a multifaceted spectrum of inspiration, interaction and participation, visitors to the German pavilion themselves become part of the large, vivid picture of Germany. A modern design language flowing into traditional materials, a climate concept based on an economical use of resources and space, lean technologies and intelligent construction all converge in the German pavilion. Formally, the architecture is reminiscent of a ‘supplanted landscape’ set in the pavilion’s premises, which gradually slopes upward to a height of 10 meters. The German pavilion then applies the concept of stylized fields and meadows in great detail. The use of different native woods, with varied grains and tones, creates a highly distinctive design. The fields and meadows evolve into a walk-through wooden deck. Wood is not only warm and inviting, it also attests to the deliberate use of renewable resources with a balanced CO2 audit. The façade design consists of a horizontal lamellar structure. It follows the sloping landscape and façade openings, reminding viewers of horizontal earth strata. The façade is as simple as it is ‘intelligent’. Its permeability and natural ventilation - achieved through a lamellar structure - are part of a simple yet very effective interior climate concept, which, in combination with energy-efficient technologies, ensures comfortable temperatures in all exhibition areas. The expressive membrane roofs in the shape of emerging plants, inspired in

their construction and bionic design language by nature, represent one of the pavilion’s key design elements. The modern steel and membrane structure reduces materials and makes for an extremely lightweight construction. The unusual, organic flowing lines express pioneering innovations inspired by nature. The German pavilion takes a clear stance on the expo theme ‘Feeding April 2015

the Planet, Energy for Life’ and calls people to action in a likeable and compelling way. It shows alternative solutions and approaches, and provides impetus for the future. The pavilion offers a wide variety of interactions - surprising and cuttingedge. It also presents an authentic picture of Germany - welcoming, vibrant and whimsical - at Milan Expo 2015. www.timberdesignandtechnology.com

22 SUSTAINABILITY

Image © SPEECH

GROWING FOR THE WORLD. CULTIVATING FOR THE FUTURE.

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April 2015

The main idea was to combine a simple but memorable spatial solution with a facade made from an environmentally friendly material - wood.

Image © SPEECH

Russia will be represented at Milan Expo 2015 with a pavilion designed by architects Sergei Tchoban, Aleksey Ilyin, Marina Kuznetskaya (SPEECH). The spatial composition of the pavilion is intended to embody aspirations directed forward and upward. In their work on the project, the creators have relied on the impressive history of Russian and the Soviet Union pavilions from previous exhibitions. The 2015 pavilion continues the architectural tradition of the best of the prize-winning Russian and Soviet pavilions of previous years, and sets itself apart with the striking lightning motif of its design, surging skywards. Common features of Russian pavilions include their dynamic, fast development of form, and the use of unique design solutions based on stateof-the-art technology. A notable feature of the 2015 pavilion is its impressive canopy projecting far forward over the main entrance. The overhang is almost 30 meters long. The pavilion’s structural and decorative elements are made of environmentally friendly materials. Thus, the facade of the building will be lined with wood elements, and the overhang will offer protection from the sun. The flat roof of the pavilion, where exhibition visitors can walk, gradually inclines to the level of the main entrance. After seeing the main exhibition on the ground floor, visitors can go up to the roof where they have an opportunity to participate in various events arranged at the pavilion. The Russian pavilion will demonstrate its sheer scale as reflected by its food resources. Russia’s vast reserves of water and arable land, its great scientists and their contributions to agriculture, its diversity of national cuisines and tradition - all this will be presented in an accessible and entertaining format, engaging visitors not only through interactive displays but also through live tastings of food and drink. Its elegant wooden façade, the semi-transparent ground floor interior and its green rooftop, together create a harmonious suite of spaces that are easily accessible to visitors. Inside, the pavilion is divided into a series of open spaces and viewing platforms in the tradition of classical Italian gardens. In the upper part of the building are hanging gardens reminiscent of Babylon, whilst the highest point of the pavilion structure is the sloping serpentine of the vegetation-clad rooftop, symbolizing the boundless fields of Russia. According to the architects, the main objective when creating the concept

was to find a vivid image that complies with modern architectural trends. The main idea was to combine a simple but memorable spatial solution with a facade made from an environmentally friendly material - wood. There was also another task, though, which was no less important, to personify national Russian traits architecturally. Russia is a country of vast expanses, long distances, and large forests.

The pavilion which, in its special way, embodies a road framed with seemingly endless wooden elements in a rhythmic sequence is an obvious reference to both the typical Russian landscape, with its rich forests and rolling hills, and the traditions of Russian wooden architecture; thus, the pavilion creates a modest but daring and independent, dignified architectural statement.

SUSTAINABILITY 23

Image © Vo Trong Nghia Architects

WATER AND LOTUS

Designed by Vo Trong Nghia, the Vietnamese pavilion at Milan Expo 2015 has been inspired by the lotus and features a number of bamboo clad, umbrella-like structures supporting trees above a pool of water. In addition to the symbolism behind the lotus, Vo Trong Nghia also uses the flower as a metaphor for resourcefulness and a symbol of optimism for the future. The project examines globally increasing population levels, and the strain this places on our environment. The architectural theme of the pavilion is the lotus that is found on

Image © Vo Trong Nghia Architects

The two-storey exhibition space will be positioned at the center of the pavilion, surrounded on all sides by water and framed by 25 bamboo structures of different sizes.

the lakes of Vietnam. The lotus is Vietnam’s national flower, a symbol of purity, commitment and optimism for the future. Growing from the muddy ponds it rises above the surface to bloom with remarkable beauty. The flower is proof that patience can turn difficulties into advantages. Apart from its beauty, the lotus has a strong connection with Vietnamese cuisine. None of the plant is left for waste, with all parts of the plant considered a delicacy such as the roots, stalk, leaves, flowers, seeds and stamens. The lotus is used diversely in soups, salads, snacks, drinks as well as for natural medicine. The two-storey exhibition space will be positioned at the center of the pavilion, surrounded on all sides by water and framed by 25 bamboo structures of different sizes. Stepping stones shaped like lotus leaves will guide visitors towards the entrance, while screen walls around the perimeter will fold back to bring natural ventilation into the exhibition areas. The exhibition space is centered within the lotus pond and is shaded April 2015

by large lotus pod structures clad in bamboo. These shade structures accommodate trees that provide further shade to the people below. As you enter you walk over lotus leaf shaped platforms under a forest of the lotus pods to the exhibition area. The pool around the pavilion cools the air and provides a favorable microclimate for visitors. A screen wall around the pavilion will fold away on pleasant days to allow for naturally ventilated open air-exhibition areas. As a temporary event, the architect’s role in designing the pavilion is to reduce its impact. This is achieved primarily from its embodied energy and waste generated after the six month expo period is finished. The building uses a lightweight structure with bamboo cladding, a fast growing and low carbon material. The prefabricated structure will allow for disassembly and the aim is to reuse the materials after the event. With the pavilion, Vo Trong Nghia hopes to demonstrate ‘the Vietnamese love of nature which will be shared with the whole world.’ www.timberdesignandtechnology.com

Middle East design. American hardwood. Emaar Corporate Offices wins CID award for 'Outstanding Use of American Hardwood in the Middle East' Designed by: dwp Species: American white oak Location: Downtown Dubai

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April 2015

Architects and designers all over the Middle East have embraced American hardwoods for the range of colours, grains and textures they offer, as well as for their consistency in grade, quality and supply and their sustainable credentials. For more information visit www.americanhardwood.org Follow us on

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April 2015

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26 MARKET REPORT

Rising lumber demand coupled with tighter log supplies in North America should allow for recordlevel U.S. prices in 2017 New WOOD MARKETS five-year forecast calls for more volatility as North American and global lumber markets continue to recover and grow In WOOD MARKETS’ new fiveyear forecast, the good news is that North American and global economies as well as softwood lumber markets are forecast to continue expanding in 2015 and even faster in 2016 and 2017. At the same time, there is a continued tightening of the economic wood supply available from North America’s forests. The bad news is that the key North American and Chinese markets have been growing at a slower rate than was

previously expected and the rate of log and lumber production increases have caught up to the market’s demand, creating some short-term weakness or concerns. These details and further analysis of commodity lumber and panels have been analyzed in detail in the report - The Solid Wood Products Outlook: 2015 to 2019 by International WOOD MARKETS Group, Vancouver BC. According to the report, supplyside dynamics feature eroding sustainable timber harvests in key

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April 2015

provinces in Canada. As a result of the mountain pine beetle outbreak in the B.C. Interior, the sawlog harvest will be lowered by about 20 percent by the end of the decade, as compared to the pre-beetle harvest. Even more dramatic is the decline in the allowable timber harvest in Quebec - it has already been lowered by about 35 percent since 2004. As a result, Canada’s total lumber output will start to flatten out in the next few years with no further increases expected.

On the U.S. side, the West Coast region has seen higher timber harvests, but a large component of this is being exported as logs to China, tightening the wood supply for sawmills and plywood mills, and causing log prices to remain high. The South is forecast to be one of the fastest growing production regions as it contains incremental timber (the only major wood basket left in North America with ample, surplus timber). As demand increases, it is forecast that

MARKET REPORT 27 log prices will need to go higher to attract incremental wood supplies for sawmills to produce more lumber. On the demand-side in the key U.S. market, steady growth has been occurring in the repair and remodeling and industrial sectors, but it is the trends in new residential housing construction market segment that will make or break the market. Since the housing market collapse in 2009, U.S. housing starts have comeback halfway in five years towards ‘normal’ levels of about 1.5 million units, or from 550,000 units to about one million in 2014. There is still a long way to go with huge upside. However, after an 18 percent increase (145,000 units) in U.S. housing starts in 2013 that helped to tighten up the market, 2014’s result has slowed down to an 8 percent increase (75,000 units). WOOD MARKETS believes that a structural change has been occurring in the U.S. housing market that will take much of this decade before a ‘new normal’ result emerges. A potential and short-term ‘supply gap’ in North America is forecast, as rising wood products demand will trigger record-high lumber prices so as to attract more log and/or lumber supply to the market - this includes European lumber exports to the U.S. market. European exports are expected to surge as U.S. lumber prices move higher as a result of tighter wood supplies starting about 2017 and they could reach 3 billion bf by the end of the decade - similar to their 2005 peak. The report also explores the evolving recovery of U.S. and Canadian lumber and wood panel

markets, including international developments. According to WOOD MARKETS, lumber output in the B.C. Interior has remained relatively constant - near 11 billion bf between 2010 and 2014 - and production could grow only slightly to about 11.2 - 11.3 billion bf in 2015 and 2016 before permanent declines start about 2017 due to a lack of merchantable sawlogs. Eastern Canada (Ontario and Quebec) will see lumber production bounce back in the next few years from very low levels in 2009, but the upside will soon be reached, especially in Quebec. The report states that U.S. West lumber output will also steadily increase, but the role of log exports to China continues to squeeze sawmill margins. In the U.S. South, lumber production will see the fastest growth rate in

North American and global economies as well as softwood lumber markets are forecast to continue expanding in 2015 and even faster in 2016 and 2017. North America, but there are just a few new greenfield sawmills being planned despite ample timber and a strong lumber demand forecast. With China now importing steady volumes of logs and lumber from North America, there is still the possibility of disruptions in China’s import raw material supply (i.e., Russia continues to face cost and logistical obstacles) coupled with eventual increases in Chinese demand - this can only further tighten the North American supply base further. Throughout the forecast period, the North American supply chain (from loggers to mill workers to truck drivers to retail stores) is expected to remain fragile, stretched or imbalanced at times, causing temporary shortages as well as volatility. Trying to find quality workers is also becoming a major problem for many firms. With U.S. housing starts set to rebound towards the long-term level of 1.5 million starts by the end of the decade, and Chinese construction and European markets expected to grow further, steady increases in global log and lumber demand are expected with the prospects of higher lumber prices. Five-year forecasts of OSB and plywood also see a prolonged April 2015

period of growth, but without the sustained price increases forecast for lumber. Market volatility will continue, especially for OSB as previously curtailed mills gradually re-enter the market - this sequence of restarts will have more impact on prices than demand. For the MDF and particleboard sector, volume and price growth will also occur, but more slowly and evenly as compared to structural panels - as has been the general trend since 2010. These factors and others contribute to a tightening of the global softwood timber supply base, but it is mainly in North America where the impact will be felt. However, the often-discussed ‘super-cycle’ thesis is still alive on the supply-side, but what has been missing is a steady to strong level of demand in the U.S. market, as well as stable to increasing demand in other global markets. Without improvements in overall global lumber demand, it is becoming more likely that the much-anticipated super-cycle may end up more like a ‘super-spike’. * This article contains text from the WOOD MARKETS report - The Solid Wood Products Outlook: 2015 to 2019. For more information, please visit www.woodmarkets.com www.timberdesignandtechnology.com

28 ANALYSIS

Two years with the EUTR: Rooting for enforcement

Image ÂŠ NEPCon

Forest legality expert Christian Sloth provides his views on progress to date and on the road ahead

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April 2015

ANALYSIS 29

Impact on illegal timber harvesting One of the fundamental objectives of the EUTR is to halt the production and trade in illegal timber. At this point, there is no data supporting the impact of the EUTR on illegal logging in timber exporting countries. However, it is still early days, and other market and political forces may overshadow any effects. There is little doubt that illegal timber still finds its way into the EU. This is confirmed by several NGO reports published in the past year that have uncovered trade routes of illegal timber from South America and Africa destined for the EU market. The EUTR is the latest major initiative under the EU Forest Legality Enforcement and Trade (FLEGT) Programme. Another key FLEGT instrument is the Voluntary Partnership Agreements (VPAs) between the EU and key timber producing countries, expected to result in FLEGT licenses guaranteeing legal timber

harvesting. However, no FLEGT timber is available on the market yet. The FLEGT Action Plan including the VPAS and the EUTR is undergoing review this year. Hopefully the review will address the largely missing link between the VPAs and the EUTR. Image © NEPCon

Timber trade flows In the lead-up to the

implementation of the EUTR, many within the European timber industry predicated a slowdown of imports to the EU. A series of reports from Chatham House in 2014 on timber imports to key European markets (UK, France and the Netherlands) found signs of declining imports from countries with a high risk of illegal logging. Overall, the bark appears to be worse than the bite in terms of negative trade impacts. However, effects of the EUTR on trade flows may only be visible in the longer term. The member states have taken a stepwise approach to enforcing the law, and they still need to align. Some of the competent authorities (CAs) still appear to accept paperwork at face value, which is not in line with the official EU guidelines. Over the past two years, NGOs have spotlighted key issues pertaining to risk countries and species. Although none of those cases has led to any legal actions, this has raised awareness, influencing supply chain management in parts of the

One of the fundamental objectives of the EUTR is to halt the production and trade in illegal timber. At this point, there is no data supporting the impact of the EUTR on illegal logging in timber exporting countries. European industry.

Need for a uniform approach across the member states One of the most critical issues surrounding the EUTR, often reported to NEPCon from numerous sides, is the uneven enforcement across the EU member states. The European Commission’s EUTR scorecard shows that whilst twenty countries have competent authorities, penalties and rules for regular checks in place by now, eight are still lagging behind. In addition, many CAs lack sufficient competence and capacity to implement the regulation effectively. The EUTR was intended to

drive change upstream in timber producing countries. Differential administration of the law across the member states has created confusion and an uneven playing field. NGOs even speculate that there are ‘safe-havens’ in Europe for illegal timber imports.

Bracing for stricter enforcement Until now, even the most progressive CAs have used a stepwise approach to issues of non-compliance. No case has yet reached the courtrooms. However, a change of tact in 2015 can be expected. The CAs in several countries have been engaging with the industry for a long time,

Image © NEPCon

When the EUTR went into force on March 3, 2013, it was widely regarded as a key instrument in halting the production and trade of illegal timber in the EU. However, parts of the industry expressed concerns over the impact on the European timber trade, and there was a pronounced wish for guidance and clarity. Two years on, we still do not have the full picture. However, some critical points and patterns are emerging.

April 2015

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30 ANALYSIS providing guidance on grey zone areas. Looking ahead, it seems likely that the authorities will strengthen their approach at least in some member states. The use of technology in securing legal timber trade is likely to grow stronger amongst the EU Member states and within the industry itself. A few CAs are already employ fiber testing as part of their enforcement arsenal. The UK CA recently used microscopic testing to uncover false species declarations in 9 out of 13 product samples. The CAs are tasked with a challenging duty, but countries such as the UK, Denmark and Germany are showing that it can be done.

Need for guidance There are still frequent misunderstandings about fundamental aspects of the EUTR such as the role of documents and

certification in due diligence. The industry often reports a lack of specific information about producer countries, such as risk factors and applicable legislation and clear guidance on what is expected from them. Fortunately, more guidance is becoming available. NEPCon is currently assessing forest legality risks at country level across 30 countries and producing userfriendly country profiles based on some of these analyses. There is also a great need for tools and training in producer countries. Being closer to the source, the producer can play a key role in providing indicators of legal harvest, trade and transport. Several initiatives are under way to fill this gap. For example, NEPCon is providing due diligence toolkits and training for small and medium enterprises within FLEGT related projects in Vietnam and Cameroon.

Road map to securing impact The EUTR review process should help to define the road map for achieving necessary improvements, such as: a uniform approach to the EUTR across the EU member states and better quality assurance systems to ensure consistent and competent enforcement; greater transparency of the work of CAs and MOs, which might include mandatory public summaries of their evaluations and control audits; targeted industry tools and guidance (e.g. on the scope of applicable legislation and risk assessments in producer countries); more clarity on the role of certified material; improved linkages between the EUTR and the FLEGT VPA processes; and expansion of the EUTR products scope. All these points are important; however, alignment across member states should be at the top of the

The use of technology in securing legal timber trade is likely to grow stronger amongst the EU Member states and within the industry itself.

agenda. This is strictly necessary to make sure that the gates of the EU market are closed to illegal timber. It is the single most critical barrier to EUTR impact at this point in time.

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April 2015

About the Author

Christian Sloth is a seasoned expert on timber legality and related policies and laws such as the EU FLEGT Programme, the EUTR and similar legislation in the U.S. and Australia. He leads the development of NEPConâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s LegalSource Programme including NEPConâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s due diligence system and a wide range of services that assist companies in meeting legal obligations and buyersâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; demands for legal timber. He is a frequent speaker at events focusing on legal timber trade.

AMERICAN

HARDWOODS

www.americanhardwood.org

Special Middle East Supplement

Endless Possibilities This special supplement is provided with the compliments of the American Hardwood Export Council (AHEC)

INTERVIEWS

CASE STUDIES April 2015

MARKET OUTLOOK www.timberdesignandtechnology.com

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EXPERT OPINIONS

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April 2015

Image © AHEC

AMERICAN HARDWOODS 33

Image © AHEC

A Case for American Hardwoods in the Middle East The Middle East has shown considerable interest in American hardwoods since the American Hardwood Export Council (AHEC) launched its market development program in the region back in 1999. That interest has been translated in to solid growth in imports of American hardwood lumber and veneer, with a rise of 80 percent in the value of imports during the past five years alone. The Middle East’s designers have embraced American hardwoods and today, the United States is the number one supplier of temperate hardwoods to the Arabian Gulf. We now see American species being used in a wide range of new projects, including luxury hotels, iconic restaurants, bars and nightclubs, designer retail outlets, private villas and public buildings, such as schools, universities, airports and government offices. U.S. hardwood lumber exports to the Middle East and North Africa region (including Pakistan) reached a value of USD 79.07million and a volume of 98,425 cubic meters during 2014. This equates to an increase in value of 23 percent over 2013 and an increase in volume of 8 percent. Direct exports of U.S. hardwood veneers to the MENA

region reached a total value of USD 29.86 million last year, rising by 12 percent from 2013. U.S. hardwood log exports to the MENA region reached a total volume of 34,957 cubic meters and a value of USD 20.47 million in 2014. The most significant increases in shipments of U.S. hardwood lumber were seen in the United Arab Emirates (up by 48 percent to 15,723 cubic meters), Egypt (up by 22 percent to 11,614 cubic meters), Jordan (up by 18 percent to 5,949 cubic meters), Lebanon (up by 23 percent to 4,735 cubic meters), Qatar (up by 55 percent to 3,015 cubic meters) and Morocco (up by 31 percent to 2,329 cubic meters). Along with an incredible array of colors, textures and grains, American hardwoods are able to offer designers with new potential for applications through new technology. One such technology is thermal-modification, which allows for non-durable, temperate hardwoods to be modified for exterior use or in moisture-rich environments through a relatively simple, but controlled heating process. American ash is just one species being used in this way and thermally-modified American ash has been used widely in Turkey, April 2015

in particular, in recent years in numerous commercial and private cladding and decking projects. With the current vogue for timber cladding and decking, as well as exterior timber structures and street furniture, we hope to see thermally-modified American hardwoods featured in an even wider range of applications across the region in the near future. Timber is certainly experiencing a renaissance as a preferred material and architects and designers in the Middle East have embraced its purity and natural appeal across a wealth of recent projects, both within the region and internationally. Emaar’s new headquarters, which won the 2014 Commercial Interior Design award for ‘Outstanding use of American Hardwoods’ is just one example of American hardwoods being specified by a regional designer and we expect to see many more projects featuring U.S. species in the coming years. We hope that this American Hardwood Supplement will go someway to helping raise awareness of U.S. hardwoods. For further information and for sources of supply, please visit our website: www.americanhardwood.org. www.timberdesignandtechnology.com

34 AMERICAN HARDWOODS

Respected Emirati designer uses thermally-modified American ash to create multi-faceted seating installation

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April 2015

Image © Khalid Shafar

‘CITY’s Bench’ by Khalid Shafar goes on display at ‘Meet d3’

Image © AHEC

Image © AHEC Image © AHEC

A total of four benches, which were produced from thermally-modified American ash ‘CAMBIA’ donated by Northland Forest Products, were on display for the duration of the festival. others. According to Roderick Wiles, AHEC’s Regional Director, thermalmodification is a relatively simple, but carefully controlled heating process, which when applied to a select few American hardwood species effectively turns non-durable interior timber in to a material that can be used outside and even in high moisture environments. Shafar’s decision then to produce a bench for external use has not only showcased this beautiful timber to the general public but will also test the

durability of the material against the UAE’s harsh climate. “As the public demographic varies in any place on earth and as the project site faces the Dubai skyline being the backdrop and the horizon of d3 location, CITY’s Bench reflects this in its design. From form to function, there is a place for every individual on the bench regardless of age, size, or ability. The outer frame of the bench is made of thermallymodified American ash, while the inner part is filled with building blocks in three standard sizes to reflect the location of d3 and the ongoing construction around. This also serves to give an industrial look to the bench in contradiction to the clean neat outer wooden frame,” said Khalid Shafar.

Image © AHEC

Image © Khalid Shafar

‘CITY’s Bench’, a 4.68m outdoor bench made from thermallymodified American ash and designed by respected Emirati designer Khalid Shafar, has attracted significant attention and interest at ‘Meet d3’. The project is a collaboration between Khalid Shafar, the American Hardwood Export Council (AHEC), the leading international trade association for the American hardwood industry, and Dubai Design District (d3), a purpose-built community dedicated to promoting and nurturing emerging local talent while also providing a creative home to established international design, luxury and fashion brands. A total of four benches, which were produced from thermally-modified American ash ‘CAMBIA’ donated by Northland Forest Products, were on display for the duration of the three-day festival. The collaboration with Shafar and d3 builds on AHEC’s prior initiatives in the Middle East and internationally, which have aimed at creatively promoting American hardwoods, and have involved the likes of Zaha Hadid, David Adjaye, Matteo Thun, Sou Fujimoto, Norman Foster and Paul Smith amongst

Image © AHEC

AMERICAN HARDWOODS 35

April 2015

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Image © Khalid Shafar

36 AMERICAN HARDWOODS

The bench, which is almost 5 meters (4.68m) long and 40cm wide, has been designed to cater for the widest demographic possible with different heights across the bench allowing for children, adults, the elderly or even babies to be comfortably seated. Shafar intentionally designed the largescale functional bench to stand out amongst the other pieces and serve in a public setting by allowing more people to share the space and connect. Furthermore, the raw natural finish allows for the natural textures, patterns and dark color of the thermally-modified American ash to stand out. By showcasing the bench at ‘Meet d3’, AHEC hopes to demonstrate the potential of thermally-modified American hardwoods in exterior use, particularly the increased dimensional stability and decay resistance of the timber, which significantly extends the service life and reduces maintenance needs of the bench. “This collaboration with Khalid Shafar and Dubai Design District aims to highlight the use of newer technologies of hardwood durability enhancement. There’s a developing market for thermally-modified

hardwoods across the globe and it’s great to be able to showcase their potential here in Dubai,” said Roderick Wiles. “We believe this technology is a key part of the future for using wood externally. The market is growing and designers and architects want to use wood, but it has to perform well, look good, and last, or it just won’t compete. Thermal-modification uses no chemicals, improves stability and has a very low environmental impact relative to other material solutions. By processing wood produced from America’s well managed hardwood forests, thermalmodification provides a high quality, environmentally-friendly and sustainable alternative to some imported tropical hardwood species.” According to Wiles, growing environmental awareness and stricter environmental regulations are forcing end users to look for timber from sources, which have a proven record of sustainable management and low environmental impact. The process of thermal-modification (also known as heat treatment) is now able to provide temperate hardwood species with the requisite durability and resistance to decay

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April 2015

that was, traditionally, only offered by tropical hardwoods. Whilst the concept is not a new one, thermalmodification today is an industrial process, using painstakingly developed technology and it truly represents a new opportunity for American hardwoods. The thermalmodification process, a clean and energy efficient technology, uses high heat in a controlled atmosphere to improve both the dimensional stability and the decay resistance of wood by permanently altering its chemical and physical properties. ‘Meet d3’ has been organized to harness the talents and abilities of the community to

celebrate creativity in the region. Programming across the three-day event included some of the most dynamic and original creative talents from across both the UAE and beyond, embodying the notions of convergence and co-collaboration around design, art, fashion, dining experience and entertainment many of whom will now call d3 home. According to the organizers, the aim was to invite residents, designers, cultural enthusiasts, students and tourists to ‘Meet d3’ in a bid to help to ignite, inspire and engage them and share a sneak preview of what it will be like to be part of Dubai’s home of design.

Image © AHEC

This collaboration with Khalid Shafar and Dubai Design District aims to highlight the use of newer technologies of hardwood durability enhancement.

AMERICAN HARDWOODS 37

Project garners dwp award for ‘Outstanding use of American Hardwood in the Middle East’ at Commercial Interior Design Awards 2014 April 2015

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Image © dwp

American white oak staircase and reception transform and connect Emaar’s new headquarters in Dubai

The client brief required plenty of natural daylight, long worktables, an open-plan with no doors, taking a loft style, with a collaborative and communicative approach.

Image © dwp

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April 2015

reinforced the chairman’s vision. It’s a huge success.” A quick look at the floor plan shows different areas called ‘neighborhoods’ located throughout the layout. Kahler elaborates: “The layout concept is based around creating a series of communities. This is not only a direct reflection of what Emaar does, but enabled its constant organic growth and contraction of departments within a non-rigid desk arrangement. Departments are defined by their

Image © dwp

is at the leading edge of local and global real estate development. It is a market leader, making waves and setting new standards. Its interiors needed to reflect this and to attract and retain the best possible personnel.” The client brief required plenty of natural daylight, long worktables, an open-plan with no doors, taking a loft style, with a collaborative and communicative approach. It was a clear and direct vision, and, according to Kahler, dwp delivered exactly on Alabbar’s requests. As such, the results speak for themselves, with an impactful workspace, inviting for clients and motivating for the team. With three floors linked, all 15 departments have been centralized to one location. Further, the openplan is also efficient and provides a space for collaborative working. “Emaar’s previous offices supported it through a different era for the development industry. It was emerging from the financial crash and wanted to claw back its entrepreneurial spirit, to shape up its operations, inspire the staff to perform and drive the organization forward,” says Kahler. “Emaar’s previous office space was fragmented and did not fully reflect this new Emaar drive. The new office design completely changed the dynamic and has contributed to and

Image © dwp

Emaar, as one of the world’s currently largest property developers, wanted to reinvigorate their team and have a new vibrant workplace. The relocation of their entire team to Emaar Square in Downtown Dubai involved dwp | design worldwide partnership working to provide a new dynamic workplace - one that translated their vision for the future into an extraordinary design aesthetic, as a clear reflection of the Emaar brand, spread over 3 levels and 6,250 square meters. The project, led by Mohammed Alabbar, Emaar Chairman, was not an ordinary relocation project. It was to be an honest reflection of the company’s vision, future and its ever-increasing role in the framework of a growing Dubai. Emaar’s previous office was located in Emaar Business Park and spread over six floors. With fragmented departments and limited shared facilities, the interior was uninspiring and detached from the company’s forward-thinking conceptual foundation. George Kahler, dwp Design Director, explains: “There are many drivers for change in a company’s decision to refurbish their offices or relocate. Emaar’s corporate values were not reflected in its previous property. Its dynamic, collaborative business process was being hindered by the cellularised spaces. Emaar

Image © dwp

38 AMERICAN HARDWOODS

Image © dwp

AMERICAN HARDWOODS 39

personnel and sit side-by-side others for cross-collaboration of business units. We used our knowledge of furniture systems and contemporary workplace design trends to give them all the functional performance required by its staff, including cable management and integrated IT.” Kahler adds: “The new space has fewer offices and more shared collaboration areas and is, therefore, a far more efficient use of real estate, giving the client a much higher return on productivity versus real estate area. Central to each floor is a variety of collaborative workspaces offering an infinite array of meeting scenarios, rather than a series of cellular fixed meeting rooms. This freed up far more space given to open-plan working.” The brief also called for no doors, standing meeting rooms and creative spaces. According to Kahler, a key to the design was the lining staircase, which provides a connected feel throughout the floors. The new office rejects the corporate office style, as well as the overtly

branded one. Instead it focuses on an interior that is both reflective of the company’s confidence and vision, as well as the conceptual styles that are appreciated by modern design culture. “We went away from all the standard corporate materials,” remarks Kahler. “We did not use carpet tiles or stone. In the openplan areas, we used marmoleum. Circulation is timber plank and feature areas use poured, raw concrete. We exposed the soffit and services, and sprayed it out white to give a feeling of space and light. We also used natural cork flooring for meeting rooms and on walls, to assist the acoustics and to be able to pin directly onto walls. Additionally, full-height digital wallpaper is employed throughout, to reinforce the brand.” Kahler regards the linking bridge and staircase in the reception, with its exposed soffit, beams and structure, as a stand-out feature. “It’s a wow factor from ground up to second floor reception,” he says.

“We coordinated with the structural engineer to cut the post tension slab and insert the steel structure staircase.” American White Oak was specified for the staircase (30-40 mm wood cladded to the MS structure), and wall partitions and cladding behind the main reception. The staircase, wall partitions and the wall cladding in white oak behind the reception counters are all solid wood. All of the interior joinery on this project, excluding the workstations, was undertaken by Aati Contracts. According to Jonathan Greedy, Aati Contracts, it was an interesting project to work on, especially in terms of design and finishes. All initial samples were discussed with dwp, submitted and approved by them. In addition, a few mock-ups were made at Aati’s factory in Dubai. Factory visits were arranged at different stages of production to ensure quality control as well. Despite a few pre-handover amendments, Aati were able to complete the project within the time frame agreed upon. While the new Emaar HQ boasts an intelligent interior design that ideally represents the inhabitants in an accurate, subtle way; the community-based approach applied by the property developer is not only obvious in its official dealings, but also its office design. dwp made sure to follow all the sustainability guidelines of LEED certification. It illustrates that the client was not only concerned with the aesthetics and function of the office, but also the impact it would have on the environment. Kahler says: “We always design to LEED sustainable guidelines and this was no exception. Although April 2015

the client did not request LEED certification, we followed the LEED CI checklist and ensured that all bases were covered. Gypsum was sourced locally and the cork, FSC timber floors and recycled content desking system added to the sustainable design.” Kahler concludes: “Emaar is a dynamic organization, all about delivery, which requires huge coordination requirements. The staff needed to engage internally and with external consultants and clients in many different ways. The wide array of collaboration spaces supported this.”

Project Details Project Name Emaar HQ

Client

Emaar Properties

Location

Emaar Square, Downtown Dubai, U.A.E.

Interior Designer dwp

Project Contractors KPS

Joinery

Aati Contracts

Dimensions 6,250 sqm

Wood Species

American white oak

Photography Credits dwp

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40 AMERICAN HARDWOODS

The Wish List

What I Have Always Wanted Is…

The Wish List - What I Have Always Wanted Is….’ exhibition, a unique collaborative project between some of the world’s bestknown design names and up-and-coming designers, opened at the Victoria and Albert Museum as part of the London Design Festival 2014. Commissioned by the American Hardwood Export Council (AHEC), the leading international trade association for the American hardwood industry, and brought to life by Benchmark Furniture, the compelling installation will have an extended stay at the V&A until October 24, 2014. The project demonstrates the versatility of American hardwoods and the ability to experiment with designs both big and small.

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The Wish List has not only engaged the interest of ten design legends, each of whom commissioned something for their personal collection. It has also given an extraordinary opportunity to a talented group of emerging designers, who worked closely with their commissioners to develop the designs and constructed them with the help of Benchmark’s master craftsmen, some with 40 years’ experience to draw on. The result is ten beautiful objects in a variety of American hardwoods including red oak, white oak, walnut, hard maple, ash, tulipwood and cherry. The pieces show the amazing versatility that can be achieved with a single material.

Image © Petr Krejci

at the London Design Festival 2014

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GETTING AWAY FROM IT ALL

Image © Petr Krejci

Commissioned by Terence Conran Designed with Sebastian Cox Made from American red oak and American cherry

Sir Terence Conran asked designer Sebastian Cox to create a “cocoon-like desk” in red oak and cherry for his office - a place where he could work without distractions, with everything he needed at hand. “I like the idea of being cocooned away happily designing or writing in blissful peace,” he says. “And it will save me going in to the greenhouse in my garden, which is currently my favourite place for quiet time.” Why doesn’t the design titan simply do it himself? “While I’ve had the occasional piece customized,” says Conran, “I have never once had the opportunity to design something purely and selfishly for myself.” Regarding Conran’s brief for a desk, Sebastian says, “It’s a space Terence can work in without distractions, a cocoon-like desk with cabinetry around it, a space for undistracted creative thought.” Yet building it from red oak and cherry took more than a little creative thought, and considerable skill. The 2mm red oak strips Cox chose for the curved screens had to be soaked in a brook on the Benchmark property before they could become supple enough for weaving. Then Cox finished them with a whitener to lighten their appearance to Conran’s specifications. For the cupboard roll-top, Cox joined solid pieces of wood mechanically, then built a drawer to conceal the mechanism. “This was the most advanced, intricate and challenging thing I had ever made,” says Cox, “but how often do you get the chance to design something for someone who is so important in the industry?” For his part, Conran says, “I have been making furniture for 60 years, but I am still learning from Sebastian.”

A STOOL FOR THE KITCHEN

Image © Petr Krejci

Commissioned by Alison Brooks Designed with Felix de Pass Made from American cherry

Alison Brooks wanted an object that she would not only own but also put into production. She commissioned a stool for her kitchen from Felix de Pass that could work in a range of environments. “The stool,” she says, “is always the most popular seat in the house. Stools offer a dynamic kind of seating. There’s a temporary quality to sitting on a stool - you don’t have to commit to sitting down. I’ve never been able to find a really clever, beautiful kitchen stool that is the right height for a kitchen counter.” She chose cherry, a timber she felt was under appreciated and which her mother collected when she was growing up in Canada. “Cherry has a tight grain with lots of character. The color grows darker and richer over time to an incredible burnt umber color,” she adds. The stool consists of a cherry seat and post that de Pass steam-bent into three legs. With Benchmark’s help, he labored over how to attach the stainless-steel footrest, or “crown”, settling, eventually, on three discreet metal bars. Brooks helped the designer refine the seat into a light disc that becomes sturdier where it joins the base. April 2015

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42 AMERICAN HARDWOODS

TULIPIFERA SHARPENERS

Image © Petr Krejci

Norman Foster may run one of the most technologically advanced practices in the world in, but he still likes to draw. “For as long as I can remember the pencil and I have been inseparable companions – sketching and scribbling are integral to my way of life.” He described his wish as “a pencil sharpener for three sizes, capable of sitting on a desk and with a compartment to receive the shavings”. Foster has more than one desk, so the wish expanded into a family of pencil sharpeners, each for a different location. Foster and Matsumoto chose to design the pencil sharpeners in American tulipwood, which is often seen as a low-quality timber, abundant and inexpensive. But Foster loved the variation in color. “Of all the samples we examined,” he says, “it was uniquely pale and the grain had an almost marble-like quality.” The cube, cylinder and sphere were cut from solid pieces of tulipwood, but the tetrahedron, at four inches, was wider than the thickest available stock. To compensate, Matsumoto cut triangular pieces from the wood and joined them together. “The angles and jointing were challenging. There were a lot of practical issues I had to solve,” she says. Each sharpener has a tray to sit on that is large enough to hold a sizeable collection of pencils.

Image © Petr Krejci

Commissioned by Norman Foster Designed with Norie Matsumoto Made from American tulipwood

VES-EL

Image © Petr Krejci

Commissioned by Zaha Hadid Designed with Gareth Neal Made from American white oak

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Zaha Hadid’s wish was very open-ended, simply specifying ‘tableware’. Gareth Neal approached the project by thinking about the fluid nature of Hadid’s work but juxtaposing that with a functional element dynamic. From this, the water carafe idea emerged. He was invited to go to Hadid’s office and working with her design team, using the company’s modeling software to create the vessel; there he conceived the idea of extruding the form along one of its axes with a slit opening at the end that allowed the viewer to look into “a cathedral-like space”. Benchmark had to upgrade its CNC software to achieve the complicated form. Neal constructed the vessels in two halves, which were expected to be identical but in fact were not quite, adding the sense of a “maker’s mark”. The process produced ridges that were analogous to those created by a potter’s thumb. Neal and Hadid agreed to keep one vessel natural, while the other was ebonized. Sean Sutcliffe says of the results, “I have been running my workshop for 32 years, and this is the most remarkable thing we have ever made.” Gareth Neal adds, “I hope the pieces will embed the design with a sense of the handmade through the arm of a robot, questioning the viewer’s perceptions of craft and the handmade”.

AMERICAN HARDWOODS 43

THE HOLE CHAIR Commissioned by Allen Jones Designed with Lola Lely Made from American maple and walnut veneer

Image © Petr Krejci

Jones’ wish was for a recliner in the shape of a human form, a concept he developed more than 10 years ago but, he says, “I didn’t have the facilities to pursue it.” The idea was that it should have a personalized form, fitted to the contours of his own body, while also deliberately androgynous. A dowel inserted into the drainage hole would take its inspiration from the removable phallus on Marino Marini’s statue of a horseman in front of the Peggy Guggenheim museum in Venice. The chair evolved from a recliner into a more upright chaise longue. Lely made a full-sized model at Benchmark, then drove it from the workshop to Jones’s home at London’s Barbican, so he could have it “fitted” in the truck outside, to the entertainment of passers-by. Of The Wish List project, Lola Lely says, “I was the problem solver. It was all right not to be so much of a designer on this project. This is what Allen wanted and what he got.” She constructed the chair from maple and walnut veneer. “The only way we could make the shape I wanted was in veneer,” she says. The main timber, maple, is a uniform pale color, and contrasts well with the dark tones of walnut. Lely built up the form with 13 layers of veneer, adding special top and bottom walnut layers with marquetry. “They went together like jigsaws,” she says.

6 X 500

Image © Petr Krejci

Commissioned by Amanda Levete Designed with Win Assakul Made from American walnut

Amanda Levete often entertains up to 18 people at the 4.8m-long dining table she designed for her home. She loved the idea of a long and reversible serving dish that would allow people to help themselves to cold meats or fruit. She also asked for a storage box that should be as beautiful as the dish itself. Levete commissioned Win Assakul to design the pieces saying, “He is quite exceptional as a designer, thinker and communicator. It is rare to find those qualities in one so young.” Levete and Assakul chose American walnut to give the dish a rich and luxurious quality. The idea was that the dish would be nearly flat on one side, for cold

meats and cheeses, and with deeper hollows on the other side, for fruit. It is in six pieces: four interchangeable central sections, and two ends. Assakul hand-carved each section and used dovetail joints to join the pieces. Creating these was a delicate balancing act - they had to be tight enough to fit, but not so tight that a mallet would be needed to separate them. The contoured reversible walnut dish with brass edging is in six pieces. Every piece is subtly different because of the hand carving. “We had designed it with as little flat surface as possible on the underside, to reveal as much of the grain as we could,” says Assakul. April 2015

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44 AMERICAN HARDWOODS

ROOM

John Pawson commissioned a family of elements for the country house he is currently remodeling for his family. The site includes agricultural buildings dating back centuries. “Rather than starting with the idea of commissioning a specific piece of furniture, I was interested in getting Studio Areti to explore the things you touch and use every day, that are moments in the life of a place as well as objects - switching on a light, opening a door, hanging a shirt on a hook, taking a book down from a shelf,” he said. Pawson had not worked with Studio Areti before but says, “I was interested in the breadth of training and experiences the two sisters bring to their design studio from architecture and art history to product design.” The team chose white oak and walnut. “We’re exploring the possibilities of their color contrast and very different characters of grain,” says Pawson. The most complex element the pair designed was the door. “When you have a door in a wall it is an interruption to a very pristine surface,” says Gwendolyn. “We decided to design a door that is not ashamed, but that works with the wall in an elegant way.” The solution was to taper it, so it always looks half open - though this made hanging it more challenging. The dimmer switch demonstrates the sisters’ attention to detail. When the light is off, the grain on the knob is aligned with that of the base plate.

Image © Petr Krejci

Commissioned by John Pawson Designed with Studio Areti Made from American white oak and walnut

TABLE TURNED

April 2015

Image © Petr Krejci

Commissioned by Alex de Rijke Designed with Barnby & Day Made from American tulipwood

AMERICAN HARDWOODS 45

THE LADDER THAT LIKES THE WALL Commissioned by Richard and Ab Rogers Designed with Xenia Moseley Made from American red oak

Image © Petr Krejci

Richard and Ab Rogers wanted a ladder that would allow them to perch at a height and be comfortable enough for writing, eating and working. They also wanted it to be economical with materials. A ladder, says Ab Rogers, “is a simple diagram of how to get you off the ground.” To be sturdy enough for all those tasks, it needed to invert the A shape of a traditional fruit-picking ladder. Total stability would be borrowed from the existing architecture of the surrounding environment, leaning on a vertical surface - a wall or a bookcase. For The Wish List, Moseley saw herself as a facilitator. “At first I didn’t see my stamp,” she says, “but now it is very much a meeting of minds.” She became involved with the steam-bending of the American red oak she chose for the ladder (red oak was chosen for its receptiveness to steambending). The uprights of the ladder had to be designed so they could provide handholds for people going up and sitting down. Moseley, along with the Rogers, resolved this elegantly, designing one upright with a tight outward curve at the top, and another extending beyond the tray, which can fold away. “It has been such a roller coaster and a whirlwind,” says Moseley. “It’s been more productive than I could ever have imagined.”

PAUL’S SHED Commissioned by Paul Smith Designed with Nathalie de Leval Made from thermally modified American ash

Image © Petr Krejci

Paul Smith’s request was for a garden shed, “Somewhere you can go to switch off, somewhere to relax,” he says. “In today’s world where everyone is so busy, I think this is really important and very needed.” He stipulated that one end of the shed should be glazed, offering a view out. And, like the shed George Bernard Shaw used to write, Smith wanted his to rotate, so he could take advantage of sun or shade at different times of day. Paul Smith chose to work with Nathalie de Leval, saying, “Nathalie’s understanding of the materials she works with is really amazing. She combines this with fantastic craftsmanship to make something truly contemporary.” As Smith wanted the shed to be all wood, thermally modified hardwoods, with grade-one durability, seemed a sensible choice. De Leval chose thermally modified ash for its dimensional stability, rich color and grain. She consulted with Arup’s timber specialist, Andrew Lawrence, on the structure, which had to be demountable. “Paul’s Shed is the first structural use of thermally modified American ash,” says Lawrence. “The thermal modification makes the ash resistant to decay and imparts a wonderful dark tone, while at the same time preserving enough strength for modest structural use. The next step will be to do some formal strength testing.” De Leval spent two days making the base, which sits on a hand-rotating mechanism. Diagonal tensioning cables hold the shed in shape. “It is all incredibly low tech, which I like,” says de Leval. “It’s a flat pack. But it was a lot of work. I did seven issues of drawings.” April 2015

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Image ÂŠ Petr Krejci

46 AMERICAN HARDWOODS

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April 2015

AMERICAN HARDWOODS 47

Thermally-modified American hardwoods offer great potential for outdoor applications Sir Paul Smith and Nathalie de Leval create ‘Shed’ as part of AHEC’s collaboration with the London Design Festival are more dimensionally stable and less prone to cup, warp and twist with changes in humidity. The thermal-modification process also destroys the hemicelluloses and carbohydrates in wood that provide the main food sources for insects and rot-producing fungi. The timber is therefore more resistant to rot, and does not necessarily need any surface treatment, painting or pressure treatment. This increase in dimensional stability and decay resistance significantly extends the service life, and has the potential to reduce the maintenance needs of products made from thermally modified hardwoods. In addition, the timber has an attractive dark color running through the whole cross section. With a rich brown color, the appearance and uniformity can rival that of many

Image © Petr Krejci

With a rich brown color, the appearance and uniformity can rival that of many tropical hardwood species and its color alone may be enough to win over end users.

temperature of between 180 - 215°C for three to four days (the length of time depends on the thickness and the species of timber). This has to be done in an inert atmosphere (that is, one that contains no oxygen) to prevent the timber igniting. This is normally done either in steam or in a vacuum. This process permanently alters the wood’s chemical and physical properties. This is very different to kiln drying, which only reduces the moisture content of the timber. The thermal-modification process reduces the timber moisture content down to 4-6 percent (very low). This has the effect of drastically reducing the equilibrium moisture content. Put simply, the physical structure of the wood is changed, which limits the ability of the wood to absorb moisture, so products

Image © Nathalie De Leval

Thermally-modified timber (TMT) was first developed to improve the performance and durability of softwoods, but it has more recently been extended to boost the performance of hardwoods, allowing certain timbers to be used externally with no additional protection. Following thermal-modification, ash, soft maple, tulipwood and red oak (with the best results from quartersawn timber), can achieve Class 1 durability, the highest possible rating, and equivalent to teak. The treatment process consists of gradually heating the timber to a

Image © Petr Krejci

Image © Nathalie De Leval

Commercial thermal-modification of timber was developed and introduced in the 1990s, and is becoming increasingly popular with architects and designers globally as a substitute for tropical timbers and traditionally preserved timber. The American Hardwood Export Council (AHEC) recognizes thermalmodification as a developing market with great potential for American hardwood producers. There are various species that can be successfully treated such as - ash, soft maple, tulipwood, red oak, yellow birch and hickory.

April 2015

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Image © Petr Krejci

48 AMERICAN HARDWOODS

tropical hardwood species and its color alone may be enough to win over end users. It is important to note that the timber will still turn grey over time due to the degrading action of ultraviolet light. For a timber such as ash, which has been and remains a popular choice for furniture, this opens new possibilities in durable and attractive external applications. Although the thermal-modification process does

use energy to heat the timber, this increased carbon footprint has to be set against the environmental impacts of the various protective treatments that are no longer needed. During the summer of 2014, AHEC collaborated with fashion icon Sir Paul Smith and Nathalie de Leval as part of ‘The Wish List’ - an extraordinary collaborative project created by AHEC, Benchmark

Image © Petr Krejci

The thermal-modification makes the ash resistant to decay and imparts a wonderful dark tone, while at the same time preserving enough strength for modest structural use.

Furniture and Sir Terence Conran, who invited nine other famous commissioners to work with talented up and coming designers to create “the object they had always wanted”. Paul’s request was for a garden shed, “Somewhere you can go to switch off, somewhere to relax,” he says. As Smith wanted the shed to be all wood, thermallymodified hardwoods, with grade-one durability, seemed a sensible choice. Together, Smith and De Leval chose thermally-modified ash for its dimensional stability, rich color and grain. De Leval consulted with Arup’s timber specialist, Andrew Lawrence, on the structure. “Paul’s

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April 2015

Shed is the first structural use of thermally-modified American ash,” says Lawrence. “The thermalmodification makes the ash resistant to decay and imparts a wonderful dark tone, while at the same time preserving enough strength for modest structural use. The next step will be to do some formal strength testing.” The thermally-modified ash was kindly donated by UK importer Morgan Timber and U.S. exporter Northland Forest Products, who produce the TMT under the commercial name ‘Cambia’. Paul wanting a shed gave us the opportunity to really test the performance of thermally-modified American ash. We believe this technology is a key part of the future for using wood externally. The market is growing and designers and architects want to use wood, but it has to perform well, look good, and last, or it just won’t compete. TMT uses no chemicals, improves stability and has a very low environmental impact relative to other material solutions. So it was amazing to have the shed in the courtyard of the Victoria & Albert Museum in London for six weeks, in all weathers. The public reaction was huge and, to top it all, Paul came to the launch. He loved it and was especially delighted that we had taken up the challenge he set us to make the shed rotate! Thermal-modification opens

potential spaces for TM hardwoods. Composite decking products tend to be commonly specified, however treated softwoods or cedar are also used. Thermally-modified hardwoods have the potential to replace both, particularly for those building on the waterfront. The potential for thermallymodified American hardwoods is certainly promising, both in established markets as well as in developing ones. Somewhat limited availability may be a constraining factor for the immediate future, but this is changing very quickly, as producers adopt the technology across the United States, Canada and also in Europe and Asia. As the product becomes better known, it is anticipated that its potential as an alternative option in exterior applications or in wet environments will be exploited widely. Its consistent rich brown color, its dimensional stability, resistance to decay and its environmental credentials all point to it being one of the most exciting new products the wood industry has been able to offer in recent years. With the current vogue for timber cladding and decking, as well as exterior timber structures and street furniture, we hope to see American hardwoods featured in an even wider range of applications in the near future.

Image ÂŠ Petr Krejci

The potential for thermally-modified American hardwoods is certainly promising, both in established markets as well as in developing ones.

up tremendous opportunities for manufacturers of wood products. The improved moisture resistance and dimensional stability of thermally-modified hardwoods make them an excellent option for wood flooring in spaces where solid wood flooring has traditionally been ruled out for reasons such as contact with water. Whilst, engineered wood floors have been substituted in many of these areas, strip or plank flooring made from thermallymodified hardwood lumber may be a solution to growing the available market for solid wood flooring. There is also an opportunity for furniture manufacturers to produce wooden outdoor furniture made from TM hardwoods and offer it as an alternative to traditional species, such as teak. In principle, hardwood furniture could be made from lowercost species, such as ash, red oak, tulipwood and soft maple. Thermally-modified hardwoods also offer the possibility to produce more specialized wood products for those consumers looking for something unique in their homes. For instance, thermally-modified wood has been used to replace tiles on a shower floor. In Europe, TM wood has also been commonly used in spas for sauna benches because of its durability and low heat transfer. Homes with decks, balconies and patios are also

Image ÂŠ Petr Krejci

AMERICAN HARDWOODS 49

April 2015

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April 2015

DESIGN & DECOR

Rotating rooms give Sharifi-ha House a shape-shifting facade

Image ÂŠ Salar Motahari

Innovative design by Next Office echoes the architecture of old Iranian mansions

April 2015

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52 DESIGN & DECOR while during the winters the residents can protect themselves from the moody weather and poor daylight by turning the rooms inwards. “Like many other urban plots, the land for this project had a noticeably narrow façadewidth compared with its length. Consequently, our expertise in transforming a two-dimensional façade to a three-dimensional one became indispensable. Here, the openness / closure of the building volume is a reference to traditional Iranian houses, which would dynamically serve as seasonal modes of habitation by offering both a Zemestan-Neshin (winter living room) and TaabestanNeshin (summer living room) to their residents,” remarked Alireza Taghaboni, the lead architect on this project. In summertime, Sharifi-ha house offers an open, transparent and perforated volume with wide, large terraces. In contrast, during Tehran’s cold, snowy winters the volume closes itself, offering minimal openings in total absence of those wide summer terraces. In this project, the challenges to the concepts of open/closed

typology (introverted/extroverted character) led to the exciting spatial transformation of an ever-changing residential building. The three pods house a breakfast room on the first floor, a guest room on the second floor, and a home office on the third floor. Each one features a door at the side that provides access to the terrace when they are turned open, and access to the house when they are closed. Further, terraces have also been designed with foldable balustrades that tilt up or down as the pods are being rotated, to accommodate the changeable facade. The house is distributed over seven floors: the two basement floors are allocated to family conviviality, fitness facilities, and wellness areas, while the ground floor hosts parking and housekeeping rooms. Public activities all happen on the first and second floors, and the family’s private life takes place on the

third and fourth floors. According to the architects, the project consisted of four major parts - the fixed volume of the structure, the void, and the fixed volume and the mobile volume, respectively. When the turning boxes are closed, the building captures sunlight throughout the space of the central void, which also connects the two fixed volumes by suspended bridges. The house adapts to the functional needs of its residents. For instance, depending on whether there is a guest or not, the guest room (located on the second floor) can be reconfigured for different purposes. Similarly, the home office and breakfast room (turning rooms on the first and third floors) can change the formality of their appearance according to their residents’ desire. In other words, there is always the possibility of having different seasonal or lighting scenarios, some of which

The modern interpretation of this, however, lets the Sharifi-ha house adapt to the changing weather conditions in Tehran with just the push of a button.

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April 2015

Image © Parham Taghioff

Uncertainty and flexibility lie at the heart of the design concept in the Sharifi-ha house. The sensational, spatial qualities of the interiors, as well as the formal configuration of its exterior, directly respond to the displacement of turning boxes that lead the building volume to become open or closed, obtaining introverted or extroverted character. These changes may occur according to changing seasons or functional scenarios of floor plans. Designed by Tehran studio Next Office, the house features three rooms that can be rotated 90 degrees to open up views and terraces during Iran’s hot summers, and turned back to a horizontal position to keep the house warmer during the cold, snowy winters. The innovative design actually echoes the architecture of old Iranian mansions, many of which had both summer and winter living rooms, or were otherwise dependent on the different climate zones in Iran. The modern interpretation of this, however, lets the Sharifi-ha house adapt to the changing weather conditions in Tehran with just the push of a button. Its wide terraces can be opened up during the summer,

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54 DESIGN & DECOR

In summertime, Sharifi-ha house offers an open, transparent and perforated volume with wide, large terraces. In contrast, during Tehran’s cold, snowy winters the volume closes itself, offering minimal openings in total absence of those wide summer terraces. daylight for the basement floors by inserting a glass fountain. The fitness and wellness areas are accommodated between this fountain and the basement pool where reflective installations reverberate the water’s radiance all over the space,” added Taghaboni. The motorized turntables that the pods rest on were made by German company - Bumat using a system that theater sets

and car exhibitions also rely on. Interestingly, steel companies and the shipping industry in Iran also use the same mechanism. Given that the client was already importing CNC and other similar industrial German machines, he preferred the structural system to be fabricated in Germany. In doing so, he could engage his employees in the manufacturing process and thus train them for future

Image © Next Office

have been already considered in the BMS program of the project. “From the initial design steps, we noticed that three pine trees outside could be incorporated into the spaces of the interior. In the open mode of the house, the trees are pleasantly captured by the window frames. Stepping back for about three meters from the permitted construction boundary line allowed us to provide splendid

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April 2015

maintenance purposes. In addition, details of the handrails and airpenetration controlling methods were major issues considered in developing the design of the turning boxes. As such, designing foldable handrails and refining the edges of the boxes happened to be the only feasible solution. “Considering the specialties of this kind of architecture, the structural system was inevitably a customized one. After digitally modeling the structure, a series of SAP2000 analysis were undertaken to examine static/ dynamic performance of the proposed system. Being partially moveable is the dominant feature of this structural assembly, which was contemplated throughout the fabrication process by the German manufacturer company. The main loads all rest on the beams of the living rooms. Due to the various configurations the turning boxes may take, the loading calculation has been estimated based on the largest possible loading value applied to the system. Additionally, in order to prevent structural deformation controlling the probable vibrations in the turning boxes was taken into account during the design/calculations of the structure,” concludes Taghaboni.

Image ÂŠ Parham Taghioff

DESIGN & DECOR 55

Project Details Project Name Sharifi-ha House

Client

Mojgan Zare Nayeri, Farshad Sharifi Nikabadi

Location

Tehran, Iran

Designer

Alireza Taghaboni

Project timeline 2010-2013

Dimensions 1,400 sqm

Construction

Imen Sazeh Fadak Consulting Engineers

Structural Design Sohrab Falahi

Mechanical Consultant Hoofar Esmaeili

Image ÂŠ Parham Taghioff

Rotating System

April 2015

Bumat Company

Photography Credits

Parham Taghioff, Salar Motahari, Majid Jahangiri

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56 DESIGN & DECOR

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April 2015

DESIGN & DECOR 57

Zemberek Design Office shapes Vigoss R&D studio with curvilinear forms Smoked oak and concrete combine to make the studio a great, minimalist background for working with and focusing on the product space utilizes materials, such as wooden flooring and fluid concrete walls, paired with natural and artificial lighting to direct attention to the products on display. Drawers built into the pits also allow for neatly hidden storage to maintain the minimalist and restrained atmosphere. The result is a studio without precedent, and one that will surely give rise to an assuredly unique working environment. Zemberek have created a fabulously functional working space for the designers and other team members who needed large flat surfaces to spread out the products, materials and accessories; easy

Image © Şafak Emrence

Arguably one of the most architecturally forward workplaces anywhere, Zemberek Design Office was asked to design the denim research and development studio for Vigoss Jeans and Bulur Textiles, a textile company in Istanbul. Based on the concept of a fluid working space and facilitation of dynamic interactions between co-workers and with items on display, the space is designed in a curvilinear style with no fixed desk spaces for employees, while providing easy access to the company’s products on the wall. Featuring recessed pits with communal seating and tables, the

April 2015

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Image © Şafak Emrence

58 DESIGN & DECOR

access to the hanging pieces on the racks; and as much freedom to move around as possible. In this type of work, conventional desks, tables, chairs and standard space division will hinder rather than help, which is why the Zemberek team took a different approach. The space has been designed as an R&D studio within the headquarters of Vigoss. According

to Zemberek Design Office, the design concept was built on the physical relations among the users (R & D personnel), products, accessories, and the materials. Their observations lead them to the conclude that the actions of sitting, walking, working, evaluating the products by comparisons, performed in ordinary levels and locations, were limiting the functions of the

Image © Şafak Emrence

The 250 sqm studio opened last year and is part of the 8,000 sqm Vigoss/Bulur production and warehousing facilities located in Güneşli Kavşağı.

R&D team. There was a need then to design a space where flexibility of working in motion and accessing the whole volume instead of using a limited area is possible. The concept was based on the suggestion of establishing a platform where it is possible to expand the possibilities instead of using a desk that limits the size of the useable space and accessibility. The 250 sqm studio opened last year and is part of the 8,000 sqm Vigoss/Bulur production and warehousing facilities located in Güneşli Kavşağı. “We aimed to free the actions

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April 2015

of sitting, working while in motion, leaning, meeting, easily accessing the hangers, and observing the products (denims, fabrics, accessories, etc.) from different distances and lots of them together, instead of defining the locations of the actions. It was intended to increase and diversify the possibilities of the way of interactions of the users with each other and the space,” says Başak Emrence, Partner at Zemberek Office Design. In this connection, the elevations between 0 and 80 cm were separated from each other with different area intensities, and turned into platforms for the mentioned activities without boundaries. The curvilinear form supported the sustainability of fluent and flexible movement. As such, the architects have made it easier to focus on products by the selection of a small palette of materials and have also provided different variations and levels of artificial and natural lighting. “The R&D studio escapes the centrifugal force of Istanbul’s typical contemporary interior design (handsome but too often repeated). In the best sense, the studio resembles a bunker, with all its functional economy. This industrial sensibility suits both its use, as a jeans and fashion atelier, and its context, an 8,000 sqm brand

DESIGN & DECOR 59 opening sightlines and improving overall vision. Gently curving forms dominate the space that is visually homogenous and divided only by different levels horizontally, rather than by partitions, so that the entire area can be used for displaying, viewing and comparing products - mostly jeans and other clothing items. The limited selection of materials - mainly smoked oak and concrete - makes this studio a great, minimalist background for working with and focusing on the product. Image © Şafak Emrence

headquarters amidst warehouses and production facilities in Güneşli Kavşağı, some 30 km from central Istanbul,” added Emrence. Architects from the Zemberek Design Office - Başak Emrence, Şafak Emrence and Ece Ilgın Avcı have made sure the project works the way it looks: R&D in the middle is belted by workspace, and the results (jeans and other garments) line the perimeter walls. Essentially, they replaced the standard vertical partitioning of such a studio with horizontal steps, generously

In the best sense, the studio resembles a bunker, with all its functional economy.

Project Details Project Name

Vigoss R&D Studio

Client Vigoss

Location

Güneşli, İstanbul, Turkey

Architectural Design Zemberek Design Office

Başak Emrence, Şafak Emrence, Ece Ilgın Avcı

Dimensions 250 sqm

Image © Şafak Emrence

Design Team

April 2015

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60 COMMENT

Design Days Dubai, held under the patronage of His Highness Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai, and held in partnership with Dubai Culture, wrapped up its fourth edition as its most successful to date. The event, which presents purchasable and highly desirable works of modern and contemporary design, staged a record breaking fair for 2015; attracting increased visitor numbers of 13,500 people and having featured 150 designers and more

Image © Design Days Dubai

Design Days Dubai completes its fourth and most successful edition to date

than 780 items from 44 exhibitors across 20 countries. Fair Director, Cyril Zammit, said: “We are proud that in 2015, Design Days Dubai continues to increase its visitor numbers and was again the world’s most diverse international design fair, with a wide range of exhibitors and designers. With a broad selection of large-scale installations, sculptural works, and limited edition design - nearly 50 percent of which was presented by homegrown talent - Dubai has

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April 2015

reinforced its position as a global center for innovative design.” Exhibiting galleries and designers reported strong interest and sales over the course of the fair, citing the development of broad international and regional networks as a large drawcard of Design Days Dubai. Many have already reconfirmed their returning participation for the 2016 edition. In 2015, the Middle East and South Asia’s only collectable design fair presented an expanded Public

Programme of 13 free-to-attend hands-on workshops and 9 talks with leading design experts to capacity crowds. Sponsored by Dubai Culture and Dubai Design District (d3), the Dubai Design Days Public Programme saw participants experience and discuss design processes, theory and trends with designers from the UAE, Italy, Morocco, Taiwan and more. Over the course of the five-day fair, more than 560 participants took part in the Public Programme, it’s highest turn-out yet.

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62 COMMENT

‘DREAM’ CHAISE LOUNGE

Image © Fiona Barratt-Campbell

The French Biscarrat brothers, self-described as ‘Blacksmith Designers’, are known for their wrought iron creations. As members of the Ateliers d’Art de France, Olivier and Jean-Benoit have made a name for themselves with their high quality and carefully crafted pieces. For Design Days Dubai, they have been chosen for inclusion due to their exquisitely detailed work with wood. The chaise lounge, which is made of oak with a forged steel base, is designed to contour the body in style and is a perfect depiction of man exerting his will over the beauty of nature and forming it into a desired shape and image.

VALET Image © Atelier Rouge Cerise

Made from oak, bronze, brass and crocodile skin, Fiona BarrattCampbell designed the Men’s Valet in collaboration with the world renowned fashion designer Alexander McQueen for the Wallpaper* Handmade exhibition at Salone del Mobile. Renowned for her distinctive, textural design and skill in combining geometrically strong contemporary pieces with a broad mix of sculptural and textural finishes, the Men’s Valet is an example of British furniture making at its finest. The valet includes two USB-charging ports, a tray for gadgets, a pull-out tie and belt holder, a shoe horn and a shoe stand. The manufacturing techniques showcase traditional methods. Powderhall Bronze foundry carried out the lost wax casting of the hanger and shoe horn, which were modeled at Alexander McQueen and hand-carved at Nicklin, whose craftsmen also engraved an ivy pattern on the stand’s reverse.

Like all of Christopher Duffy’s designs, the Abyss Table is a conversation piece as much as a functional one. But while previous works play with gravity, this new design is concerned with depth, and creates a geological crosssection as mesmerizing as the sea. The design team spent a year developing the table in their London studio, experimenting with sculpted glass, Perspex and wood, arranged like a 3D representation of a geological map, until they recreated something of the mesmeric abyss that had first captured Duffy’s imagination. The coffee table is limited to just 25 pieces.

Image © Adam Goodrun

Image © Christopher Duffy

ABYSS TABLE

BIRDSMOUTH TABLE Designed by Adam Goodrun, the Birdsmouth Table is a highly functional and symbolic piece. Taking its name from the Birdsmouth mast, which was invented in the mid nineteenth century, it incorporates a central tool of empire, the mast, into a beautiful jewelry-like element that punctuates the Chippendale inspired tabletop at each of the leg standing points. The table has eight legs, each with a brass castor, and six drawers lined with kangaroo skin and develops the dominant trend in high-design tables, of minimalist sculptural statements with the tabletop being the only functional element, in its incorporation of moving elements - in this instance six drawers and castors. By carefully uniting a selection of mechanical and formal influences Goodrum has created a table that is mobile, eccentric and highly functional. www.timberdesignandtechnology.com

April 2015

COMMENT 63

Image © Maximo Riera

DISTORTED ARABESQUE The ‘Distorted Arabesque’ sofa is a limited edition piece specially designed to first be seen at Design Days Dubai. In addition, Nada Debs exhibited a synopsis of her 10 years worth of work by presenting the brand’s iconic pieces and her evolution as a contemporary craft designer. The selected pieces narrate the growth of the brand’s identity/character since its inception. The combination of craftsmanship and contemporary design is key to create a unique and modern Arab identity for Nada Debs. The interest in the craft comes from the growing belief that craft plays a dynamic role in our region’s social, economic, and cultural life. Craft practice adds a human element to each of the products, which promotes the ‘hand-made’, and celebrates the notion of human engagement in the making process.

WINGS OF LIFE CONSOLE

Image © Nada Debs

The Wings of Life limited edition console is a part of the Millennial Consoles collection by Maximo Riera, which combines ancient natural wood with modern man-made materials to stunning effect. Each console is made using lifeless debris from millenarian olive trees from the south of Spain. Manufactured from trees that are sourced as a whole, only two or three consoles can be obtained from each tree. The preparation process involves removing the tree sap, drying the tree, and stripping it of its bark. The ancient wood is then treated and polished and placed on a custommade metallic structure.

Image © Jingjing Naihan Li

MOBILE BAR AND THE EDIT VALET Jingjing Naihan Li is an architect-turned-furniture-designer whose works reflects what she calls ‘the moody impracticality of globe-trotting.’ Her best-known series, titled ‘The CRATES’ was inspired by the shipping crates used for transporting artwork and her own experience living in “Beijing’s shifting urban playground where industrial and artist spaces are quickly discovered and soon destroyed,” as she says. The works in ‘The CRATES’ are modular items of everyday furniture - such as bookshelves, beds, and armchairs - that fold up into compact crates for easy transportation. Located in Caochangdi, Li’s home studio is an extension of her work as a designer. She’d always dreamed about having a space in which she could both live and work, but the impermanence of modern Beijing life made it difficult. At any time, her studio might be demolished, a reality faced by many artists in China. The idea for CRATES was thus born. When she moved into her current location in Caochangdi, she extended her ideas as she was faced with new challenges. She found herself inspired by her living space, and her daily life presented an ever-growing array of challenges that became the catalyst for further designs achievements. She gradually added kitchen, bedroom, and leisure elements. The CRATES now include a mobile bar, an entertainment center, and a kitchen unit. The newest addition to ‘The CRATES’ Stainless Steel series is the Mobile Bar, an entertaining center and a kitchen unit with concealed drawers and detachable serving trays as well as champagne holder. Li continues to design the solutions to fulfill those needs for the purpose of housing and living. This surprising new piece gives an industrialized look but open to a subtle sensibility through the use of walnut. A comprehensive exhibition of a classic gentleman’s discerning taste, Li’s ‘The Edit’ is a clothes valet displaying every separate piece of an ensemble from hats to shirts and ties to shoes. Accompanied by a fulllength mirror and a grooming mirror, it allows one to prepare the best outfit for any special occasion without any hurry or fuss. Made from stainless steel, ‘The Edit’ valet features a dark brown walnut interior and an exterior with a mirror finish. April 2015

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64 COMMENT

KONSAIR DESK

Image © Li Xibin

German designer Ruediger Weidemann’s Konsair desk is made of cherry and plain wood, and raw waxed steel. An imposing, yet highly functional item, it perfectly reflects the theme of the Cities’ exhibit as it depicts nature and man working in harmony; the wood and steel materials are highlighted by the clean-cut design. Each element works in tandem to create a cohesive and visually appealing piece.

Image © Ruediger Weidemann

THE SOUND THERAPIST

Aljoud Lootah is a multi-disciplinary designer based in Dubai, whose work explores the realms of product design and bespoke corporate gifts. With a keen interest in the idea of contrasts in form and function, she composes her creations by mixing traditional silhouettes and concepts with modern elements. For Design Days Dubai 2015, these interests are further explored through the use of forms and patterns. The ‘Oru Series’ features a collection of geometric furniture and decorative objects, which take inspiration from origami forms. The name ‘Oru’ originates from the Japanese words ‘to fold’, and the idea behind the design is to show that folding a flat, two-dimensional sheet can create aesthetically appealing functional three-dimensional forms. The multi-faceted products (cabinet, chair, lamp and decorative mirror) with their complex folds coupled with sophisticated simplicity, are a modern interpretation of an ancient form of art.

Image © Aljoud Lootah

ALJOUD LOOTAH

Li Xibin’s ‘The Sound Therapist’ is a set of hand-crated hi-fi speakers realized with traditional woodwork (fully absent of metal joints or structural components) in white rubber wood and hand-polished brass or ebony details (knobs and feet). Handcrafted using traditional Chinese Sŭn Măo structures to connect each piece of wood, the shells of the speakers have been made without any screws, maintaining the integrity of the wood for perfect harmony. The loudspeakers are available in two designs, with a choice of two colors - a natural finish and a dark finish, which is obtained using a long processed layering of Chinese ink rather than regular paint. Each speaker comes in its own unique wooden case with each edition bringing a ‘birth date and certificate’. The first series of speakers, called ‘Memory Recovery’, is an attempt to help people recover lost memories.

TROPICAL NOIRE

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Image © Simone Brewster

Simone Brewster’s Tropical Noire is a new collection of large, interior, sculptural vessels, which have been crafted out of a mix of tulipwood and stacked birch plywood and have been sculpted employing traditional hand-lathing. Rangeing from 42cm to 86cm in height, each item displays a distinct characteristic linking back to its inspiration, which sought to combine organic forms within nature with that of totemic statues and traditional Grecian and African containers. The resulting objects redolently echo Sub Saharan African sculpture and colonial artifacts, whilst remaining contemporary in their confident translation and application to geometric figures. This collection clearly displays Brewster’s signature bold style of both ethnic and architectural elements. April 2015

April 2015

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66 TECHNOLOGY

Canducci and Mayr-Melnhof combine strengths to realize project in record time

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April 2015

Image ÂŠ Anantara

Banana Island Resort: A glulam success story

TECHNOLOGY 67 and low pressure was a challenge. The design also had to take into account the logistic challenges of bringing the beams from Europe and the onsite installation in a difficult environment. The high level of prefabrication of the glulam elements in Austria, and millimeterexact dimensions, with a very short delivery time, made the project feasible. The stunning structure of the Welcome Center, together with some other buildings at the resort, was realized by Canducci Holzservice of Italy, with the glulam manufactured by Mayr-Melnhof Holz of Austria, the largest manufacturer of glulam in Europe. According to the engineers at Canducci, aesthetics was definitely a key factor in the selection of glulam for the project. Not only did a glulam structure best suit the needs of such project but it also contributed

Welcome Center installation. Things didn’t always go smoothly: strong winds delayed the transport of the working materials by sea from the mainland for a number of days. Nevertheless, great teamwork from all involved and the invaluable support of Urbacon ensured that the overall schedule was not delayed. The Welcome Center occupies a surface of 1,200m² and reaches 18m at its highest point. Around 180m³ of spruce glulam, and about 7 tonnes of steel were used in this construction. Installation on-site involved firstly assembling the big arches on the ground on the island, and then the glulam structures were installed in less than 10 days, and the roof decking was put under the purlins at a later stage. Looking closer at the production process we find that before the glulam beams were produced, the installation manager together with the designers simulated each stage of the installation and evaluated if the design choices worked correctly. Canducci then made the drawings for every single glulam and steel element to be produced, as well as for every single joint.

Image © Canducci Holzservice

The high level of prefabrication of the glulam elements in Austria, and millimeter-exact dimensions, with a very short delivery time, made the project feasible.

to a faster installation time given that small adjustments of the glulam elements onsite could be processed faster as opposed to if the structure was made of steel. Given the global trend of specifying sustainable materials, it made sense to incorporate timber in this project. As always in such projects, time was of the essence. The coordination of the project activities had to be exact to keep costs as low as possible. The first step involved Canducci converting the architect’s design and specifications for the Welcome Center into a working project. The list of glulam elements to be produced were integrated into a 3D model of the project, created using a mathematical algorithm allowing no room for error. Mayr-Melnhof’s factory in Reuthe, Western Austria - one of the group’s 4 glulam facilities - manufactured about 250m3 of beams in four weeks, in September 2013. Canducci also looked after the on-site installation, meeting the logistic challenges that only an island location presents. A 12-man team from Canducci was on-site, 7 of them were dedicated to the

Image © Canducci Holzservice

One of the latest jewels in the Gulf’s fine crown of luxury tourist resorts is the Banana Island Resort Doha by Anantara. What makes this resort different from a number of high quality offerings in the Gulf area is the spectacular use of glulam on the island. As you approach the resort by speedboat, the Welcome Center with its elegant spruce glulam arches is the immediate focal point, and tells the visitor that this resort has something special to offer. Designed by the architect Dan Bube, Banana Island Resort was realized by Urbacon Trading & Contracting as the design and build contractor, and was opened in early 2015. The Welcome Center design presented engineers with a number of challenges, including fire resistance requirements and wind pressure load control - in particular the distribution of wind load through parabolic pressure

April 2015

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This documentation, together with the 3D project design was given to the installation team. During the installation, the manager was constantly in contact with the general site manager to manage in the best possible way the equipment and avoid unwanted overlaps. Canducci periodically sent its engineers onsite to check the correct progress and the quality of the works. The most remarkable elements of the building are without doubt

the front and rear facades, where a high load pressure had to be taken into account to find a structural solution that was able to guarantee sufficient weight-bearing capacity for the windows and suitable stiffening of the wind bracing. A solution was found together with the architectural director, whereby the precise location of the arches and struts compensated for and absorbed the deformation posed by the windows anchoring system. Despite the harsh weather

to Urbacon for the opportunity to prove that glulam technology can be used successfully in the Gulf region. Urbacon and the architect displayed a bold vision - one that has been successfully realized by the synergies between Canducci Holzservice and Mayr-Melnhof Holz, which combined Italian flair for design with the production precision of Europe’s leading glulam manufacturer. With the sort of vision that Urbacon have displayed on Banana Island, and their ability to establish working partnerships with specialist companies like the Canducci - MayrMelnhof partnership, the prospects for further success in glulam construction in the Middle East look bright.

Image © Canducci Holzservice

The Welcome Center occupies a surface of 1,200m² and reaches 18m at its highest point. Around 180m³ of spruce glulam, and about 7 tonnes of steel were used in this construction.

conditions in Doha, Canducci are confident of the durability of the glulam beams. According to their engineers, the climate in Doha does not differ a lot from the climate in Sicily, Italy. As such, no special treatment was needed for the glulam except for a standard clear impregnation agent to protect against insects and termites. Further, the insides of the glulam structures do not need particular maintenance, whilst outdoor parts require a protection treatment (by spray or by brush) every one or two years, depending on the exposure to the sun, in order to maintain initial aesthetics. Looking at the end result, both Canducci & Mayr-Melnhof are very proud of the result, and are grateful

Image © Canducci Holzservice

68 TECHNOLOGY

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WHERE IDEAS CAN GROW.

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Image © RLP

70 TECHNOLOGY

Reach higher with wood: 84 meter, 24-storey ‘HoHo’ tower Rüdiger Lainer and Partner set to build the world’s tallest wooden skyscraper Architecture firm Rüdiger Lainer and Partner (RLP) has unveiled plans to build the world’s tallest wooden skyscraper in the Seestadt Aspern area of Vienna. The 84m, 24-storey twin tower project dubbed ‘HoHo’ will house a hotel, apartments, a restaurant, a wellness center and offices. 76 percent of the structure will be constructed from wood, which will save a phenomenal 2,800 tonnes of CO2 emissions over similar structures built out of steel and concrete. According to the architects, wood is very popular in Austria as a building material, especially in rural areas. And with good reason: wood is a resource that is produced faster than it is consumed, and is now one of the most affordable

materials with a high emotive quality. In addition, excellent Austrian engineering services for timber facilitate its implementation in construction. Current technical possibilities offer opportunities for the use of wood as a key element in highrise construction. In light of these positive developments, RLP has developed its wooden skyscraper concept, which is nearing approval for construction in Vienna. This project will be realized by the real estate developer cetus Baudevelopment GmbH, under the dedicated leadership of Caroline Palfy. At the time of its proposed construction start in the fall of 2015, the tower will be the highest building made of wood in the world.

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April 2015

The completion for the tower, which will comprise 24 levels, is expected in 2017 and the cost of development for the Kerbler Group is EUR 65 million. Upon completion, the project will snatch the title as the world’s tallest timber structure from Melbourne’s Forte, which currently stands at 32m high.

Concept According to RLP, the basic approach is to combine a timber structural and construction system with an efficient building layout. In comparison with pure timber construction, the ‘HoHo’ tower will demonstrate the advantages of a hybrid construction: supporting concrete cores are used for vertical access and supply. The self-supporting timber structural

system is then secured to these cores, creating the volumes for the building’s varied uses. All of the materials will be utilized to best suit the different requirements of structural engineering, fire protection, flexibility, economy and spatial quality. In this way, the fundamental requirements for the use of a high-rise building - with its strict building regulations - can be met. Further, the architects estimate that up to 76 percent of the building from the ground floor up will be made of wood.

Urban design The project is located in the heart of Vienna’s urban lakeside in the northeast part of the city. It sits in a prime location between the

TECHNOLOGY

The timber construction system provides high efficiency in terms of thermal insulation and serviceability. Wood-composite floors are secured to the central concrete supporting cores, and extend out to the building edge. These floor panels are supported by a wooden column system around the outline of the building. This structure then supports prefabricated external wall modules that combine solid wood panels with an ‘earthy’ concrete shell to form the building’s facade. The inside surfaces of the exposed wood ceilings, columns and the outer wall create a sensual, natural atmosphere. The modular design and flexibility of use result in a high building serviceability. Serviced apartments, offices, restaurant and spa facilities are provided within the tower. Further, subsequent changes in user or building function can be performed efficiently. The sustainability of the new wooden tower results from the pooling of conceptual approaches: wood is resource-efficient, also in terms of the embodied energy. The flexible and adaptable layout ensures that the wood tower can be used for a long time - this longevity is an essential factor in the consideration of efficient sustainability. And as established in the concept of RLP for the highrise building, the goal is to ensure that economy and ecology become mutually beneficial. “Other buildings in England or Sweden very often have a rigid solid

Architecture In the high-rise building in Aspern’s Urban Lakeside, the use of wood provides a sensual experience. Wood in it’s truest sense forms an appreciable part of the spatial atmosphere that will contribute to the well being of the users. For users and pedestrians alike, the wooden skyscraper is a physical and emotive part of everyday life in the city district. The prefabricated external wall modules permit a sculptural and richly varied facade design. The variations on the basic architectural theme of open and closed area offer both open views and intimacy. These variations are accentuated rhythmically and are connected by a facade texture to enrich the ambience within Vienna’s urban lakeside.

Building with wood The use of wood for modern high-rise structures is not unprecedented, although the HoHo tower will be the world’s tallest by a considerable margin. The Forte Development,

Image © RLP

Sustainability and flexibility

wall structure, and support only mono-functional typologies. We on the other hand have developed a flexible system which achieves the standard of a passive house,” said Architect Univ. Prof. DI Rüdiger Lainer of RLP.

Project Details Client

Area to let

Architects

Height

Gross floor area

Investment

cetus Baudevelopment GmbH

Rüdiger Lainer+Partner (RLP)

25,000 sqm

19,500 sqm

84 meters

EUR 65 million

a 10-storey residential complex in Melbourne, Australia, was completed in 2013 and was hailed as the tallest of its type. The 14-storey ‘Trehus’ tower in Bergen, Norway, then surpassed it last year. However, the tallest wooden building in the world is not a modern skyscraper, but the 67-metertall Sakyamuni Pagoda in China’s Shanxi province. Built in 1056, it has withstood numerous earthquakes over the years and stands the equivalent of about 20 storeys. The project has, along with other high-rise buildings in Vienna, attracted concerns from politicians, who have described its height as ‘exorbitant’ and complained they were not being filled. However Katrina Riedl, spokeswoman for the ÖVP, the Austrian People’s party, defended the latest project. “Vienna is not a skyscraper city, but innovation is part of our city and why not try new things,” she said. As such, the Image © RLP

Lake Park and the square next to the subway stop. This central area of the new city district is being developed based on the urban concept of RLP. The varying heights of the tower volumes, derived from the requirements of urban planning, are the defining elements of an urban silhouette along the lake. Of course a consideration is made not just for the wooden tower’s appearance from afar, but its contribution to everyday life in Vienna’s urban lakeside. As such, the lower levels are extended with a sheltering canopy to provide pedestrians and users with an experience of the building on a human scale.

developers expect preparations for construction to begin in late autumn this year. April 2015

www.timberdesignandtechnology.com

72 WOOD WORKS

The ‘Haywire’ chandelier by David Krynauw

www.timberdesignandtechnology.com

April 2015

A signature piece sold exclusively via the Southern Guild collection, the ‘Haywire’ chandelier has sold successfully at some of the top collectable design fairs around the world such as Design Days Dubai, Design Miami and Design Miami/ Basel. Awarded the ‘Object that moves award’ at Guild Design Fair (Cape Town) and also selected as one ‘Global in designs’ at 100% Design London, the piece is extremely versatile and can be scaled up and customized to any size with endless possibilities. Designed by David Krynauw and hand made from solid timber, each arm can swivel 360 degrees independently to achieve various arrangements. According to Krynauw, the design is a product of the fascination with functionality and the technical capabilities of certain materials. The form was thus predicted by these parameters and never looked at from an aesthetic point of view.

“The Haywire evolved from one of my basic existing table lamps, when I explored the boundaries of a simple concept. This was on the urging of the brief to design without the obstruction of cost, when I was honored with an invitation to design a limited edition piece for a Southern Guild collection,” says Kyrnauw. “I feel that the purest form of design is when the practical and technical aspects of certain materials determine the form and shape of a product. The Haywire is a perfect example of this.” Due to the tremendous amount of technical challenges, the Haywire has taken Krynauw four years to develop and perfect. Produced in his workship in Johannesburg, South Africa, Krynauw is involved in the manufacturing and assembly process and has personally witnessed the improvement in each unit completed. Thanks to its scalability and versatility, the

Looking ahead, a wider range is in development to fully compliment the Haywire. Currently, the product is available exclusively via the Southern Guild collection www.southernguild.co.za and will be on display at Design Days Dubai, Design Miami Basel, Design Miami and Guild (Cape Town). “I am a furniture designer aspiring to always design with integrity. As long as I enjoy what I am doing, I believe there will always be an audience to appreciate my work. My furniture looks deceptively simple, but the focus is to showcase the material by making the art of production as fine as possible, with uncompromising attention to detail as every piece passes through my hands. I am always growing as a designer. The idea is to let my designs be a direct reflection of where I am in life. As I grow as a person and a manufacturer so too, will the body of my work,” concludes Krynauw.

Designed by David Krynauw and hand made from solid timber, each arm can swivel 360 degrees independently to achieve various arrangements.

potential for further development is almost endless, and he is excited to see where and how this product will grow in the near future. “I work with various timbers, both local to South Africa and imported timbers. The first production of the Haywire Black was a prototype for my own home. In order to stay environmentally friendly, I used locally grown Jacaranda, which is an invasive species to South Africa,” explains Krynauw. “Thereafter, I used American ash because of the way that it shows its grain, even after the ebonizing process. I wanted to create an illusion - creating something that looked as if it was made out of steel, but upon closer inspection the surprise element of the timber would be revealed.” According to Krynauw, the concept root is present in a table and standing lamp that acted as the original inspiration for the Haywire, called the Lure lamps.

WOOD WORKS 73

April 2015

www.timberdesignandtechnology.com

74 INDUSTRY FOCUS

Dubai WoodShow Preview As the region’s leading and only dedicated business-to-business meeting place for the wood, wood accessories and woodworking machinery industry, the Dubai WoodShow 2014 attracted 8,349 high quality trade professionals from 95 countries across the globe. The participating exhibitors included 500 brands, suppliers and manufacturers representing 40 countries and covered a total of 13,428 square meters of exhibition space. Driven by the surging construction activities in the GCC, with an estimate of USD 2.4 trillion in 2014, regional wood product imports have witnessed an unprecedented growth. This buoyant outlook for the construction sector in the Middle East and North African region, promises an exciting and positive outlook for Dubai WoodShow 2015. Ahead of the show, we take a look at some of the key international and regional exhibitors who will be taking part in the Dubai WoodShow 2015.

Allegheny Wood Products is a family owned business with ten state of the art sawmills, six dry kiln facilities, a hardwood pellet mill (Appalachian Wood Pellets), and a dimension plant (Allegheny Dimension). Seven sawmills are located in West Virginia, one in Ohio, and one in Pennsylvania. With an annual kiln-dried production of approximately 84 million board feet (198,215 cubic meters), AWP can supply customers across the globe with a wide range of species and thicknesses including red oak, poplar, white oak, soft maple, cherry, hard maple, hickory, ash, and basswood. The company has always believed that the resource is the key to the future and utilizes a combination of both company timberlands and an additional 1 billion bdft of long-term wood supply agreements with small private landowners as well as with large timberland owners. Marketing products worldwide, AWP has developed a reputation for excellence with both service and product quality.

Image © AWP

ALLEGHENY WOOD PRODUCTS

The American Hardwood Export Council (AHEC) is the leading international trade association for the U.S. hardwood industry, representing the committed exporters among U.S. hardwood companies and all the major U.S. hardwood product trade associations. AHEC runs a programme to promote American hardwoods in over 50 export markets, concentrating on providing architects, specifiers, designers and end-users with technical information on the range of species, products and sources of supply. The American Hardwood Pavilion, which will occupy 240 square meters of space at the show, will serve to highlight the variety of American hardwood species while also throwing the spotlight on the benefits of the valueadded processes undertaken to supply such a high quality and high yielding kiln-dried raw material. As such, the event will see the participation of twenty-one U.S. hardwood lumber and veneer exporters.

Image © AHEC

AMERICAN HARDWOOD EXPORT COUNCIL

American softwood timber is marketed internationally under the American Softwoods (AMSO) banner, a promotional partnership formed by three major U.S. softwood timber trade associations: the Softwood Export Council, the Southern Forest Products Association and APA - The Engineered Wood Products Association. AMSO provides marketing and product support services on behalf of American softwood timber products in more than 50 countries worldwide, including the Middle East. In support of these markets, AMSO conducts trade visits, sponsors buyer visits to the U.S., offers technical assistance, conducts and distributes market analyses, and provides advertising and promotional support for American softwood timber products, including exhibiting each year at the Dubai WoodShow and other exhibitions in the region. AMSO’s role is to help designers, builders and buyers in the Middle East, to understand better the advantages of American softwoods. www.timberdesignandtechnology.com

April 2015

Image © AMSO

AMERICAN SOFTWOODS

April 2015

www.timberdesignandtechnology.com

76 INDUSTRY FOCUS

Baillie Lumber is one of North America’s largest hardwood lumber manufactures, distributors and exporters. Founded in 1923 by James A. Baillie, the company has grown from a regional supplier of domestic hardwoods to an international hardwood manufacturer that can ship hardwood lumber to any region of the world. Today, Baillie is a leading provider of hardwood logs, hardwood lumber and proprietary grade hardwood lumber products. Baillie’s hardwood manufacturing facilities are spread north to south in the eastern United States. In addition, partner mills and suppliers in the U.S. and internationally supplement Baillie’s own hardwood manufacturing capabilities thereby giving the company a breadth of specie availability unmatched by other hardwood manufacturers. With sales staff strategically located throughout the world, Baillie is well positioned to be a single source for all your hardwood needs.

BAILLIE LUMBER

Chabros is a leading producer and supplier of wood and veneer and a distributor of a wide range of interior and exterior products that have been specified and used in major high-end projects throughout the Middle East for over 40 years. With an aim to cater to the innovative needs of woodworking professionals, architects and interior designers as well as contractors, Chabros has established overseas production units and distribution points throughout the Middle East Region, targeting businesses that are in search for quality products and exceptional service. In addition to its strong regional presence, Chabros is always devoted to expand its range of products to provide original and fresh design solutions to the market. The company has been in business since the early 1960s, and has evolved to become one of the largest distributors of Wood & Veneer, Parquet & Decking, Marquetry & Mother of Pearl.

CHABROS INTERNATIONAL GROUP

Farlin Timbers FZE, a subsidiary of the globally renowned Farlin Group of Companies, is a leading supplier of timber in the Middle East with a reputation synonymous with quality and reliability among its partners. Dedicated to excellence and customer service, it is little wonder that they are the trusted partner of choice for a wide variety of products, including timber logs, sawn timber, plywood, MDF and panel products from across the world. Farlin Timbers is an integral part of the Farlin Group of Companies - the Singapore based multinational that provides superior quality materials to diverse industries globally. A 24-year legacy of experience has helped forge the Group as a highly successful global organization with a turnover in excess of USD 1 billion and a reputation of integrity, honesty and reliability in the international market. Today, the Farlin Group is an outstanding choice for all building materials and energy sector needs.

FARLIN TIMBERS

The Homag Group is the number one player in the woodworking sector with a global market share of 28 percent on account of its 5,000-strong workforce, 21 of its own sales and service companies, over 100 sales partners on every continent and 15 production locations in Europe, Asia and America. The company offers customers perfectly aligned solutions in the fields of furniture manufacturing, structural elements and timber frame house construction. Offering a stand-alone machine through to complete production lines, the group also provides an array of supporting services and specially tailored control software, which makes its range unique. As the world’s leading manufacturer of wood processing machines, the groups’ high-tech machines and production lines help customers produce home and office furniture, kitchens, parquet and laminate flooring, windows, doors, stairs or even complete wooden house construction systems. www.timberdesignandtechnology.com

April 2015

Image © Homag

HOMAG GROUP

IMDUSTRY FOCUS 77

April 2015

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78 INDUSTRY FOCUS

What began in Stockerau in 1948 is now an international group with currently 53 sites in 16 countries. In Europe, the internationally reputed JAF Group boasts a dense branch network, an enormous variety of products and a constant stock of 20,000 articles, which enables the group to service customer needs. With a product range that comprises around 83,000 articles, covered storage area in excess of 220,000 sqm, the group serves more than 30,000 customers. At present, the group’s product range includes decorative panels, construction panels & boards, sawn timber, timber for construction, decking, floorboards, doors and veneers. Firmly established for many years as Central Europe’s leading supplier for wood based products, the group combines decades of experience of wood and well-founded market knowledge along with product quality, serving as the connection between international customers and procurement markets.

JAF GROUP

Founded in 1963, Linden Lumber has established itself as the premier manufacturer of Southern hardwood lumber through innovation, quality, and dedication to customer service. The company takes pride in the fact that the material processed in its sawmill comes from within a short distance of its facility in Linden, Alabama, which allows them to ensure a quality log supply and an exceptional finished product. Producing red and white oak, white ash, and yellow poplar, the company has developed the expertise to export quality Southern hardwoods across the globe. Further, as a member of both NHLA and AHEC, Linden has also established an international reputation of quality and reliability. With a firm commitment to excellence by ‘Redefining Southern Lumber’, the company has always aimed to meet its customers’ evolving needs by offering random- and pulled-width products, proprietary grades, and more.

LINDEN LUMBER

The Malaysian Timber Council (MTC) was established in January 1992 to promote the development and growth of the Malaysian timber industry. MTC was formed on the initiative of the timber industry and governed by a Board of Trustees, whose members are appointed by the Minister of Plantation Industries & Commodities, Malaysia. MTC’s main objectives are to promote the Malaysian timber trade and develop the market for timber products globally, to promote the development of the industry by upgrading the industry’s manufacturing technology base, to augment the supply of raw materials, to provide information services and to safeguard and promote the Malaysian timber industry’s global image. In 2015, MTC will again participate in the Dubai WoodShow. This will be complemented by trade fairs in other MENA countries such as Algeria, Lebanon, Iran and Saudi Arabia, as well as marketing missions to the region.

Image © MTC

MALAYSIAN TIMBER COUNCIL

Swedish Wood spreads knowledge, provides inspiration and encourages development relating to wood, wood products and wood construction. It has a goal to increase the use of wood in Sweden and in selected international markets through information and inspiration. In addition, Swedish Wood also aims to highlight wood as a competitive, eco-friendly and sustainable material. As a department within the trade and employer organization Swedish Forest Industries Federation - Swedish Wood is supported by the Swedish sawmill sector. Swedish Wood promotes wood and wood products in markets of particular interest to the Swedish sawmill industry. The goal of its international wood promotion program is to increase the value of the Swedish sawmill industry’s exports and to strengthen the image of the Swedish sawmill industry and Swedish wood products abroad. www.timberdesignandtechnology.com

April 2015

SWEDISH WOOD

The definitive event for procuring world-class flooring, wall-covering, surface and finishing products.

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woodworking machinery Made in Germany

Growing with the HOMAG Group

Introducing HOMAG Group’s new sales and service facility in the Middle East The HOMAG Group AG, the worldwide leading manufacturer of woodworking machines and plants has repositioned itself in the Middle East region by setting-up a fully operational sales and service facility in the UAE. Based in Dubai, this new organization officially opened in November 2014 and is stationed at Office 1308, Grosvenor Business Tower in TECOM area. By having a service and sales team at site, the group is very confident that product support and services to its growing customers in the Middle East are assured.

Operating under the company name HOMAG Equipment Machinery Trading LLC (HOMAG EMT) the new team, comprised of highly trained and professionally motivated personnel is led by Mr Giovanni Masino, himself, a seasoned sales and management executive with several years of experience in woodworking industries in the Middle East.

Along with HOMAG group’s network of organizations across the globe, the entire HOMAG EMT team cordially invites you to visit us at the Dubai International Wood and Machinery Show on April 14 - 16, 2015 ( Zabeel Hall, Stand B120 ) as we give you an insider’s view of the latest technological breakthroughs in the woodworking technology.

HOMAG EMT’s focus is the delivery of the best equipped service solutions for the wood machinery sector while at the same time enhancing the efficiency and competiveness of the group’s entire product portfolio in this important and very dynamic market.

We are looking forward to welcoming you:

Za‘abeel Hall, Stand Nr.: B120

For product information or any other inquiry, please get in touch with us at: HOMAG Equipment Machinery Trading LLC Tecom, Grosvenor Business Tower Office 1308 ∙ Dubai, UAE Tel. +971 4 551 9788 ∙ Fax +971 4 551 9799 info@homag-dubai.com

www.homag-group.com www.timberdesignandtechnology.com

April 2015

r.: B120

, Stand N

Hall Za‘abeel

Growing with the HOMAG Group Fit for the future!

PRACTIVE has the solutions you are looking for.

PRACTIVE offers you highly efficient machines and smart software solutions of the HOMAG Group Match each other perfectly, ideal for traditional craft shops and medium-sized companies.

Edge banding machine Highflex 1430 The compact and high-performance edge banding machine

Wide-belt sanding machine SWT 225CC Execute first-class veneer-, calibration- or lacquer sanding with just 2 units

Processing center Venture 109 Perfect for interior fitters of kitchens and office furniture with a cut size of 1550 mm

Edge banding machine Ambition 2270 For each material a good workpiece quality

HOMAG Equipment Machinery Trading LLC Tecom, Grosvenor Business Tower · Office 1308 Dubai, UAE Tel. +971 4 551 9788 · Fax +971 4 551 9799 info@homag-dubai.com

Made in Germany

BRANDT

BÜTFERING

HOLZMA

HOMAG Automation WEEKE

HOMAG eSOLUTION

April 2015

www.homag-group.com

Intelligent woodworking solutions www.timberdesignandtechnology.com

82 SHOWTIME

Top Industry Exhibitions Coming Up This Season

The third edition of the Outdoor Design Build & Supply show, the only dedicated trade show for outdoor design and supply sector in the GCC, is set to take place from April 13 - 15 at the Dubai International Convention & Exhibition Center. Hosted and fully backed by Dubai Municipality, the show is the only dedicated international platform in the Middle East that caters to the entire spectrum of hard and soft landscape products and services. As the leading B2B trade event for the industry, the focus this year is purely on design and build for all public and private spaces including parks, urban areas, hotels, schools, sports venues, and major residential projects. According to the organizers, with the real estate sector witnessing renewed growth, and governments becoming increasingly focused on green space development, the GCC region’s landscaping industry will witness growing demand for energy and water-efficient technologies as well as qualified horticultural and agricultural engineering experts. As such, the industry’s growth is expected to spur further demand for landscape contractors, outdoor lighting, recreation and park equipment, water features, playground equipment, flooring solutions, irrigation and water management innovations, horticulture, planning and design services, among others. The organizers of the show are confident that the positive outlook for the regional landscaping industry will come as good news to hundreds of landscape service providers who will gather at the 2015 edition of the event. The event will showcase a wide range of hard and soft landscaping products and services including landscape contractors, outdoor lighting, recreation and park equipment, water features, playground equipment, flooring solutions, irrigation and water management innovations, horticulture, planning and design services and much more. In addition, it will also serve as a unique platform to interact and network with important industry stakeholders.

13 - 15 April Dubai International Convention & Exhibition Center | Dubai, United Arab Emirates www.theoutdoorshow.ae

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April 2015

Organized by YEM, the Building Information Center, the 38th edition of TURKEYBUILD Istanbul will take place from April 21 - 25, 2015 at the Tüyap Fair and Congress Center. Held annually, the show is the biggest building material exhibition covering Turkey, Balkans, former CIS countries, North Africa and the Middle East. According to organizers, the show attracts over 100,000 trade professionals who come to view the wide range of products, new technologies and services on display. In 2015, the show will occupy 100,000 sqm of exhibition space and host over 1,100 exhibitors over the course of its five-day run. Testament to the emergence of Turkey as an important global player within the construction sector, TURKEYBUILD is also held in Ankara and Izmir. In addition to the exhibition, a comprehensive business programme focusing on new opportunities in the Turkish construction sector is organized for the benefit of participating companies, the sector, and the Turkish economy. The organizers also have strategic partnerships with renowned exhibitions such as BAU and MosBuild, which helps to attract international exhibitors and trade professionals to TURKEYBUILD.

OUTDOOR DESIGN BUILD & SUPPLY SHOW TURKEYBUILD ISTANBUL

21 - 25 April Tuyap Fair and Congress Center | Istanbul, Turkey www.yapifuari.com.tr/eng

DREMASILESIA The Exhibition for Woodworking Machines and Tools (DREMASILESIA) has been taking place annually in Katowice since 2007 and offers small and medium-sized companies in the wood and furniture industry an opportunity to view the latest machinery and tools from global woodworking companies. The show is instrumental in helping raise standards and the competitiveness of the industry given that the Polish wood and furniture sector is characterized by high dispersion and variety. Almost 90 percent of the players are small or medium-sized enterprises and micro-scale operations. As such, companies have to resort to innovative methods of optimization of production in order to increase their competitiveness. The fair takes place in the heart of Upper Silesia, close to Czestochowa, Kępna and Kalwaria Zebrzydowska, a region that is characterized by a long tradition of furniture production, and hence a large number of companies operating in the industry and related industries. The show this year will be held at the Silesian Chorzów Exhibition Center and will feature machinery and tools for woodworking and auxiliary processes (internal transport systems, packaging and storage), components for the manufacture of furniture,

SHOWTIME 83

FOREST AND WOOD 2015

adhesives and chemicals for wood and furniture and woodwork, floors, patios, doors, windows and equipment used in the process of preparing the material and energy recovery timber. In addition to the exhibition, an accompanying programme of workshops and seminars will ensure trade visitors will be able to expand their knowledge and competence in the knowledge of the material and wood.

17 - 19 April Silesian Chorzów Exhibition Center | Katowice, Poland www.dremasilesia.pl

TECHNOMEBEL AND WORLD OF FURNITURE

Forest and Wood 2015, the 15th International Forest Management and Woodworking Exhibition, is being organized to offer professionals the opportunity to follow the developments in the forest industry, developments in the technologies, as well as to acquaint visitors with the practical use of timber and related products and the latest information about what’s new in the sector. Held annually, the exhibition will feature leading players involved with wood working machinery, equipment, methods and auxiliary equipment; machinery, equipment, methods and auxiliary equipment for the primary processing of timber; drying rooms for timber and equipment; machinery and equipment for the chemical treatment of the timber and surfaces; and auxiliary machinery and equipment. The show will also highlight technologies associated with timber as an energy resource; paper production; mobile equipment for forestry and forest industry; energy saving, environment protection and work safety; and recycling of raw materials and waste materials. As such, the exhibition will allow specialists representing the forestry and other related sectors to establish their business relations, offer professional consultations, evaluate the industry and the recent trends, get acquainted with offers, choose the cooperation partners and certain products. The fair is held as part of Nature Expo 2015, which annually gathers more than 16,000 visitors and about 211 participating companies.

24 - 26 April Ķīpsala International Exhibition Center | Riga, Latvia The 14th edition of TECHNOMEBEL and the 11th edition of World of Furniture will take place at the Inter Expo Center in Sofia, Bulgaria from April 21 - 25, 2015. The two shows have been held together since 2012 and allow industry professionals as well as consumers the opportunity to view everything for the furniture industry in one place. The profile of exhibitors includes woodworking machines and tools, materials and accessories for furniture production as well as finished products. Over the course of five days, companies at the show will be able to engage with a captive audience comprising of industry members and the general public and showcase the latest technical innovations for the wood and woodworking industry whilst also throwing the spotlight on the latest furniture designs. The last edition was held in 12,000 sqm of exhibition space and attracted over 150 international exhibitors and the organizers are confident of exceeding these numbers in 2015.

21 - 25 April Inter Expo Center | Sofia, Bulgaria http://technomebel.bg/en, http://furnitureexpo.bg/en

http://www.bt1.lv/nature/?link=10000000

AFRIWOOD The second edition of AFRIWOOD, organized by Expogroup, returns to Nairobi, Kenya with a view towards becoming the platform for creative ideas and new technologies, as the attention of wood manufacturers and traders turns to innovative resources that would initiate business. According to the organizers, Kenya, the hub of the East African Continent, will become the place where the wood industry will meet. As such, the organizers hope to encourage trade visitors, professionals and serious buyers from all over the continent to use AFRIWOOD as an opportunity to strengthen ties with new customers, network and catch up on the latest technologies. AFRIWOOD aims to be the event for the latest innovations and technologies and will become the platform of progress across the wood and woodworking sector for Africa. As a highly specialized show, AFRIWOOD provides an excellent opportunity for local and international companies to showcase and learn about wood and to build new strategic relationships with buyers, traders and investors globally. In addition, the show is a meeting ground for manufacturers, importers, traders, distributors, converters and end-users in the wood industry, who converge at the event to attend the April 2015

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84 SHOWTIME launch of the latest products and technologies for the industry. The visitor profile will include manufacturers, importers, traders, distributors, converters and end-users in the wood industry and the organizers expect 12,000 trade visitors over the course of three days.

INTERZUM

2 - 4 May Kenyatta International Conference Center (KICC) |

Nairobi, Kenya www.expogr.com/afriwood

PROJECT QATAR

Project Qatar 2015, the 12th International Construction Technology & Building Materials Exhibition, returns to the Qatar National Convention Center (QNCC) for the second consecutive year with a view to attract key buyers and industry leaders looking for the most up-to-date technology and state-ofthe art equipment available on the market. Firmly established as Qatar’s most important exhibition for highlighting the latest products and services needed for Qatar’s fast growing construction sector, the show has become a destination of choice for regional and international industry professionals. In 2014, the show hosted an astounding 2,100 companies and 48,953 visitors from 47 countries and the organizers are positive of even bigger numbers this year. The show provides a unique and dynamic platform for buyers and suppliers to make contacts and drive future developments in Qatar’s multi-billion construction sector. In addition, exhibitors benefit from massive exposure to premier regional agents, dealers, buyers and distributors. To maximize the number of exhibitors, trade buyers, business developments and opportunities, the show will be held concurrently with Qatar Stone Tech and Heavy Max. Visitors will also have the opportunity to participate in ‘The Project Qatar Business Intelligence Series’ that will run during the event and throughout the year, including six conferences: Future Interiors Qatar, Future Landscape and Public Realm Qatar, Future Drainage Networks Qatar, AcousticsTech Qatar, InsulationTech Qatar and LightingTech Qatar. With education as a priority, the Project Qatar team has introduced the six specialized conferences where visitors will have the opportunity to learn through special seminars and short courses, unlocking new possibilities.

4 - 7 May Qatar National Convention Center | Doha, Qatar www.projectqatar.com

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April 2015

As the world’s largest trade fair in the sector, interzum is a must-see event for everyone aiming for success in the market of furniture production and interiors. This is because interzum offers a comprehensive overview of new technologies and designs, encompassing an extremely broad scope of products. Taking place every two years, the show features over 1,500 exhibitors from more than 60 countries and attracts over 50,000 visitors. As the leading global event for the suppliers to the furniture and interior construction industries, the show is where the trends and visions that will create future living spaces using modern materials, outstanding design, and exclusive innovations come to life. One of the key features of the trade fair is the highly international character of the exhibitors. The trade fair not only connects the local markets, but it also drives internationalization in the areas of furniture production and interior fittings. interzum is also source of inspiration for product developers, designers, and architects. Its comprehensive supporting program, complete with the bestowing of the renowned interzum awards, ensure that the show, over the course of its four-day run, is the central communication platform for the industry: exhibitors from around the world meet visitors from around the world - and do good business.

5 -8 May Koelnmesse Exhibition Center | Cologne, Germany www.interzum.com

WOOD GUANGZHOU The fourth edition of Wood Guangzhou, a key exhibition for wood and wood products in China, will take place at the China Import & Export Fair Complex from May 9 - 11, 2015. Over 180 industry-related enterprises from USA, Canada, Malaysia, Russia, Germany, Portugal and Serbia participated in Wood Guangzhou 2014, and the organizers are confident of exceeding those numbers this year. According to the organizers, the reason to host the show in Guangzhou is because over 21 percent of China’s wood manufacturers are located in South China’s Guangdong Province, which is China’s largest furniture-manufacturing base. As such, Wood Guangzhou will be an influential platform for the wood and woodworking industry. The show is being organized in light of the fact that the consumption of wood in China has increased at rates higher than the GDP growth. This can be attributed to the fact that as one of the world’s largest producing states of wood furniture and wood floors, China has a huge demand for wood. In addition, houses built with wood are increasing in popularity and so the applications for wood not only internally but for structural uses is also increasing. The fair attracts companies involved in the trading of logs, sawn timber and all kinds of added-value wood products. This year, the organizers have announced that they expect over 650 exhibitors over the 12,000 sqm of

SHOWTIME 85 exhibition space. According to the organizers, Wood Guangzhou 2015 will be much larger than previous editions. In addition to the exhibition, three key events taking place include the second Guangzhou International Wood & Wood-Based Panel Conference, which is co-organized by the China National Forest Product Industry Association; the China National Woodworking Machine Annual meeting and Global Woodworking Machine Industry Forum, co-organized by Woodworking Machine Branch of China National Forestry Machinery Association; and the Asia Pacific Interior Design Cultural Festival, coorganized by Asian Construction Technology Alliance and Guangzhou Design Industry Association.

an exhibition area, a matchmaking platform, and a dialogue forum. The summit will target exhibitors from international companies and economic regions that provide large-scale forestry machinery and other primary wood processing technologies.

11 - 15 May Hannover Exhibition Grounds | Hannover, Germany www.ligna.de/en

INDEX

9 - 12 May China Import & Export Fair Complex | Guangzhou, China www.muyezhan.com

Image © LIGNA

Image © INDEX

LIGNA

LIGNA features technology for the entire wood value chain - from harvesting machinery to industrial processing and production plant and equipment and stands out from competing shows in that it attracts an international audience of top-level decision makers and professionals from all key sectors of the wood industry. According to the organizers, visitors and exhibitors can expect more international business, more innovations and more integration at this year’s edition. The upcoming show will feature more than 1,500 exhibitors from over 40 countries, whose displays will fill some 120,000 sqm of space and impress solution-seekers in need of the latest furniture industry plant and equipment and innovative technologies for the wood and forestry industries. The event runs from May 11 - 15, and all the market leaders will be on hand to impress solution-seekers with a tremendous array of products and services. Together, they will present key technologies for every single links of the wood value chain - i.e. plant, tools and machinery for industrial furniture manufacturers, carpenters, joiners and cabinetmakers; solutions for processing and working with solid wood; sawmill technology; systems for wood panel and veneer production; forestry equipment and machinery; and a range of technologies for extracting energy from wood. And as diverse as the technologies on display may be, they are united in promoting greater efficiency for every stage of production and processing. LIGNA 2015 will take a high-tech look at the future of production. It will showcase machinery innovations for every link in the wood value chain, focusing on the growing convergence of classic production technologies and ICT. The other major new development at the show this year is the premiere of the Wood Industry Summit, an intelligent, integrated platform comprising

INDEX International Design Exhibition, now in its 25th year, continues to grow and adapt in line with the demands of the region’s architecture and design industries. The show this year presents eight dedicated product sectors, along with three new sub-sectors; all of which cover the entire spectrum of products and services required for the design, fit-out, or upgrade of residential, retail, and hospitality spaces. INDEX’s product sectors include: furnishings, furniture, kitchen & bathroom, lighting, objets, outdoor living, retail (formerly InRetail), and textiles. According to the organizers, the three new sub-sectors for this year include: INDEX artisan - a brand new sub-sector of INDEX furnishings, celebrating craftsmanship, displaying a variety of designer, ethnic and modern handmade crafts and objet d’art; INDEX contemporary collection - a new sub-sector of INDEX furniture, providing a focus on contemporary furniture design; and INDEX sleep - a new sub-sector of INDEX textiles, focusing on mattresses, bedding, and related accessories. As such, architects, interior designers, contractor specifiers, industry professionals and consumers will be able to see innovative surface materials, decorative paints, flooring, parquet, marble & ceramics, metal and glass finishes and natural stone finishes products at the show. Each year, the show also delivers a range of features and events designed to add value to the overall visitor experience, encourage industry debate, celebrate innovation, and recognize and reward some of the key players in the industry. Some of the key events this year include INDEX Artists’ Avenue; INDEX Design Talks; Majlis Design Competition; Interior Design & Architecture Awards; Product Design Awards; 2015 Style Guides; INDEX Trend Tour; Live Art Installations; Student Design Challenge Middle East; Fresh; Design Buyer’s Club; Advisory Committee; The One VIP Lounge; and Silk Road.

18 - 21 May Dubai International Convention & Exhibition Center | Dubai, United Arab Emirates www.indexexhibition.com

April 2015

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86 SHOWTIME

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April 2015

Middle East Covering, the only exclusive contract business flooring and wall covering B2B exhibition in the MENA region, will officially open its doors from May 18 - 21, 2015 and will offer an exclusive platform to facilitate an estimated USD 1.6 trillion worth of interior decoration construction projects across the MENA region. The inaugural edition of the standalone show, taking place in Sheikh Saeed Hall, will be part of MENA region’s largest interior sourcing platform. The show will be co-located with three other B2B interior exhibitions - INDEX, Workspace at INDEX and Middle East Stone. Together the four exhibitions, covering a gross exhibit space of over 70,000 sqm, will host more than 50 exhibiting countries and attract over 32,000 visitors from around 100 countries. Middle East Covering 2015 will showcase a complete line of handmade and machine-made carpets; textile and resilient floor coverings; parquet and wooden flooring; laminates; sports arena flooring; application technologies; wall coatings, wall covering materials and all type of surface covering materials. In addition to the four-day exhibition display, Middle East Covering will host a program of industry focused seminars, the Product Design Awards and the 2nd edition of the MEIDAA Interior Design Architect Awards providing the perfect platform for fresh, modern designs, high-quality classic products and expert dialogue on the latest new laying technologies and systems. Unique to the region, Middle East Covering will explore the versatile options of surface design solutions, with a big focus on innovation as well as inspirational materials, including sustainable and eco-friendly coverings. The specialized trade exhibition is a must-attend event for architects, interior designers, suppliers and buyers looking to find the best available products and solutions across the impressive scale of surface materials present. Given that the fit-out market value across the GCC is expected to reach over USD 6.67 billion in 2015 for the residential, commercial, healthcare and education industries, this represents a tremendous opportunity for covering and surface materials suppliers and buyers. The show has received a fantastic response from the surface design community, which is reflected in the staggering breadth of exhibitors at the event from more than 15 countries. In addition to the exhibition, visitors will also get to witness a live daily 3D printing demonstration of wall coverings by Hewlett-Packard Middle East, floor laying presentation by Max & Janser GmbH, the ‘Future Materials Experience’ by WT Project Italy and the Surface Design School. Sponsored by Interface Europe, Karelia and Woodfloors, the three-day Surface Design School will provide an educational platform allowing interior designers, architects, retailers, flooring experts and contractors to get the most up-to-date information on surface solutions and techniques. Regional and internationally-renowned experts will share their insights and facilitate the exchange of ideas on surface covering, interior design and new industry trends.

MIDDLE EAST COVERING

18 - 21 May Dubai International Convention & Exhibition Center | Dubai, United Arab Emirates www.middleeastcovering.com

23 - 26 NOVEMBER 2015 Dubai World Trade Centre www.thebig5.ae

Participate in the largest and best attended construction exhibition in the Middle East.

MORE STAND SPACE

8 NEW FEATURES The Big 5 Focus will be a new hall providing more stand space and areas dedicated to technology, recruitment, sustainability and more... Capitalise on the $4.3 trillion construction market in MENA Do business with 1000s of key buyers directly Network with 80,000+ engineers, architects, contractors and product specifiers

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88 SHOWTIME INTERVIEW

Record number of exhibitors and visitors expected at interzum 2015 Every two years, wood and furniture specialists from around the world come to Germany to attend interzum in Cologne, where leading suppliers showcase the latest materials and innovation for the furniture and interior design sectors. In 2013 interzum once again lived up to its reputation as a trade fair of innovations to provide inspiration to the industry with the trends displayed. Exhibitors inspired their visitors as much with global product launches as with trendsetting equipment and materials for common as well as unusual purposes. This year is no different and with the added bonus of being able to visit LIGNA in Hannover during the same trip, visitors will be able to obtain a comprehensive overview of the materials, design solutions and technologies currently available for the woodworking, wood processing and furniture industries. Markus Majerus (pictured), Communications Manager for Koelnmesse GmbH, believes this next edition will be the largest and best attended in its illustrious history. We interview Majerus, who provides an overview of the show.

01. In retrospect, what were the major achievements of interzum 2013? interzum is and has been firmly established as the world’s most important trade fair for the suppliers to the furniture and interior design industry. We need to only look at the last 10 years as a comparison to notice the development of the show. In 2003, we welcomed 1,335 exhibitors from 56 countries, in 2013 there were 1,512 exhibitors from 62 countries - that is a 13 percent increase within five fairs. A similar development has occurred regarding the growth in attendance. Compared to 2003, we recorded 8 percent more visitors in 2013 - increasing from 49,145 visitors from 131 countries up to 53,000 visitors from 148 countries.

02. How is this year’s edition positioned? Currently we have 6 percent more exhibitors than we recorded for the same period in the year 2013. In total, we are expecting around 1,550 exhibitors from over 60 countries, with around 400 exhibitors predicted to come from Germany. Looking at the number of visitors, we expect 55,000 visitors with around 40,000 coming from outside Germany. As a result of our comprehensive visitor marketing measures, we currently estimate a 6 percent increase in international visitors, which means the total share of international visitors this year will be around 70 percent.

03. What are the main objectives for this year’s edition? Trade fairs are particularly successful if they represent and reflect markets and their developments as clearly as possible. Companies, who are market leaders, play a decisive role here. The leading role does not necessarily have anything to do with the size of a company, the company can also play a special niche, trend or emotional leading role. Or this role can be based on high brand recognition. However, they can also be smaller companies that excel as a result of their high degree of innovation. Or which simply have a good sense for trends and design. On the theme of furniture production and interior design at interzum than at any other trade fair, more market leading and trend-setting companies present their innovations. This is what makes interzum the meeting place for decision-makers. It is the leading international business and communication platform of the entire furniture supplier industry or in short: the leading fair for innovations in material and production.

04. Are they any key changes to the format of the show this year? interzum will be staged from Tuesday to Friday (May 5 - 8) instead of from Monday to Thursday as in the previous edition. The main reason for this is to ensure that visitors can attend LIGNA immediately after our show. Our co-operation with LIGNA also includes joint visitor acquisition to attract a wider range of guests

Event details Dates

May 5 - 8, 2015

Venue

Koelnmesse Exhibition Center

Location

Cologne, Germany

Timings

9am - 6pm

Organizer

Koelnmesse GmbH

Website

www.interzum.com

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April 2015

SHOWTIME INTERVIEW 89

05. In addition to the exhibition, are there any awards, seminars and workshops at this year’s edition? None of our trade fairs in Cologne feature pure product displays. With formats such as the ‘interzum award: intelligent material & design’ or ‘Innovation of interior’ we look beyond the horizon and thus create new impulses. And we increasingly address the target group of architects and designers. For example, the ‘interzum award: intelligent material & design’ will be conferred for the eighth time at this year’s show. The results will show once again the significance of the supplier industry in the development of contemporary designs. Innovative products that unite above-average functionality with the highest quality are distinguished. During the trade fair the winners of the ‘interzum award’ will be displayed

from global markets. To turn something good into something even better, the concept of interzum has been again further developed. The trade fair is concentrating on just three exhibition segments instead of seven as was previously the case. This offers visitors and exhibitors a clearer structure and simplifies the classification. Initially introduced in 2013, we have decided to continue to work with just three segments with the trade fair’s comprehensive range of exhibits being presented in 9 halls, covering 160,000 sqm of exhibition space. ‘Materials & Nature’, bundles all of the companies that focus on wood, veneer, parquet flooring, interior construction, decorative surfaces, decor paper, laminated flooring, wooden paneling, laminated plastics, solid surface materials, skirting, surface treatments, adhesives, embossing cylinders and press plates. ‘Function & Components’, addresses the producers of semi-finished goods for modular furniture, office furniture, tables and chairs, light and lighting systems, fittings, locks and furniture components. The third exhibition segment ‘Textile & Machinery’ displays companies that produce upholstery materials, manufacture machines for the production of upholstery or mattresses and anyone else who works in the upholstery accessories, upholstery material or leather business.

on the Boulevard, which is the central connection between our halls. The Piazza ‘Innovation of interior’ in Hall 4.2 is a unique offer that targets designers, architects and product developers. It visualizes trends and design possibilities and the focus this year is on 3D technology. In addition, the Piazza in Hall 6, which focuses on Materials & Nature, is dedicated to the latest trends and product developments from the areas decorative surfaces, wooden paneling, veneer or solid wood. A ‘Textile Production Line’ will be assembled in Hall 10.1 again and the Global Networking Lounge will welcome visitors and visitor groups from Russia, Indonesia, Malaysia and Singapore. The Interior Designer Day of the Architects’ Association of North Rhine-Westphalia will also take place on Wednesday, 6 May 2015 at the Vortragsforum (presentation forum) in Hall 4.2. April 2015

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90 SHOWTIME CALANDER

Outdoor Design Build & Supply show

interzum

April 13 - 15 Dubai International Convention & Exhibition Center Dubai, United Arab Emirates www.theoutdoorshow.ae

May 5 - 8 Koelnmesse Exhibition Center Cologne, Germany www.interzum.com

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Dubai WoodShow

Expokos

April 14 - 16 Dubai International Convention & Exhibition Center Dubai, United Arab Emirates www.dubaiwoodshow.com

May 6 - 9 Prishtine Fair Ground Prishtine, Kosovo www.kosovafair.com

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DREMASILESIA

Wood Guangzhou

April 17 - 19 Silesian Chorzów Exhibition Center Katowice, Poland www.dremasilesia.pl

May 9 - 12 China Import & Export Fair Complex Guangzhou, China www.muyezhan.com

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ZOW Moscow

LIGNA

April 20 - 23 Pavilion 75, VDNH Moscow, Russia http://en.zowmoscow.ru

May 11 - 15 Hannover Exhibition Grounds Hannover, Germany www.ligna.de/en

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TURKEYBUILD Istanbul

gulfBID

April 21 - 25 Tuyap Fair and Congress Center Istanbul, Turkey www.yapifuari.com.tr/eng

May 12 - 14 Bahrain International Exhibition Center Manama, Bahrain www.gulfbidexpo.com

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TECHNOMEBEL and World of Furniture

INDEX

April 21 - 25 Inter Expo Center Sofia, Bulgaria http://technomebel.bg/en | http://furnitureexpo.bg/en

May 18 - 21 Dubai International Convention & Exhibition Center Dubai, United Arab Emirates www.indexexhibition.com

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Forest and Wood 2015

Middle East Covering

April 24 - 26 Ķīpsala International Exhibition Center Riga, Latvia http://www.bt1.lv nature/?link=10000000

May 18 - 21 Dubai International Convention & Exhibition Center Dubai, United Arab Emirates www.middleeastcovering.com

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AFRIWOOD

Woodprocessing

May 2 - 4 Kenyatta International Conference Center (KICC) Nairobi, Kenya www.expogr.com/afriwood

May 19 - 22 Palace of Sports Lwow, Ukraine www.galexpo.com.ua/en/exhibition-2015/215-derevoobrobka.html

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Project Qatar

LESDREVTEKH

May 4 - 7 Qatar National Convention Center Doha, Qatar www.projectqatar.com

May 20 - 22 Belarus Expo Center Minsk, Belarus www.belexpo.by/en/562/1666/1682/?page=1

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April 2015

S VISIT U

E AT TH

WOO I A B U

5 1 0 2 SHOWEEL HALL D

ZA’AB HALL: : A14 STAND

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JAF – THE STRONG BRAND IN THE INTERNATIONAL TIMBER SOURCING

www.jaf-group.com

The JAF Group has been well-known for many years as Central Europe’s leading wholesaler for wood based products. Not without reason: In JAF decades of experience of wood and well-founded market knowledge meet product quality. By acquiring the global sales operations of the well-known timber supplier DLH with the target markets China, Southeast Asia, Middle east and Africa, the JAF Group expands its horizon and fastens its worldwide competence as a leading supplier for timber and timber products.

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April 2015

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Swedish wood â&#x20AC;&#x201C; a modern, flexible material

natural emotion renewable design strength We look forward to receiving you in our pavilion at the Dubai Wood Show (14-16 April)

info@swedishwood.com â&#x20AC;˘ www.swedishwood.com www.timberdesignandtechnology.com

April 2015