Timber Design & Technology Middle East - June 2015

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June 2015 Issue

MIDDLE EAST

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Big brands back EU battle against illegal timber Stora Enso and SRV join forces to build a world-class ‘Wood City’ What if the Colosseum was made of wood?

It’s only natural: Bring the effects of nature inside through wood Osmose designs lounge experience for tea lovers

ANALYSIS

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INTERVIEWS

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DESIGN

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June 2015 www.timberdesignandtechnology.com SUSTAINABILITY | TECHNOLOGY

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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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June 2015

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

www.farlindubai.com info@farlindubai.com June 2015

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June 2015 Issue

MIDDLE EAST

20

www.timberdesignandtechnology.com

Big brands back EU battle against illegal timber Stora Enso and SRV join forces to build a world-class ‘Wood City’ What if the Colosseum was made of wood?

It’s only natural: Bring the effects of nature inside through wood Osmose designs lounge experience for tea lovers

ANALYSIS

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INTERVIEWS

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DESIGN

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SUSTAINABILITY

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TECHNOLOGY

The Rotunda Serotina | Image © Petr Krejci

June 2015 Issue 20 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 This year’s Salone del Mobile featured a host of products where timber was a key material. Standing out amongst all of them was ‘La Passeggiata (The Walk)’ by Michele De Lucchi. The installation went on show from April 14 - 19, 2015 and aimed to indicate four parts of office life. Also a part of the Salone was the ‘Rotunda Serotina’ - a towering structure of food plates made entirely of American cherry in a commission for Wallpaper* Handmade 2015. The installation was a collaboration between the American Hardwood Export Council (AHEC), architects Kolman Boye and furniture-makers Benchmark, and was a massive success at the Wallpaper* Arcade over the course of five days. These are just two of several projects that we feature in this issue of the magazine.

We also talk to Chris Philpot, Make it Wood Manager at Planet Ark, who believes that wood is now on the cusp of a major revival and has truly emerged as the key building material in the fight against climate change.

Commenting on the findings of a new report from Planet Ark titled ‘Wood - Housing, Health, Humanity’, Chris outlines the associated health benefits of using timber. In a nutshell, he argues that wood is one of the oldest and most versatile building materials used by humanity and its revival shows it has a large part to play in building a healthy future. And yet, in Australia, less than 1 in 2 people know there are real health benefits in building with timber. This is sadly the case in most parts of the world. We hope to spread the word and impact a change here in the region.

Illegal timber and logging is always a key issue at any global forum for the timber industry. Whilst the EUTR, Lacey Act, and Australian Illegal Logging Prohibition Regulation have gone some way towards fighting the trade in illegal timber, the tide is turning as key elements all across the timber chain have begun to understand and implement the necessary measures in order to ensure compliance. Timber sector journalist and commentator Mike Jeffree talks to some of Europe’s biggest consumer brands in timber products who are not only backing the EU Timber Regulation and wider anti-illegal timber measures, but are wanting the measures to be tougher and wider ranging.

On the eve of the Dubai WoodShow 2015, we hosted the inaugural ‘Talking Timber’ seminar and networking evening featuring presentations by industry experts from America, Malaysia and Sweden. A common theme across all four presentations was the natural beauty and sustainability of timber and this was well received by an audience comprising importers, manufacturers and designers. Building on the success of our first event for the timber industry, we will be looking at similar events later this year. As always, I would like to encourage you to log on to the website for the latest updates and please get in touch if you have any suggestions for subjects we should consider covering.

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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June 2015

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Image © Stora Enso

CONTENTS

06 News

26 ANALYSIS

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

Michael Green Architecture builds North America’s tallest wood building in British Columbia

12 SUSTAINABILITY

50 COMMENT

Kolman Boye Architects, Benchmark, and AHEC collaborate to create a unique food delivery experience for Wallpaper* Handmade in Milan

Big brands back EU battle against illegal timber

18 MARKET REPORT

54 WOOD WORKS

It’s only natural: Bring the effects of nature inside through wood

The ‘Oru Series’

by Aljoud Lootah

22 ANALYSIS

60 INTERVIEW

Michele De Lucchi unveils his vision for the office of tomorrow at the 2015 Salone del Mobile

FMC China provides the best woodworking machinery and raw materials for the furniture production, decoration and engineering sectors

DESIGN & DÉCOR

TECHNOLOGY

32 Small Tea

36 No.57 Cafe

40 Plan B

46 Wood City

Osmose designs lounge experience for tea lovers

American white oak helps evoke a Scandinavian freshness

What if the Colosseum was made of wood?

Stora Enso and SRV join forces to build a world-class ‘Wood City’

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NEWS

BOOMING CONSTRUCTION SECTOR IN THE GCC DRIVES DEMAND FOR SOFTWOOD LUMBER Ontario Project Management; Tumac; Elof Hansson; Robinson Lumber; Canadian Wood Products; Almond Brothers Lumber Company; Klumb Lumber; Gulf South; Jazz Forest Products; Bridgeport; Louisiana Pacific; Walsh Industries; and Boise Cascade. In addition, representatives from the Softwood Export Council (SEC), Western Wood Products Association, Missouri Department of Agriculture, and APA - The Engineered Wood Products Association were also available at the stand to answer technical queries.

“As the only dedicated wood and wood machinery exhibition in the region, the Dubai WoodShow plays a vital role in our focus to build a strong market for American softwoods in the region. Further, our continued support of the event and the growing participation of more U.S. softwood exporters is reflective of our strong commitment to the regional market. The show not only allows us direct interaction with the many wood traders, manufacturers and specifiers across the Middle East and North Africa, but also enables our members to create lasting and strategic partnerships,” concluded Trevor.

Image © AMSO

Demand for timber and timber products is expected to witness unprecedented growth in the GCC region on account of the booming construction sector according to a report by Ventures Middle East. With the total value of GCC building contracts awarded expected to surge to USD 91,516 million by the end of this year, the potential for further growth is significant.

Aiming to leverage the potential across the region, American Softwoods (AMSO), the promotional partnership formed by three major U.S. softwood trade associations, successfully participated at the Dubai WoodShow 2015, which ran from April 14 - 16, 2015 at the Dubai International Exhibition and Convention Center.

According to the ‘Future Outlook of the Wood Industry in the GGC’ report, growth in the construction market has led to an overall increase in regional wood imports, particularly in the UAE and Saudi Arabia, which have seen phenomenal growth over the last three years. Currently, the construction sector consumes the largest quantities of softwood products for applications such as concrete forming and scaffolding while demand for pallets, crates and boxes is largely stemming from the oil & gas as well as the logistics and transportation industries. The upward trajectory of the construction industry in the region bodes well for AMSO, which hosted an American Softwoods pavilion at the Dubai WoodShow with over fifteen U.S. softwood lumber exporters.

“American softwoods have been traditionally exported to the MENA region.

In fact, total exports of U.S. softwood lumber reached a value of USD 27.445 million in 2014. This represents an overall increase in value of 26 percent over 2013 and is reflection of how well the market has accepted our species and products,” said Charles Trevor, Consultant to American Softwoods. “Given the positive demand for American softwoods, AMSO is looking to leverage its presence at the Dubai WoodShow to further increase knowledge and exposure of American softwoods to the UAE and wider Middle East audience.

Further, our participation at the ‘Talking Timber’ seminar held on the eve of the show allowed us with the opportunity to meet industry players and professionals and share more knowledge on the wide array of commercially available species and products.”

The American Softwoods pavilion served to highlight the variety of American softwood species. Participating companies included Olympic Industries; BCH Trading Company; Seven Seas Group, USA; Coast Clear Wood;

The Dubai WoodShow took place for the 10th consecutive year from April 14 - 16, 2015 at the Dubai World Trade Center attracting over 10,544 high quality trade professionals from 95 countries across the globe. This year’s edition enjoyed a great demand from the industry for exhibition space.

With more than 225 local and international exhibitors from the wood and woodworking machinery industry, the show got sold out weeks before the opening.

“Participating in the Dubai WoodShow for ten years now, we have seen it mature and develop into the only focused trade event for the region’s wood sector. For our member companies, who are looking to export or are already exporting American hardwood lumber and veneer to the region, it has become a fixed event on their calendars and they have benefited hugely from the opportunity the show has given them to secure new business,” said Roderick Wiles, AHEC Director for Africa, Middle East, South Asia and Oceania.

Being the region’s premier and only destination for wood, wood accessories and woodworking machinery, the Dubai WoodShow has proven to be the perfect platform to get insights on the latest industry trends and advancements in technologies and to meet with new and existing business partners.

“Chabros International Group would like to express its satisfaction regarding its participation at the 2015 edition of Dubai WoodShow. As www.timberdesignandtechnology.com

June 2015

Image © Dubai WoodShow

26 PERCENT INCREASE IN VISITORS AT DUBAI WOODSHOW 2015

usual, the fair has granted us the ability to gather with new and old clients to get acquainted about their projects and potential plans. The exhibition gave us the chance to showcase our range of products, create brand awareness; and establish very valuable contacts. We believe that Dubai WoodShow provides an important hub for the wood industry to connect with the region’s professionals,” said Christele Barakat, Marketing & Events Coordinator, Chabros International.

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The inaugural ‘Talking Timber’ seminar and networking evening was held on the eve of the Dubai WoodShow 2015 and successfully attracted a mix of timber importers, manufacturers and joiners, in addition to key designers and specifiers. Held at the Address Hotel Dubai Marina, the event was hosted by Timber Design and Technology Middle East, with support from the American Hardwood Export Council, American Softwoods, Malaysian Timber Council, Swedish Wood and Farlin Timbers.

Image © Timber Design & Technology ME Image © Timber Design & Technology ME

Image © Timber Design & Technology ME

Image © Timber Design & Technology ME

INAUGURAL ‘TALKING TIMBER’ SEMINAR AND NETWORKING EVENING DECLARED A SUCCESS

Speakers at the event included Dr. Scott Bowe, Professor and Wood Products Specialist in the Department of Forest and Wildlife Ecology at the University of Wisconsin; Professor Chris Knowles, Assistant Professor in Forest Products Marketing and the Assistant Director of the Oregon Wood Innovation Center (OWIC) at Oregon State University; Khairul Anwar, Director of Malaysian Timber Council Dubai; and Jan Söderlind, the International Director of Swedish Wood and the Chairman of European Wood.

13 STOREY TIMBER TOWER TO BE BUILT IN QUEBEC CITY

Image © Yvan Blouin

The province of Quebec has a lot of trees and forests, and a nascent cross laminated timber industry. Now Quebec City’s Pointe-aux-Lièvres ecodistrict is getting a 13 storey tower constructed of mostly CLT - 12 storeys of apartments on top of a concrete podium. Designed by Yvan Blouin, the building is a condominium being marketed as the Origine; it will be interesting to see what the market acceptance will be like.

The interior renderings don’t show any exposed CLT, which is a shame; it is lovely to look at. Perhaps the fire authorities are not yet convinced that it doesn’t have to be protected by drywall. It is being built by Nordic Structures, who believe that it has been a long time in the making. The project has drawn on input from federal and provincial officials as well as research institutes, and will help pave the way for the development of a North American market for solid wood building products made in Quebec.

In the not too distant future we will all be looking out at tall buildings made out of wood. CLT and other mass timber technologies let us build with a renewable resource that packs away carbon for the life of the building.

Architect Michael Green was right when he noted that his Wood Design and Innovation Center would not be the tallest for long; at 40 meters (131 feet) The Origine will soon take the title.

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NEWS

The American Hardwood Export Council (AHEC), the leading international trade association for the American hardwood industry, has supported the USA pavilion at Milan Expo 2015 with a stunning 500 m2 white oak deck.

The American hardwood floor runs the length of the pavilion on the first floor, where the main exhibition area is located. The white oak was chosen

by New York architect James Biber, whose practice designed the pavilion.

Biber wanted a classic-looking hardwood to blend in and complement the rest of the decking, which has been recycled from 100-year-old salvaged timber from the original Coney Island boardwalks.

In line with the overall theme of the Milan Expo 2015 - ‘Feed the Planet, Energy for Life’ - the USA Pavilion, named ‘American Food 2.0, United to Feed the Planet’ shows just how engaged the U.S. is in global food security, food innovation and has become a center for the best food on the planet. As such, the pavilion opens its airplane hangar sized door to the main pedestrian approach, like an invitation to enter, and is as open, airy and breezy as a building can be. The boardwalk (made of recycled lumber from America’s boardwalks) rises to the second level, concealing a defined exhibition below and is the main forum for self-guided viewing.

According to Biber, the main architectural feature is a football-fieldlength Vertical Farm featuring a variety of harvestable crops in a vertical array. It is as though a typical horizontal field was rotated to become the side of a building. Biber reiterates that it is not a proposal for serious urban or vertical farming, which is usually indoors, but more of a didactic display talking about the past, present and future of the American farm, and the American diet. The pavilion itself then is a scaffolding for ideas, a rethinking of the nature of the Expo pavilion and of America as a force in the food world.

Finished with one coat of a clear anti-oxidant oil, the white oak decking was manufactured in Italy by Imola Legno. Comprising profiled random length strips, 20 mm in thickness and 80 mm wide, the floor was laid www.timberdesignandtechnology.com

June 2015

Image © Giovanni Nardi

Image © Giovanni Nardi

Image © Giovanni Nardi

AMERICAN WHITE OAK DECK FEATURES IN THE USA PAVILION AT MILAN EXPO 2015

using a hidden clip mounting system with 5 mm gaps between each strip.

Stainless steel fasteners were used and the decking can easily be taken up without damage either for routine maintenance or re-use, thus considerably extending its life expectancy. Although the USA Pavilion is a temporary exhibit, the deck is fixed with an innovative click system allowing it to be readily relocated, reused and maintained. It should last no less than 20 years and, with appropriate maintenance, for as long as 50 years.

The USA pavilion has a very strong sustainability theme featuring a vertical farm, the latest energy efficient technologies and reclaimed wood. But one of the strongest environmental messages is communicated through the use of the sustainably produced new American oak. AHEC, using its ground breaking Environmental Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) research, has produced a full cradle to grave environmental profile for the white oak deck. Data on the forestry, sawmilling, drying and shipping impacts of sending the white oak lumber to Italy were combined with data collected during manufacturing. Included in the assessment are all the nonwood materials (glues, oils and fixings) transport, installation and predicted life expectancy. At end of its life, the deck can either be recycled or burnt as a renewable fuel.

“The American white oak resource is not only renewable but is expanding. The resource is so large and growing so rapidly that it takes less than 25 seconds for the white oak harvested to manufacture the deck installed at Milan Expo to be replaced in the forest. The deck is better than carbon neutral on a cradle-to-grave basis. The carbon emissions associated with delivery of materials and fabrication of the deck are more than offset by energy generated from wood offcuts and disposal at end of life. Much of the energy input for production of the deck derives from renewables. For as long as the deck remains in use it will store the equivalent of 14.5 metric tons of CO2 equivalent,” concludes Roderick Wiles, AHEC Director for Africa, Middle East, South Asia and Oceania.

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‘MADE IN TASHKEEL 2015’ CELEBRATES EVOLVING AND DIVERSE RANGE OF ARTISTIC DISCIPLINES IN THE UAE

Image © Rand Abdul Jabbar

Since its inception in 2008, Tashkeel has seen how the art practices in the Middle East have evolved over the last eight years. This summer, the contemporary and non-profit art organization located in Nad Al Sheba, Dubai, continues to showcase the various techniques with the annual group exhibition, ‘Made in Tashkeel 2015’. Running from May 28 - August 20, 2015, the annual summer exhibition will feature recent works of UAE-based artists demonstrating their creativity resulting from experimentations, workshops and residencies facilitated by and held at Tashkeel. Both traditional and contemporary techniques throughout the different practices, including hand-made jewellery, bespoke furniture, typography, painting, vinyl record to digital and screen prints, will be presented during the threemonth exhibition.

Exhibiting artists and designers for this edition include: Alia bin Omair, Bahar and Sawsan Al Bahar, Debjani Bhardwaj, Fari Bradley and Chris Weaver, Hadil Moufti, Judy Shinnick-Nolan, Latifa Saeed, Maitha Demithan, Myneandyours, Rand Abdul Jabbar, Ruba Al Araji, Ruben Sanchez, Saher Oliver Samman, Salama Nasib, Sawsan Al Bahar, Talin Hazbar, Tamsin Wildy, Tulip Hazbar and Zuleika Penniman. In addition, UAE-based designers Talin Hazbar, Rand Abdul Jabbar, Saher Samman and Latifa Saeed will showcase products created for the 2014-15 Tashkeel Design Programme, which highlights designs, styles and production processes innate to the UAE. Sound artists Fari Bradley and Chris Weaver will exhibit a vinyl record, the result of their New Media residency at Tashkeel. In collaboration with The Vinyl Factory, the duo recorded experimental music in a model studio - a central installation part of their first solo show, ‘Systems for a Score.’

Works that will be exhibited include contemporary twists on jewellery by Alia AlFalasi and Zuleikha Penniman; a wall hanging light installation from Bahar and Sawsan Al Bahar; screen print by Tulip Hazbar, a painting by Judy Shinnick-Nolan; a mixed media piece by Hadil Moufti; collage by Tamsin Wildy; works on wood and reclaimed material by Ruben Sanchez and a digital print by Myneandyours, amongst others.

MALAYSIA’S COMMITMENT TO THE MENA REGION Malaysia is a major exporter of timber-based products to the Middle Eastern and Northern African (MENA) region. In 2014, exports to MENA countries totaled in excess of RM2.1 billion (USD 642 million), which is a modest 5 percent increase compared to 2013. As the Malaysian Timber Council (MTC) enters its 16th year of establishing an office in Dubai, its newly appointed Chairman Wee Jeck Seng reaffirms the Council’s commitment to the MENA region.

Malaysia’s sustainable forest management (SFM) practices began as early as 1901, with the appointment of its first forestry officer.

Sustainability and legality of timber materials are important to Malaysia.

Today, thanks to its SFM practices, Malaysia not only still has 61 percent of her land area covered with natural forests, but has also developed the Malaysian Timber Certification Scheme (MTCS), as evidence of sustainability and legality. The MTCS is accredited by the globally recognized Programme for the Endorsement of Forest Certification schemes.

Having exported timber-based products for at least 50 years, the country progressed from exporting mainly sawn timber in the 1960’s to more valueadded products like medium density fibreboard (MDF), builders carpentry and joinery, and wooden furniture today. Solid government policies also support the manufacturing industry towards strong and sustainable growth.

In March 2014, global real estate services firm Cushman & Wakefield ranked Malaysia the top manufacturing location in Asia in its comprehensive assessment of the most suitable locations to expand or relocate. The index analyzes three principal areas - costs, risks and conditions - and these are then broken down into more than 30 sub-

categories to include factors like logistics, the likelihood of natural disasters, economic risk, and energy and labor costs.

“This ranking is also a reflection of solid Malaysian policies that support a healthy enabling environment for the manufacture and trade of its timberbased products, particularly wooden furniture, sawntimber, plywood and fiberboard that altogether make up over USD 609 million (RM1.99 billion) of made-in-Malaysia timber-based exports to the MENA region,” said Wee Jeck Seng, Chairman of MTC. Traditionally, the MENA region has been a strong importer of Malaysian sawntimber, plywood, fiberboard and wooden furniture, which altogether make up almost 98 percent of all timber-based exports from Malaysia to the MENA region. Malaysian timbers, valued for their excellent technical properties and beautiful grains, are often specified for decking, flooring, pergolas and other applications. Species like Balau, Kapur, Kempas, Merbau and Red Meranti have often been used to up the luxury quota in high-end developments in countries like Bahrain, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and the UAE. Malaysia’s plywood and MDF are also major exports to the MENA region in 2014, together registering over USD 273 million (RM892.5 million) in value terms.

In 2015, apart from the Dubai WoodShow, Decofair in Saudi Arabia and Confair in Iran, MTC will also be participating in Batimatec (Algeria) and Project Lebanon. In addition, the council plans to arrange a series of marketing missions to the MENA region with a view to facilitate business between Malaysian suppliers and the timber industry in the region. In affirming MTC’s commitment, Chairman Wee said: “MTC’s continued presence in Dubai, now entering its sixteenth year, is evidence of the Council’s engagement with buyers in the MENA region.”

June 2015

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Occupying 140,000 square meters, the 2015 edition of CIFM / interzum guangzhou, Asia’s largest furniture production trade fair, which was held in Guangzhou, China was the largest to be staged in its history. A total of 1,269 industry manufacturers and suppliers from 35 countries and regions, including Germany, Italy, Belgium, Spain, Chile, Finland, the U.S., Canada, Russia, Turkey, India and Thailand gathered together to showcase their latest wares, which ranged from raw and auxiliary materials as well as upholstered furniture and bedding production machinery to woodworking machinery, furniture textile, hardware accessories, interior decoration machinery, and materials and components. Among the 309 overseas exhibitors, 24 percent were participants from 8 country pavilions.

“China, as the world’s largest furniture producer, has been presenting varied styles on the global stage, while CIFM / interzum guangzhou, as Asia’s flagship furniture production trade fair, has been committed to building a high quality platform for forging partnerships, and at the same time emphasizing on trade and the strengthening of ties between exhibitors and buyers. For the last 12 years, the event has grown together with the industry and driven the rapid development of the furniture trade in both China and Asia,” said Michael Dreyer, Vice President, Asia Pacific, Koelnmesse GmbH, organizer of the event.

Expressing his delight at the outcome of the American Hardwood Export Council’s participation, its regional director, John Chan, said: “Overall, there have been many visitors this year and our members here are all very satisfied.

We’ve seen a lot of high-quality buyers. They know about wood materials very well, have a certain understanding of our various products, and are very professional. So, this year, the organizers have done a great job in attracting high-quality customers. Both our participating members and I believe that this event is a very important platform, and hope that we can once again expand the scale of our pavilion at the next edition.”

“Based on our past experiences, visitor crowd usually peaks on the second and third days, but this year, we have already received a lot of customers just on the first day. This goes to show the increase in visitor traffic compared www.timberdesignandtechnology.com

June 2015

Image © CIFM/interzum guangzhou Image © CIFM/interzum guangzhou

Image © CIFM/interzum guangzhou

Image © CIFM/interzum guangzhou

CIFM / INTERZUM GUANGZHOU 2015 CLOSES WITH ANOTHER RECORD YEAR

with last year. In addition to domestic visitors, there have also been many foreign ones. Besides being interested in our products, many have also expressed their intention to cooperate with us. Not only that, they are all very professional, and of very good quality. The management and layout of the event are all well done,” echoed Svetlana Burik, Head of Aristo Trading Limited’s Guangzhou office.

“For us the number of visitors is not very important but the target crowd we are focusing on. We have met the people we are looking for, so the results are positive. At present, interzum guangzhou is the only furniture production and interior trade fair I have participated in in Mainland China. From my point of view, the good event facilities also enable the show to be held successfully,” said second-time exhibitor, Patrick Elissen, Manager Business Development, Vita Talalay (Radium Foam) from Netherlands.

Attending the event for the first time, Ming-Chih Hsieh, senior project specialist of Aurona Industries Inc said: “Although the exhibition area is huge, the product segmentation is very clear, making it easy to find the products we need, and we are very satisfied with that. Our key procurement targets are hardware accessories and raw materials, so, Area C is our main area. I have had in-depth exchange with a lot of suppliers. The services provided by the organizers have been very satisfactory.”

The PIAZZA visitor lounge located at Hall 14.1 kick-started a series of fringe events with the introduction of the U.S. and European furniture hardware standards and LGA certification by Huang Zhiwei of TÜV Rheinland. The highlight of the activities, an official seminar titled, ‘Behind the Furniture Industry’s Progress – Passing On Technology and Innovation in Furniture Production’, drew strong attendance. During the seminar, Michael Tsang of LINAK Actuator Systems talked about the global market trends for electric adjustable furniture. Subsequently, Andy Xia of Leitz Tooling Systems shared his knowledge on new furniture processing technology, while attendees also learned about how laser edge banding and high gloss surfaces transform the European furniture market from Dr. Uwe Kraemer of REHAU Polymer Solutions.

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Asia’s largest international flooring show gathered the industry in the heart of one of the most attractive markets - China - on March 24 - 26, 2015 and the statistics tell a successful story. A total of 1,275 exhibitors, among which 289 coming from 38 different countries, participated in the largest show in Asia held in 140,000 square meters of space encompassing 12 halls. Nine countries hosted pavilions showcasing a myriad of products and services from Afghanistan, Belgium, Germany, India, Iran, Netherlands, Nepal, Pakistan and the United States. Visitors totaled 46,115; of this number, 11,374 came from over 100 countries outside of China. 60.7 percent of the space was rebooked on spot, confirming exhibitors’ satisfaction on the value and the opportunities that this trade platform can bring to their business.

Some of the newest products and ideas presented at DOMOTEX asia/ CHINAFLOOR 2015 were brought to the spotlight through the InnovAction flooring campaign. 18,706 visitors voted for their top picks of the newest products and innovations and selected top 10 products for each of the 3 sectors. The winners included: Star-living, Dasso, Nature, Shenzhen Kingforest, Jinqiao Flooring, Zhejiang Shiyou, Zhejiang Yuhua, Ciambella Legnami, Beamy International and Zhejiang Yongyu for wood sector; Weihai Shanhua, Weihai Haima, Suzhou Duolaiyun, Wuxi Fuxing, Zhejiang Xingyue; Beijing U-Living, Nantong Homedec Weiya, Low&Bonar and Smart for carpet sector; Gerflor, Novalis, Armstrong, Tarkett, New Tech, Changzhou Liberty, Flooring Industries, National Flagship, Zhejiang Sunflower and Guangzhou Tongxin for resilient flooring.

This year’s InnovAction center showcased seven innovative ideas: ‘Back to Nature with Bamboo’ by Dasso Industrial Group; ‘Source-Nature’ by Weihai Shanhua Carpet Group; ‘Aurora’ by Newspec; ‘Carol Land’ by Suzhou Duolaiyun Houseware; ‘BIO+STYListic’ by Gerfloor; ‘Symphony in Colors’ by Novalis Innovative Flooring and ‘Infinity’ by Star-living.

The GreenStep Asia Awards, jointly organized with Floor Covering Weekly, honored Asian manufacturers’ commitment to sustainability and environment protection. At DOMOTEX asia/CHINAFLOOR 2015, a jury of experts from some of the most influential associations and media in the industry handed out nine main awards. The winners of GreenStep Asia Awards 2015 included: ShanDong Li Fang Jie with ‘Environment-friendly Floor Cleaning Membrane’ who won the Green Product Category; Weihai Shanhua and Zhejiang Sunflower were both announced winners of the Green Process Category and Novalis Innovative Flooring grabbed both Green Promotion and Green Pinnacle Awards. Honorable mentions were awarded to Wuxi Huacan and Dalian Huade for Product, Beaulieu Asia for Process and Polyflor represented by Shanghai Linkstrong for Pinnacle.

DOMOTEX asia/CHINAFLOOR 2015 expanded the trading platform by organizing concurrent events with related industries and increasing the opportunity for information exchange, education and cross marketing. One of the top highlights of these concurrent professional forums was the 2015

Image © DOMOTEX asia/CHINAFLOOR

Image © DOMOTEX asia/CHINAFLOOR

DOMOTEX ASIA/CHINAFLOOR SUCCESSFULLY HOSTS 1,275 EXHIBITORS OVER THREE DAYS

China International WPC Development Forum. With Wood Plastic Composite (WPC) becoming one of the hottest products in the global flooring industry, the forum attracted around 200 attendees (buyers and manufacturers) from over 10 different countries. The latest developments and trends for this sector were presented by Bryan Fairbanks, Executive Director of Trex and Takeyasu Kikuchi, CEO of WPC Corporation.

The show offered an enriched interactive and enhanced product resources and activities in special venues throughout the show grounds that gave visitors the opportunity to learn more about products and technologies showcased at the show. This included the Wooden Integrated Products Show Room - a new concept that made its debut for the first time at DOMOTEX asia/CHINAFLOOR 2015 show; the Display Area for the 20th Anniversary of China Flooring Industry, the Timber Area; the Floor Heating Installation Show, Handmade Carpet Salon, the Sports Experience Arena and more. Building on the success of this year, the organizers are already planning for the next edition, which will take place from March 22 - 24, 2016.

June 2015

www.timberdesignandtechnology.com

12 SUSTAINABILITY

Kolman Boye Architects, Benchmark, and AHEC collaborate to create a unique food delivery experience for Wallpaper* Handmade in Milan It takes less than a minute for new growth in the U.S. forest to replace the cherry logs harvested to manufacture the ‘Rotunda Serotina’ www.timberdesignandtechnology.com

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The American Hardwood Export Council (AHEC) partnered with architects Kolman Boye and furniture-makers Benchmark to showcase a towering structure of food plates in a commission for Wallpaper* Handmade 2015 called the ‘Rotunda Serotina’. The Danish/ Swedish architects Kolman Boye were invited by Wallpaper* to design a candy-store concept for serving free savory biscuits from local bistro T’a Milano.

Wallpaper* teamed up the designers with Benchmark, a company which has almost unparalleled knowledge of wood, to build the structure in collaboration with AHEC, the leading international trade association for

the American hardwood industry.

Constructed entirely of American cherry (Prunus serotina), the installation was a massive success at the Wallpaper* Arcade over the course of five days (April 14 - 18, 2015).

The tall columns of shelves were arranged in a cylindrical shape so that a single ladder could slide around inside the structure to scale every shelf. Each shelf in the Rotunda held rows of cherry wood snack trays that visitors could take home as limited edition samples from the exhibit. All 526 trays were snapped up by enthusiastic visitors in under three hours.

At over 3.7m in diameter and the same in height, this was not really a

Image © Petr Krejci

Image © Giovanni Nardi

Image © Petr Krejci

Image © Jon Cardwell

SUSTAINABILITY

piece of furniture but a substantial yet lightweight structure. With this in mind, AHEC turned to engineers Arup, central to a number of previous AHEC projects, including the ‘Timber Wave’ and ‘Endless Stair’, to carry out a structural appraisal and prototype tests, in order to inform the construction.

“In total we made 3,084 separate pieces connected by 1,008 joints to make up the ‘skeleton’ of the Rotunda together with 528 trays for the surface layer, all assembled without the use of nails, screws or glue. It is a wonderful piece of cabinet making and a tribute to the skills of our craftsmen who have used their fine techniques on such a grand scale,” explains Sean June 2015

Sutcliffe, Co-founder of Benchmark.

“Cherry wood, from a craftsman’s point of view, works beautifully and finishes to a gorgeous silky texture.

As a fruit wood, it has been prized through history and should be prized now. It has become a victim of fashion, which the forestry industry can ill afford given its 100-year planting and cropping plan. Rotunda Serotina continues our work on Life Cycle Assessment, which we hope will be taken on widely in the furniture making industry,” adds Sutcliffe.

Rotunda Serotina is one of a number of AHEC projects in 2015 that will celebrate cherry.

There are already indications that furniture designers are looking at www.timberdesignandtechnology.com

14 SUSTAINABILITY

ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT CATEGORIES

1. PRIMARY ENERGY DEMAND

2. PRIMARY ENERGY DEMAND

This is a measure of the total demand of primary energy that comes from non-renewable resources, such as oil and natural gas. Measured in gigajoules (GJ), the primary energy demand takes into account the conversion efficiencies from the primary energy to, for example, electricity. The generation of carbon dioxide from the production of energy is one of the major causes of global warming.

Like the primary energy demand from non-renewable resources, this is a measure of the total amount of primary energy, but in this case, derived from the renewable sources such as hydropower and wind. Again, it takes conversion efficiencies into account where appropriate. Total primary energy demand can be measured by adding the figures for energy from nonrenewable and renewable resources.

3. GLOBAL WARMING POTENTIAL

4. ACIDIFICATION POTENTIAL

Global warming is usually regarded as one of the most significant environmental issues. Global Warming Potential, measured in kg CO2 equivalent, is also a good marker for other environmental impacts. It is calculated from the volumes of greenhouse gases, such as carbon dioxide and methane, emitted during a process.

This is a measure of the emissions that cause acidifying effects to the environment, which can cause imbalances and death of species. Emissions of sulphur dioxide and nitrous oxide result in acid rain which can fall some way from the place where the emissions occur. Acidification potential is measured in kg of sulphur dioxide equivalent.

5. EUTROPHICATION POTENTIAL EP

6. PHOTOCHEMICAL OZONE CREATION POTENTIAL

Eutrophication potential is the process by which water receives an excessive amount of nutrients, particularly phosphates and nitrates.

These nutrients, which typically come from run-off from fertilisers, lead to algal blooms which, in turn, deprive the water of oxygen and lead to imbalances and deaths in the aquatic populations. Eutrophication is measured in terms of kg of phosphate equivalent, and kg of nitrogen equivalent.

This is a measure of emissions or precursors that contribute to low-level smog. It is measured in kg of ethene equivalent. Ozone layer depletion potential (ODP) is also part of the i-report but is not included in the charts because the effect is negligible. There may seem to be contradiction between these two impacts but, simply put, high-level ozone is good and should be protected, whereas ozone at ground level is a pollutant.

NON-RENEWABLE RESOURCES

GWP

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RENEWABLE RESOURCES

AP

POCP

Image © Giovanni Nardi

SUSTAINABILITY

in the Rotunda and limited use of other more energy-intensive materials contributes to a very strong environmental profile.

Highly desirable and readily available in the U.S. forest but underutilized in recent years, it takes less than a minute for new growth in the U.S. forest to replace the cherry logs harvested to manufacture the Rotunda. As such, the Rotunda is carbon neutral on a cradle-to-grave basis. In addition,

around a tonne of CO2 equivalent is sequestered in the main structure of the Rotunda and a further 295kg in the trays.

Wood resource American black cherry, which grows extensively in Pennsylvania, New York, Virginia and West Virginia, is one of the world’s fastest growing temperate hardwoods. It regenerates naturally and ages to a striking, rich reddish-brown color.

Carbon footprint The Rotunda is better than carbon neutral. The cradle-to-grave carbon footprint is -460 kg of CO2 equivalent. Emissions during all stages of material extraction and processing, manufacturing, and transport are 3,550 kg of CO2 equivalent. This is offset by 4,010 kg

Image © Giovanni Nardi

It is a wonderful piece of cabinet making and a tribute to the skills of our craftsmen who have used their fine techniques on such a grand scale

From a craftsman’s point of view, cherry works and finishes well.

And yet cherry is still being vastly underutilized. Cherry has become a victim of fashion, which the forestry industry can ill afford given its 100-year planting and cropping plan.

Establishing a balance between market demand and the dynamic of the forest is then essential to achieve true sustainability.

U.S. forest inventory data shows that cherry harvests could be greatly increased without undermining forest integrity or biodiversity.

American cherry growing stock is 306 million m3, 2.7 percent of total U.S. hardwood growing stock. American cherry is growing 8.6 million m3 per year while the harvest is 3.5 million m3 per year.

After harvesting, an additional 5.1 million m3 of cherry accumulate in U.S. forests every year. Given that growth exceeds harvest in all U.S. states, it takes around 55 seconds for new growth in the U.S. forest to replace the cherry logs harvested to manufacture the Rotunda.

Image © Petr Krejci

cherry wood again as a material of choice, which hopefully will lead to it becoming architecturally fashionable in the near future.

Given that cherry turns well on a lathe and also steam-bends with ease, AHEC is positive that this sustainable and versatile wood will make a comeback.

The Rotunda Serotina has its own full Environmental Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) created by consultants thinkstep (formerly PE international) using data from AHEC’s groundbreaking LCA study of U.S. sawn hardwood and data collected by Benchmark during the manufacturing process. The dominance of American cherry

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The eutrophication potential (EP) of the Rotunda is 3.45 kg of phosphate equivalent, about the same as caused each year by conventional farming of 0.16 hectares of land for wheat in the EU. Most EP of the Rotunda is due to nitrate emissions during burning of fuels for transport and material processing. Hardly any EP is linked to growth of U.S. hardwoods, which thrive under natural conditions and rarely require fertilisers.

The Rotunda’s acidification potential (AP) of 32 kg of SO2 equivalent is mainly caused by emissions during shipping of hardwoods from the U.S. to the EU and is due to the high sulphur content of marine fuels. The Rotunda’s Photochemical Ozone Creation Potential (POCP) is 5.8 kg of Ethene equivalent. Processing of U.S. hardwoods makes a significant contribution to POCP due to the presence of terpenes, naturally occurring VOCs, in wood resin.

Although terpenes are released naturally as trees grow, processes in which wood is heated lead to more significant emissions.

Renewable energy The 122 GJ input of renewable energy is due partly to the high proportion of thermal energy from burning of wood waste during processing of wood for the transport crates and the hardwood kiln drying process. At least 90 percent of all thermal energy used

Making a comeback “For visitors not used to seeing the striking pale-pinkish red timber in their surroundings, the emergence of Prunus serotina was a revelation.

Gone were the traditional reddish, highly lacquered connotations of cherry. The contemporary porous appearance of the wood fit in beautifully with the current vogue for raw, rugged timber,” said Roderick Wiles, AHEC Director for Africa, Middle East, South Asia and Oceania.

All of the cherry for the project was facilitated by Morgan Timber and NHG Timber and donated by AHEC members including Wheeland Lumber Company; Bingaman & Son Lumber; Cersosimo Lumber Co; Allegheny Wood Products; Blue Ridge Lumber; and J & J Log and Lumber. Cherry’s sustainability means it will likely always be available to bespoke and industrial furniture makers. AHEC’s focus on cherry at Milan’s Salone del Mobile then marks a turning point and a fresh chapter for this important hardwood.

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Image © Giovanni Nardi

Other impacts

for kiln drying in the U.S. hardwood sector is derived from biomass.

The high proportion of renewable energy attributed to the forestry stage is a feature of life cycle inventory rules for wood products and has nothing to do with the energy for forestry operations. It is the solar energy absorbed by the tree during growth and converted into chemical energy within the wood itself. In other words it is the energy that would have been released if the wood were burnt immediately after harvest.

Image © Giovanni Nardi

of avoided emissions from energy recovery. As a bespoke project with many individual elements, a high proportion of wood required to manufacture the Rotunda did not end up in the finished product.

Wood was also required for the crates to transport the Rotunda from the UK to Milan (see Table 01).

The significant volume of waste wood diverted to energy production offsets use of fossil fuels in other industrial processes and is therefore recorded as a credit in the LCA. The downside of wood wastage is that the long-term carbon storage potential is reduced. Nevertheless, 1,042 kg CO2 equivalent remains sequestered in the main structure of the Rotunda and a further 295 kg in the 1,650 trays manufactured for the Rotunda.

Image © Giovanni Nardi

16 SUSTAINABILITY

17

Sustainable Softwoods America’s forests produce over 80 million cubic metres of sawn timber a year, making America the largest timber producer in the world.

Modern forest management ensures that felled trees are replaced and that every year more wood is grown in US forests than is harvested. 1.6 billion seedlings are planted in the US every year, equal to 4.4 million trees every single day of the year. As a result, the US has more trees today than 70 years ago.

People you can do business with info@americansoftwoods.com

June 2015

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18 MARKET REPORT

It’s only natural: Bring the effects of nature inside through wood Wood in our living spaces has significant health and environmental benefits

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MARKET REPORT Did you know that exposure to wood products and interiors has measurable health benefits, similar those created by spending time in nature? A new report titled Wood - Housing, Health, Humanity, commissioned by Planet Ark Environmental Foundation in Australia, has found that less than 1 in 2 people know there are associated health benefits of using this natural and renewable material.

Chris Philpot, Make it Wood Manager at Planet Ark, outlines the basic outcomes of the report.

Good for body and brain Wood has been central to almost every culture in the world. Humans have used it through the ages for hunting, storing food, decorations and for building shelter and an unimaginable variety of uses. Even the first cars and planes were constructed from wood! In 2015, wood is now on the cusp of a major revival and has emerged as the key building material in the fight against climate change. There is also mounting evidence that it is good for human health.

Due to increasing urbanization, longer working hours and increased screen time, we spend the majority of our time inside. This move indoors has well-reported health consequences, so understanding how

to incorporate the many benefits of nature into our home environment is a growing and important area of research. Our report looks at the health and wellbeing benefits of being surrounded by wood at home, school and work as well as in health settings. The research shows that there are real and measurable benefits for the brain and body, which are similar to those created by spending time in nature.

One of the most striking, and easiest to measure, benefits of exposure to wood is the effect it has on heart rate and blood pressure. A year-long Austrian study examined 36 high school students aged 13-15 who were taught in either a classroom furbished with floors, ceilings, cupboards and wall panels made of solid wood, or a classroom featuring a linoleum floor, plasterboard walls and chipboard cupboards. The results showed significant differences between the two groups, with students taught in the wooden classrooms having decreased heart rates and decreased perception of stress from interactions with teachers. In contrast, students taught in the control classroom had increased heart rates and had greater stress responses.

Studies also suggest that exposure to stress and stress

hormones during childhood and adolescence increases the probability of individuals developing stressrelated mental disorders later in life, and may even influence the timing of puberty. So incorporating natural wood into learning environments at home and school can have significant and long lasting positive effects.

Similar physiological results have been found when comparing people in rooms with wooden wall panels and those exposed to steel wall panels, as well as people sleeping in beds made from solid wood or imitation wood. An increasing number of architects who design buildings for healing, learning and relaxation are now incorporating significant amounts of wood into their structures to capitalize on its health and wellbeing benefits.

Warm and comfortable We appear to be innately drawn towards wood. A survey included in our report found that an overwhelming 96 percent of people agree that wood is visually appealing and has a natural look and feel.

Wood has significant health and wellbeing, as well as societal benefits outside of the home too.

A study of residents in an aged care home using wooden tables, chairs and tableware was examined and compared to residents using plastic products. The results indicated that the use of wooden products increased the number of interactions between individuals (i.e. more talkative and more willing to

Image Š Tom Arban

Image Š HERO SHOT

In 2015, wood is now on the cusp of a major revival and has emerged as the key building material in the fight against climate change

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20 MARKET REPORT engage with one another), improved emotional state and expanded selfexpression in a positive way.

When Planet Ark presented survey participants with images of two rooms, one furnished with a wooden chair, desk, blinds and other items made from wood, while the other showed the same items made from plastic, two out of every three people said they preferred the wooden room. This was the case despite one in two people saying they were completely unaware that wood had associated health benefits.

A renewable and sustainable resource Wood is not just good for human health, it’s good for the planet too.

Responsibly sourced and certified wood is the only significant building material that is renewable and helps reduce climate change.

As most of us learned in school science, trees remove carbon from the atmosphere through the process of photosynthesis and store it as biomass, mostly wood. Planting

more trees will therefore absorb more carbon and help reduce the impact of emissions. When responsibly sourced wood is used as a building material or to create long-lasting products, those items become a carbon store - they lock carbon out of the atmosphere.

Using wood as a building material also means that the use of much more carbon-intensive and non-

are essential for protecting environmentally important forests and providing consumers with assurance that the wood they are using was responsibly sourced. So before you choose any wood product, it’s important to do your homework.

Despite its importance, there is a high level of confusion regarding certified wood. Our survey showed that only one in three people thought

Responsibly sourced and certified wood is the only significant building material that is renewable and helps reduce climate change renewable materials like concrete and steel can be reduced. For example, one study identified that the total energy consumption in the manufacturing of steel beams is two to three times higher, and the use of fossil fuels is six to twelve times higher, than manufacturing timber beams.

Be certain it’s certified Strong certification systems

that it was relatively easy to find certified wood. This highlights the need for better awareness and education of how certification works.

Certification systems set principles and criteria for the management of forests and timber, and certification is only granted after an assessment by an independent third party. As a conscientious consumer, I really encourage you to ask your builder or furniture

supplier what they know about certification and whether their suppliers are certified. Even just asking the question sends a signal that consumers are interested and certified products are in demand.

Sometimes economic imperatives are needed encourage suppliers to make the switch to certified.

Good for housing, health and humanity Each year, many new dwellings are approved for construction around the world. Unfortunately, at the moment, most of these will be built using concrete and steel. However, with the increased knowledge we now have of the health and wellbeing benefits of being surrounded by wood, we, as individuals, can choose to use wood for both structural and decorating purposes. Not only will this be good for our own health but will be good for the planet too.

Wood is one of the oldest and most versatile building materials used by humanity and its revival shows it has a large part to play in building a healthy future.

Image © State Library of Victoria

Image © Planet Ark

About the Author

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Chris Philpot, Manager, Make it Wood & Make it Recycled Campaigns, has dedicated the last eleven years of his career to environmental not-for-profit organizations. Chris was the Communications Director for Waterwise in the UK, before moving to Australia to work with Planet Ark in 2011.

Chris manages Planet Ark’s ‘Make It Wood’ campaign, as well as the partnership with Australian Paper. When Chris isn’t working, he is playing with his adorable young son, running or swimming around the Sydney beachside suburb of Manly, listening to music or cooking.

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22 ANALYSIS

Michele De Lucchi unveils his vision for the office of tomorrow at the 2015 Salone del Mobile Timber is a key component of ‘La Passeggiata (The Walk)’ www.timberdesignandtechnology.com

June 2015

Testament to the global renaissance of timber, this year’s Salone del Mobile featured a host of products where timber was a key material. Standing out amongst all of them was ‘La Passeggiata (The Walk)’ by Michele De Lucchi.

The installation went on show from April 14 - 19 at the Rho Milan Fairgrounds, animating Pavilions 22 and 24 of Workplace3.0 - the innovative exhibition dedicated to design and technology for planning workspaces - with design suggestions and ideas.

The 54th edition of the Salone del Mobile opened its doors at

the Rho Milan Fairgrounds along with the International Furnishing Accessories Exhibition and SaloneSatellite - both annual exhibitions - and the biennial Euroluce / International Lighting Exhibition and Workplace3.0/ SaloneUfficio. ‘The Walk’, a great workplace-based installation, designed by Michele De Lucchi, characterizes the Salone del Mobile and the office world in particular.

“Walking helps keep anxieties and worries at bay, and reconciles mind and body,” says Luca Gianotti, author of ‘L’arte del camminare.

Consigli pratici per partire con il

Image © Michele De Lucchi

Image © Michele De Lucchi

Image © Michele De Lucchi

ANALYSIS 23

Entirely dedicated to the work environment, the installation aimed to indicate four parts of office life piede giusto’ (The Art of Walking - Practical advice for setting off on the right foot).

According to Wu Ming 2, “the art of walking is a visual art that confers the ability to look at the world differently.” These concepts have informed world-renowned Italian architect Michele De Lucchi’s installation, a circular never-ending path through the labyrinthine

meanderings of the workplace, which puts the stress on the importance of moving about even when in the office in order to spark the crucial stimulus for the creative process.

Eliminating the need to worry about basic survival enabled humans to seek a more profound way of inhabiting the planet: generating ideas that improve the June 2015

quality of life. The office is precisely the kind of place where this creative process can happen, but we need to find a reason to go there, given that today we can work anywhere.

Movement fosters the production of new thoughts insofar as walking means leaving worry behind, observing the world from a different perspective and drawing inspiration from a landscape that changes continually, influencing us and challenging us. It is therefore important to avoid immobility and to arrive at one’s workplace after having followed a path that leads to a place that fosters productivity, www.timberdesignandtechnology.com

facilitates exchange and stimulates contamination.

Relationships with other people must be encouraged in order to help us evolve, and this is why the office of the future is mutable, informal, open towards the outside, enriched by works of art, surrounded by green. A sort of gym for training the mind to generate new possibilities, with spaces designed to increase wellbeing, develop potential and stimulate the imagination, without forgetting that the beauty of nature can fertilize the rich terrain of knowledge.

Entirely dedicated to the work environment, the installation aimed to indicate four parts of office life and is split into the following themed areas: Club, Free Men, Agorà and Laboratory. Through his installation, Michele De Lucchi

Image © Michele De Lucchi Image © Michele De Lucchi

Image © Michele De Lucchi

Image © Michele De Lucchi

24 ANALYSIS

Nature has a key role to play in the production process: the artificial world in which we live and work cannot replace it takes us along a path that teaches us to “think of the workspace as a gymnasium for the mind, which means conceiving it as a place where relationships generate new ideas and possibilities. Offices of the future are changing landscapes, unfettered by convention, evolving spaces and perpetuate an endless stream of new ideas.”

The Club is a sort of communication platform, where priority is given to socializing and interchange and the space is pleasantly informal, while being organized in such a way as to favor all possible forms of working. The space is reminiscent of welcoming

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hotel reception rooms or airport lounges, which also offer a cup of coffee or a bite to eat.

Free Men is a workspace designed for individual or group working, and should serve to promote the exchange of ideas and skills - on which the creative productive process is founded while fostering the correct balance between “me” and “us.” Nourishing the creativity of individuals is actually just as important as developing potential for group work, and relational context has a fundamental role to play in both processes. This themed area is characterized by many

small structures, private spaces for meeting colleagues, writing, analyzing, weighing things up alone or with others, and people are free to use their workspace as best suits them.

Agorà is a pavilion designed to cater for meetings, conferences, presentations, screenings, exhibitions, shows and special events. A place in which various types of meetings can be held, individual ideas presented and those of other people aired, enabling people to play their own particular role in the theater of life, while fostering an all-important sense of community. It can also become a workspace in which tables and chairs can be arranged for group work.

Finally, the Laboratory is where the creative process takes shape, culminating in

the most fertile seeds to take root; the overgrown hedges, at the mercy of hybridization and contamination, are as alive and flourishing as the thoughts and imaginings that do not fit precisely into any discipline or category of knowledge.

Art also has a part to play in the workplace, and the installation is studded with it. It helps to trigger the senses, alleviate the burden of the working day and connect people. Art stimulates the imagination, but most of all it saves the workplace from being a sterile space that jeopardises people’s wellbeing and hinders their potential.

Works by Marcello Chiarenza, architect, sculptor, painter, set designer, author and theater director - made from branches of hazel wood - enrich the path through ‘The Walk’, concrete reminders of the importance of the role that art can play. The subjects of the sculptures are drawn from the symbolic body of the calendar year, facets of nature, the cycle of

spaces and perpetuate an endless stream of new ideas.”

“Philosophy is well worth believing in, and philosophy was born of walking. Living, working, producing, discussing, making decisions and evolving only make sense if we know where we are going and if there are good reasons to believe that that particular place or objective is worth reaching,” concludes De Lucchi.

Image © Michele De Lucchi

Through his installation, Michele De Lucchi takes us along a path that teaches us to think of the workspace as a gymnasium for the mind

the changing seasons, as if to echo the links between man and nature that surround the workplace.

Michele De Lucchi thus takes us along a path that teaches us to “think of the workspace as a gymnasium for the mind, which means conceiving it as a place where relationships generate new ideas and possibilities. Offices of the future are changing landscapes, unfettered by convention, evolving

Image © Michele De Lucchi

documents, presentations and 3D prototypes, images, software and applications. It is the area devoted to designing, exploring new tools and instruments, making up images and documents, where ideas and thoughts actually take shape and differing processes contribute to the consolidation of the community.

According to De Lucchi, nature has a key role to play in the production process: the artificial world in which we live and work cannot replace it. This is why an “ecosystem” of spaces - a garden with different areas - surrounds ‘The Walk’, offering ample choice of where and how best to accomplish one’s work. Greenery puts us in contact with nature, enabling us to witness the changing seasons, day changing into night, and the sounds and scents that make up the beauty of the universe.

Just as the concept of permaculture can be applied to agriculture, left untended, offices could provide the ideal ground for

Image © Michele De Lucchi

ANALYSIS 25

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26 ANALYSIS

Michael Green Green Michael Architecture builds builds Architecture North America’s America’s North tallest wood wood building building tallest in British British Columbia Columbia in Wood WoodInnovation Innovationand andDesign DesignCenter Centeraims aimstoto showcase showcasenew, new,innovative innovativeand andadvanced advancedways ways ofofutilizing wood utilizing wood

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Image Š MGA/Ema Peter

ANALYSIS 27

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28 ANALYSIS 29.5m tall - for the moment, the world’s tallest modern all timber structure, a record soon to be broken by other mass timber buildings in the works.

With this project, MGA sought to demonstrate economical, repeatable technologies for building high-rise structures with timber, in hopes of inspiring institutions, private sector developers, and other architects and engineers to embrace this way of building. Building in wood sourced from sustainably managed forests offers designers a rapidly renewable, low energy and carbon-sequestering alternative to traditional building materials used for larger buildings.

Concepts The form of the building is rational and restrained, allowing the beauty of wood to shine through. The building exterior is inspired by bark peeling away from the trunk of a tree; bark on the north side, thick and protective from the cold and elements, thins away towards the south sunlight. Following the metaphor, the building is more opaque to the north and becomes increasingly transparent towards the south, welcoming passive solar heat gain. To the east and west, the wood columns supporting the

curtain wall glazing cut the low angle of the rising and setting sun.

The summer sun is controlled with wood blinds.

As a facility conceived to showcase the potential for building mid-rise and high-rise structures using engineered mass timber products, there is no concrete used

Image © MGA/Ema Peter

The form of the building is rational and restrained, allowing the beauty of wood to shine through

Image © MGA

The Wood Innovation Design Center (WIDC) celebrates wood as one of the most beautiful and sustainable materials for building in British Columbia, and around the globe.

The project was designed by tall wood building advocates Michael Green Architecture (MGA) and constructed by PCL Construction.

Equilibrium Consulting designed the innovative structure with MGA. The building is owned by the Province of British Columbia and will be used by the University of Northern British Columbia and office tenants.

A milestone in the advocacy of increasingly taller wood structures, the project allows the concepts for ‘Tall Wood’ to be tested and built for the first time in North America.

The WIDC serves as a gathering place for researchers, academics, design professionals and others interested in generating ideas for innovative uses of wood. The University of Northern BC will occupy the lower three floors of the building, with facilities for a proposed Master of Engineering in Integrated Wood Design. Upper floors provide office space for government and wood industryrelated organizations. The eightstorey building (six storey plus mezzanine and penthouse) stands

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in the building above the ground floor slab, with the exception of a floor topping at the mechanical penthouse. The design incorporates a simple, ‘dry’ structure of systemsintegrated CLT (cross laminated timber) floor panels, glulam columns and beams, and CLT walls. The wood structure is exposed as the ceiling finish in most spaces. This simplicity translates into repeatability of the system.

MGA chose to clad the building exterior in a mix of natural cedar, left to naturally weather to grey, and charred cedar. Charring exterior wood cladding is a centuries-old technique, borrowed from Japanese craftsmen. The layer of char on the exterior of the wood provides insect and rot resistance, as well as increased fire resistance. It requires very minimal maintenance, and creates a beautiful dark patina that changes with the light.

Instead of focusing solely on a showpiece structure, MGA have created a building that can be easily replicated. This was a fundamental choice, made in the interest of seeing many more architects, engineers, and private developers recognize the value of mass timber

Image Š MGA/Ema Peter

ANALYSIS 29

MGA chose to clad the building exterior in a mix of natural cedar, left to naturally weather to grey, and charred cedar

Sustainability The environmental impact of the building on the construction industry is tremendous; trading wood structures for the more commonly used steel and concrete will have a major impact on reducing carbon footprints. The embodied energy of wood buildings is far lower than that of concrete or steel buildings. Wood is the only building material grown by the sun, with low energy requirements to extract and process.

According to MGA, a detailed Life Cycle Impact analysis comparing WIDC and the same building if it was built in concrete reveals: an 88 percent improvement in global warming potential; 43 percent in non-renewable Energy Depletion; 47 percent improvement in acidification potential; 33 percent improvement in human health criteria air

pollutants; 54 percent improvement in ozone depletion potential; and a 39 percent improvement in smog potential.

Project challenges The British Columbia Building Code does not allow for non-residential buildings to exceed 4 storeys when constructed of wood. However, the provincial government enacted a unique Site Specific Regulation, amending the building code for this project alone, to allow a mass timber building of six storeys to be built for Assembly and Office occupancies. As such, the building’s height was limited only by the physical resources of the local Fire Department.

In WIDC, the timber structure is exposed, rather than encapsulated with drywall (as is required to protect other types of construction).

Steel connectors are embedded and concealed within the timber elements; fire-resistant wood

Image Š MGA/Ema Peter

design as an alternative to steel and concrete.

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Image © MGA/Ema Peter

30 ANALYSIS

mass timber construction.

The future of ‘Tall Wood’ This project has set many precedents in the North American building context through the extensive engineering research and testing by the project team to prove the safety and validity of mass timber construction techniques. It comes as no surprise that MGA is already working with a major U.S. developer of future timber towers.

The basic structural concept for WIDC can be used for buildings up to 20 and 30 storeys in height with little modification, as described in ‘The Case For Tall Wood’. Michael Green is then confident that North American building codes will soon begin to adopt ‘Tall Wood’ construction as a standard, safe practice.

“WIDC represents an important milestone in the evolution of wood

Instead of focusing solely on a showpiece structure, MGA have created a building that can be easily replicated

Image © MGA

elements in fact protect the fire-susceptible steel connectors.

The entire building core including exit stair is constructed of CLT. Extensive engineering analysis and physical testing was performed to demonstrate effective smoke and fire separations.

According to MGA, the choice to eliminate concrete from the floor assemblies and expose the structure created acoustic challenges. Through extensive acoustic analysis and testing, they have achieved high-performing acoustic floor and partition assemblies to meet the client’s requirements. Aiming to counter widespread public misconceptions about mass timber construction, the aim was to raise public awareness and help the layman understand the difference between light wood frame construction (combustible) and the inherent fire resistance of

buildings in North America and to some extent the world. The project introduces new methods of working with mass timber panels and specifically cross laminated timber. We designed the project as a repeatable solution and a tool to educate designers, building owners, code authorities, contractors and industry in the opportunities of advanced wood products. We are proud of the leadership B.C. has shown in envisioning the project and in helping us all truly deliver such a significant step in the future of tall wood buildings,” concludes Michael Green, Architect, MGA.

Project Details Project Name

Wood Innovation Design Center (WIDC)

Architects

Michael Green Architecture (MGA)

Client

Province of British Columbia | Ministry of Jobs, Tourism, and Skills Training

Height 29.5m

Area

4,820 sqm

Total project cost (excluding cost of land) CAD 25.1 million

Approximate construction hard costs CAD 16.7 million

Contractor

Image © MGA/Ema Peter

PCL Constructors Westcoast Inc.

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Project timeline

March 2013 - October 2014

Photography

Ema Peter and MGA

31

WHERE IDEAS CAN GROW.

REALISED BY ®

Mayr-Melnhof Holz Headquarters, Leoben, Austria

Banana Island Resort, Welcome Center, Qatar

HT20plus Formwork beams K1 yellowplan Formwork panels

Sawn Timber for Middle East Markets

Mayr-Melnhof Timber Trading GmbH Turmgasse 67 п 8700 Leoben, Austria п T +43 3842 300 3522 п F +43 3842 300 3500 trading@mm-holz.com п www.mm-holz.com June 2015 www.timberdesignandtechnology.com

32 DESIGN & DÉCOR

Osmose designs lounge experience for tea lovers

Image © Ken Hayward

‘Small Tea’ makes a big impact

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June 2015

Image © Ken Hayward

DESIGN & DÉCOR 33

of the hip and young. Everything but small, the house offers 84 teas to taste as well as some healthy bites, all celebrating organic flavor, meditation, and the handicraft put into the growing and brewing of the green leaves.

A sleek, oak-clad, oval-shaped island in the center of the store called the ‘Scent Station’ allows visitors to see and smell each of the 84 teas and blends offered. Wall shelving displays handmade copper tins for tea-tenders to dispense the blends, while unique staggeredcorner shelves hold an array of potted plants. Once a selection is made, the teas are dispensed from handmade copper tins made by the Kaikado family, who have been creating tea storage containers with the same traditional method for over 200 years. Small Tea uses (Alphadominche’s Steam Punk) brewing machines, which accelerate the steeping process, and enables the precise brewing time that the vast variety of teas require. The overall space is a tonal streamlined experience in order to direct emphasis towards product and user experience areas.

Osmose studied tea harvesting processes, with the objective of understanding the natural materials used behind the scenes in tea production. The Abaca

The 4,000 sq.ft. interior is a cocoon of serenity, with oak paneling, polished concrete flooring, and inviting seating options

Image © Ken Hayward

On the heels of completing Stumptown Coffee Roaster’s New York flagship, Osmose principal Andee Hess switched to another warm drink in another part of the country. She’s masterminded the transformation of a bank branch in the Miami suburb of Coral Gables into Small Tea, a new concept in the buzzing sector that focuses on customer exploration of myriad varieties. The 4,000 sq.ft. interior is a cocoon of serenity, with oak paneling, polished concrete flooring, and inviting seating options, among them Lievore Altherr Molina lounge chairs. There’s also evidence that Hess steeped herself in the subject: she built a canopy from 1,250 boxes wrapped in woven abaca, a natural fiber typical of the baskets used to harvest tea leaves.

Florida and tea seems an unlikely combination, especially regarding the popularity of third-wave coffee and the peninsula’s geographical proximity to the coffee-growing Caribbean area. Despite (or, actually, because of) all the hype around artisan coffee, and probably suffering from caffeine-overdose, a group of Portland creatives decided to move forward and open tea room in Miami. What was born, Small Tea, combines the best of zenembracing Japanese tea culture and the trend and design-consciousness

June 2015

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34 DESIGN & DÉCOR

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Image © Ken Hayward

cloth wrapped ceiling boxes are representative of baskets used in harvesting tea and have been designed by Osmose and installed

by Goldenwood in Miami. Their patterning allegedly reflects the Small Tea logo and creates a play of shadows on the polished concrete flooring. The scent station containers and merchandise throughout the space, all rest on woven rattan material, which is often used in processing tea leaves as well. In addition, the LED teacup stems are made of handspun ceramic bowls by Pigeon Toe ceramics.

The shop is a brilliant collaboration of Small Tea’s owner Daniel Charles Joseph Benoudiz and Interior Designer Andee Hess, founder of Portlandbased architecture firm Osmose, resulting in a beautifully considered and soulful space. According to Benoudiz, Small Tea is all about introducing people to rare teas from all corners of the earth.

Their curated music, tea displays, and sumptuous food makes the space feel like a store, but it’s really a modern sanctuary. When you visit, you will experience that immediately. When you leave, you’re going to want to take some of that with you.

As stated by the founders themselves, with Small Tea they wished to create a ‘modern sanctuary’, which, by bringing the vibes of Florida, the Portland aesthetic, and the calming drink of the Far East under one roof, offers a retreat in the gaudy Miami sun. Following a conscious design language spearheaded by Osmose and their expertise in using natural materials, almost all of the surfaces except for the polished concrete floor are covered in wood, providing a warm and calming environment.

Furniture is also wood upholstered with organic fabrics and kept in tone with the wooden walls.

“Osmose is a design firm based in Portland, OR, and we connected with Small Tea’s owner shortly after completing the Stumptown Coffee’s flagship location in NYC’s West Village. The combination of a Miami owner and a Portland based interior designer made for a great collaboration, resulting in a beautifully considered and soulful space,” concludes Hee. June 2015

Image © Ken Hayward

DESIGN & DÉCOR 35

Image © Ken Hayward

Image © Ken Hayward

Image © Ken Hayward

Image © Ken Hayward

Their curated music, tea displays, and sumptuous food makes the space feel like a store, but it’s really a modern sanctuary

June 2015

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36 DESIGN & DÉCOR

American white oak helps evoke a Scandinavian freshness coupled with a New England crafted quality at No.57 Boutique Cafe Anarchitect design a space that is warm, inviting and surprisingly intriguing despite its relatively small scale fashion designers, brands, musicians and TV personalities.

The challenge faced by Dubai based design practice Anarchitect, was to capture this creativity, culinary flare and social dynamic into the first permanent home for the No.57 Boutique Cafe in Abu Dhabi, UAE, without losing the essence of the pop-up dinners.

Given that the project was the first permanent space for the client, the brief called for maximum flexibility in the design and practical functionality. Crafted materiality and a sense of intrigue all in a relatively small space shaped the

Image © ALester Ali

With the boutique cafe, Anarchitect had the chance to explore new concepts of what a No.57 meal or even a casual coffee would be

Image © Lester Ali

Underground supper club and social media frenzy, The Dinner Club by No.57, was created by two Emirati female entrepreneurs over two years ago as a way of experiencing local fusion food in unique surprise settings. Each month, the hosts select a new secret location - locally or internationally - invite a group of unique individuals from various professional backgrounds, and serve delicious food in temporary, themed settings. The venture has become a success with its 18,000 plus social media followers and has attracted the support and sponsorship of international

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June 2015

Image © Lester Ali

DESIGN & DÉCOR 37

June 2015

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Image ©Lester Ali

38 DESIGN & DÉCOR

Image © Lester Ali

The light and airy bistro uses American white oak plank floors, custom made tables with carrara marble tops and black powder-coated metal details

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June 2015

design approach of Anarchitect, who envisaged the restaurant as a natural evolution of the famous dinner club events created and run by their clients for the last couple of years.

“Cafe No.57 is a complementary evolution and dynamic space that strengthens the supper club and brings a day-to-day life dimension to the overall synonymous experience. We were conscious not to try and replicate the exclusivity, secrecy or temporality of ‘The Dinner Club’ concept but rather create a new social experience where people and followers of the Dinner Club can come and enjoy the food and interact with this diverse, multifaceted permanent space,” said Jonathan Ashmore, Director, Anarchitect.

With the boutique cafe, Anarchitect had the chance to explore new concepts of what a No.57 meal or even a casual coffee would be. Wanting to capture the essence of what their clients had created and what customers expected to experience, they planned the internal space around three core areas where these new experiences take place. The fast-flowing coffee culture as a social component of the café happens immediately at the main entrance. A pastry and coffee counter positioned in prominent view from the outside also includes

a high-stool seating counter. The bright and airy bistro in front of the open kitchen provides a more relaxed and casual experience for breakfast and lunch, while a more intimate and cosy dining space was designed for evening meals and long weekend lunches.

According to Ashmore, the decision was made to work with a refined palette of three main materials for the overall project.

Different compositions and relationships between materials helped define a character for each of the main spaces. The light and airy bistro uses American white oak plank floors, custom made tables with carrara marble tops and black powder-coated metal details. Here, the kitchen is separated from the bistro by a metal frame storage wall that offers theatrical vistas of the main kitchen as a backdrop.

Constructed from hollow square section powder-coated steel with solid American white oak shelf inserts, the bespoke storage wall and kitchen pass was carefully designed to accommodate all types of crockery and bottles. Material composition is then reversed in the dining area to include marble floors, American white oak tabletops and custom-built joinery and banquets, which offers a contemporary elegance for late afternoon and evening dining.

Accented with subtle detailed wall

panelling and crystal cut mirrors, a sense of visual intrigue and a social connectivity is retained around the space.

“We worked closely with our client to understand their approach and process for the series of Dinner Club events as we wanted to create a fourth space in the project

that could perform as a stage set to host new series of temporary events. The Secret Dining room was born as a stripped-back event space hidden in the heart of the cafe to host temporary dinners for invited artists, brands to showcase launches, or just simply for the cafe to reveal from time-to-time during

White oak was preferred for its tone and prominent grain to achieve the desired look for the joinery

opening hours,” adds Ashmore.

Anarchitect also designed all of the custom joinery pieces and timber wall panelling using American white oak solids and veneers with an open grain.

According to Ashmore, the freestanding banquets and the raised rear nook with feature cradenza in the dining area stand out against the carrara marble floors, crisp mirrors and clean lines of the walls and ceilings. White oak was preferred for its tone and prominent grain to achieve the desired look for the joinery.

It was important that the wood looked natural and so a clear-matte lacquer was used to protect it, which also opened up the grain to contrast the solid smooth finishes of both the marble and powdercoated metal finishes elsewhere in the project.

The project consultancy team also included specialist hospitality consultancy, Glee, with whom Anarchitect coordinated on much of the operational side of the restaurant together with the client. In addition, the designers also worked very closely with the contractor, Havelock AHI, for the bespoke joinery pieces and on-site coordination. Despite the fact that in many hospitality and F&B projects, time and approvals from the relevant authorities always prove to be the biggest challenges, Anarchitect were able to deliver the project within the time frame

agreed upon.

Ashmore is especially complimentary of Havelock AHI, which relied on its years of experience and facilities to deliver an exceptional result on all of the woodwork and joinery production.

The use of American white oak along with marble and powdercoated steel has ensured that the space is warm, inviting and surprisingly intriguing despite its relatively small scale. According to Ashmore, the aesthetic evokes a Scandinavian freshness coupled with a New England crafted quality through the use of natural and carefully selected materials.

“The project looks great and functions exactly as we planned it. No.57 was a solid and well detailed canvas upon which we wanted our clients to grow and add their own styles over time, just like a residential project. The project was also a seed in a new location with an interesting client to hopefully act as a catalyst for the wider surrounding community to take inspiration. We have had a great response internationally for the design of the project and also positive feedback from the clients, staff and visitors for the overall look, feel and functionality for the space. Having worked with white oak on previous projects, we will continue to work with it on future projects both in the Middle East and internationally,” concludes Ashmore.

Project Details Project Name

No.57 Boutique Cafe

Client

The Dinner Club by No.57

Architect Anarchitect

Joinery

Havelock AHI

Area

210 sqm

Location Image © Lester Ali

Image © Lester Ali

DESIGN & DÉCOR 39

June 2015

Al Bateen, Abu Dhabi, UAE

Wood Species

American white oak

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40 TECHNOLOGY

What if the Colosseum was made of wood?

Mets채 Mets채 Wood Wood reveals reveals its its new new and and innovative innovative Plan B concept Plan B concept

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June 2015

Image Š Helin & co. Architects

TECHNOLOGY 41

June 2015

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Image © Helin & co. Architects

42 TECHNOLOGY

but also efficient, fast to construct and enables light structures. Wood is also a more fireproof material than ordinary perceived.

“We’re not saying that everything should be built of wood, but the construction world needs a Plan B. Wood should always be considered as a serious option in everything from structures to interiors.

Combining different building materials is often the best option.

Our premium-quality wood products are made for all kinds of demanding needs of our construction, industrial and distribution partners,” said Esa Kaikkonen, Executive Vice President

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June 2015

of Metsä Wood.

Plan B challenges widely spread preconceptions and explores the various possibilities of wood construction. As a part of the project, Metsä Wood in collaboration with architects and construction engineers, shows in detail how to replace other building materials with wood and how to use it in different forms - whether the building is circular in shape or complex in some other way such as requiring long spans or heavy load bearing properties. As such, the historical and highly-challenging Colosseum was chosen as the

first case by architects and its customers.

A fresh take on the Colosseum The concept plan for a wooden Colosseum was designed by Finnish architect Antti Laiho in conjunction with structural engineers from Metsä Wood. The challenge was to redesign a recognizable yet modern version of the original building, using wood as the main material. Emphasis was on reducing construction time, material waste and costs using prefabricated modular elements. Metsä Wood’s Kerto® LVL (laminated veneer lumber) was ideal for the beams and columns. Kerto® provides incredible load-bearing strength thanks to its many tightly glued 3 mm veneer layers.

Image © Helin & co. Architects

We’re not saying that everything should be built of wood, but the construction world needs a Plan B

Image © Helin & co. Architects

Whatever steel and concrete can do, wood can too, claimed Metsä Wood at the launch of it’s new and innovative Plan B concept.

Given that Nordic premium wood is amongst the best renewable raw materials in the world, Metsä Wood knows from experience that when used right, wood can save money, time and nature. Plan B then explores in detail how famous architectural buildings such as the Colosseum could be constructed of wood.

The brainchild of Metsä Wood, a Finnish wood supplier that provides premium-quality wood products for construction, industrial and distribution customers, Plan B demonstrates the benefits of using wood in construction. According to Metsä, wood is not only a highly aesthetic and sustainable option

Brilliantly updated - in wood The original stone columns are one and a half meters thick. Metsä Wood’s Kerto® LVL material was chosen for the beams and columns.

The LVL (laminated veneer lumber) beams are actually just one third of the originals. Thanks to their many tightly glued 3 mm veneer layers, Kerto® provides load-bearing

strength - even for designs from antiquity.

As such the wooden Colosseum would have over 12 percent more space than the original - and it would be possible to take into account modern needs such as plumbing - something the original didn’t have. Other systems, including heating, ventilation and air conditioning, could likewise be easily integrated due to the extra space freed-up by using wood and because wood structures can be easily modified. Overall, the new Colosseum design has two underground floors for parking and storage constructed of concrete, and five above ground made of

wood.

According to Metsä Wood, LVL’s load bearing capacity is such that there could have been fewer columns - if more liberties had been taken with the original design. The long spans are longer than in the original, and could have been even longer if needed - up to 25 meters.

From a fire safety point of view, the wooden structure would actually also be safer than steel, as wood chars at a speed of 0.7 mm / min

and doesn’t collapse at once after the designated fire resistance time is reached - as steel may.

To provide the comfort a modern audience is used to, Laiho decided to add a steel-framed roof - designed using the same basic structure as a bicycle wheel. The roof is supported both by the elevator shafts as well as the Kerto® beams and also the elevator shaft structures. This roof structure is designed so that both its compression and tension parts

Plan B challenges widely spread preconceptions and explores the various possibilities of wood construction

Image © Helin & co. Architects

“At 190 meters by 158 meters, the Colosseum is a huge building - almost three times the size of an average sports arena. Initially, I thought that wooden construction to such an extent wouldn’t be feasible in reality. As the project proceeded, I changed my mind. It would not only be possible - but easy as well,” said Antti Laiho from Helin & co. Architects.

In designing the wooden Colosseum, the architects ensured that the size and the basic structure are the same as in the original amphitheater in Rome. Emphasis was put on reducing construction time and costs using prefabricated modular elements. As the wooden supporting beams would be a whole meter thinner than the original stone pillars, the wooden Colosseum would have 12 percent more space, which could be used for example for VIP lounges, restaurants or even apartments.

Image © Helin & co. Architects

TECHNOLOGY 43

June 2015

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44 TECHNOLOGY

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According to Laiho, there will be five timber frame floors above ground and two subterranean floors for parking and storage. The structure is strengthened with 12 elevator shafts and, in subterranean levels, with bracing walls. Horizontal loads are transferred to the vertical bracing structures through the use of floor elements. The terraces inclined beams likewise provide additional support for the beams.

While it was not a key requirement in this design project, many Kerto buildings are constructed to withstand earthquakes, due to their lightness and the flexibility of their connections.

The ignition temperature of Kerto is about 270°C when exposed to flame. Spontaneous ignition does not occur until a temperature of over 400°C is reached. In the event of a fire, Kerto performs more predictably than many noncombustible materials, and has a notional charring rate of 0.7 mm per minute. When burned, the surface of Kerto is charred, which protects the product, insulates it, and slows down the burning process. The fire resistance design of Kerto products is conducted according to the EN 1995-1-2 standard and its national annexes.

Image © Helin & co. Architects

Metsä Wood structural engineer Jussi Björman was involved in the project from the very beginning, as the architect’s vision affected the structural design - and vice versa.

Likewise, material and production efficiency was carefully planned, and resulted in an exceptionally environmentally friendly design, with no waste material generated. A particular challenge for Björman was the unusual elliptical form of the structure, and the detailed building process itself. Issues from load bearing structures and bracing, to connections and fire safety had to be considered.

Using prefabricated timber elements was the only sensible way to go, as there were more than 5,000 different wood elements in 84 frames in Laiho’s Colosseum design. Thanks to the load bearing capabilities of Kerto, the timber columns need be only half a meter wide - compared with the original 1.5 meter wide stone ones. Each column is made of seven re-glued 72 mm thick by 500 mm high Kerto-S panels. Using Metsä Wood’s own Finnwood tool, the engineers have calculated that the columns could bear a load of 1,7 Meganewtons (about 170 tonnes).

A couple of extra floors could also have been added as the maximum load for a column like this is 800 tonnes.

The beams will be arch-shaped and made of re-glued Kerto-Q. The excellent strength-to-weight ratio of Kerto enables long spans in the design. Kerto allows spans up to 25 meters, but due to the original design the spans in the new design were only 12.9 and 6.7 meters. The beams will be installed on both sides of each column to reduce bending stress. In addition, the Colosseum’s elevator shafts additionally support the bike-wheel shaped steel truss roof, and the terraces are supported by beams with triangle shaped top edges. The floors and terraces will also be made with Kerto-Ripa timber elements,

Engineered to support an empire

Image © Helin & co. Architects

Reengineering the Colosseum

which are prefabricated and structurally glued composite slabs.

Image © Helin & co. Architects

don’t stress the building frame excessively as would a normal compression roof. For example, the selected shape does not push the supporting elevators shafts outward.

Engineering a more economical empire The aim of Plan B was to demonstrate that using wood in building can ‘save money and time, compared to other materials, as well as nature’. The campaign also highlights timber’s superior strength to weight ratio, and aims to dispel myths on timber building fire risk. Laiho’s work on the Colosseum shows that the light structures, load bearing capabilities and modular solutions offered by wood would allow the cost-efficient construction of amphitheaters all over the Roman Empire - saving the Caesars lots of money and time. Looking ahead, Metsä Wood has announced that more wooden redesigns of world-known architectural iconic buildings will be designed and published throughout the year.

June 2015

About Metsä Wood Metsä Wood is a Finnish wood supplier that provides premium-quality wood products for construction, industrial and distribution customers.

The company has an aim to remain the best partner for its customers and open up the almost endless possibilities of wood. The company is strong in Europe, with ambitious global growth targets. In fact, sales in 2014 were EUR 897 million, and the company employs about 2,300 people.

Metsä Wood’s primary products are Nordic premium timber, plywood and Kerto® LVL. The company uses 100 percent traceable wood from northern forests, a sustainable raw material of the finest quality.

Moreover, its facilities are surrounded by these forest, which ensures a never-ending reliable supply. Metsä Wood’s key strengths lie in its industrial efficiency delivered through true commitment, reliability and quality.

Metsä Wood is a part of Metsä Group, which covers the whole wood value chain from sustainably grown forest to various wood-based products like timber, plywood, pulp, paperboard and tissue and cooking papers. For more information on Plan B, please visit: http://www.metsawood.com/planb/index.html.

45

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46 TECHNOLOGY

Stora Enso and SRV join forces to build a world-class ‘Wood City’

Image © Stora Enso

An urban, eight-storey quarter consisting of wooden buildings will form a stunning gateway to the new Jätkäsaari district

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TECHNOLOGY 47 of the most important Building Solutions actions in strengthening our strategy, but also the start of a totally new future for construction. The concept, which is especially suitable for energyefficient construction, is a more competitive and flexible total solution for our customers than other construction solutions for multiple-storey buildings globally.

similar partly inside the elements,” adds Kasurinen.

Project overview Wood City is a unique wooden architectural landmark that SRV and Stora Enso Wood Products as well as the City of Helsinki Housing Production Department (ATT) have teamed up to develop. A total of approximately 28,000 m2 is divided

The extraordinary city, located in the Jätkäsaari district of Helsinki, will be built of wood and includes office, hotel and commercial buildings In addition to rapid construction, the major advantage of the concept is cost-effective construction of impermeable, fire-resistant and long-lasting wooden buildings,” said Hannu Kasurinen, EVP, Stora Enso Wood Products.

“The Wood City project offers us an excellent opportunity to develop our concept for the needs of office building construction too, jointly with the construction company SRV. Our solution based on massive CLT boards facilitates, for example, often popular vast glass surfaces, open, modifiable interiors and placing of piping and

into office premises (12,000 m2), hotel and commercial premises (8,000 m2), and apartments (8,000 m2). According to Stora Enso, construction is estimated to start this year and will be carried out in stages over the next two years.

An urban, eight-storey quarter consisting of wooden buildings will form a stunning gateway to the new Jätkäsaari district. The unique architecture of the complex as a whole aims to represent Finnish design at its most authentic. The complex as a whole, which will consist of business premises, hotels, residential units and a

multi-storey car park, will provide an innovative environment in which to work and live. Further, a common lobby area open to everyone as well as a courtyard forms the heart of the quarter.

The complete structure will be mainly constructed of wood - an appealing and ecological building material proven to reduce stress levels. Wood City’s location is one of a kind in terms of both view and logistics. Light and open, the office facilities, complemented by a sea view, are located along excellent public transport links serving as a gateway to Jätkäsaaari.

Landmark in wooden architecture The architecture of the city quarter is intended to create a unique entity adapted to its location representing personal, timeless modern architecture. Wood will be eye-catchingly expressive in Wood City. The wave-like design of the wooden ceiling of the foyer of the ground floor continues through the facade in a unique way. Knots and other natural irregularities will be stylishly visible in the wooden facade. Designed by Anttinen Oiva Arkkitehdit, Wood City is a spearhead project for innovative

Image © Stora Enso

Stora Enso, a leading global provider of renewable solutions in packaging, biomaterials, wood and paper, is currently finalizing construction plans for a unique wooden construction project in Finland called ‘Wood City’ in collaboration with the construction company SRV. The aim is to create a world-class project in which engineering skills can be taught in a practical way and to develop wood architecture. The extraordinary city, located in the Jätkäsaari district of Helsinki, will be built of wood and includes office, hotel and commercial buildings.

According to the company, special attention will be paid to solutions that improve energy efficiency in designing and constructing the buildings for the area. A high standard, internationally interesting and progressive plan for Wood City has been achieved through an invitation-only design competition.

In addition, Stora Enso is planning to supply supporting structures based on its new Urban MultiStorey™ concept for the buildings totaling 20,000 sqm of floor area in the site.

“Development of the new CLT-based Urban MultiStorey™ concept has been not only one

June 2015

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48 TECHNOLOGY

city architecture, sustainable construction and new way of using space. The construction project will promote Finnish wooden structure design, construction and architecture, and networking of those in this field.

Wood construction Wood City will have groundbreaking wooden multi-storey buildings that are first of their kind.

The industrialization of wood construction and innovative concepts make the building of wooden multi-storey buildings a genuinely competitive option.

Creating better and better lumber products and providing more added value are in a key role when building the future of the Finnish wood product industry. As such, the new solution and expertise developed for Wood City will also have significant global demand.

air while it is growing and stores it.

The carbon footprint is significantly smaller for a wooden building than for a building made of competing materials. As such, Wood City is the ecological choice for its users.

Wood City’s wood structures use Stora Enso’s module system of cross laminated timber (CLT) boards, developed in cooperation with SRV, which is in charge of building the block. The apartments

and the hotel are built using modules equipped with building systems and interior lining already at the factory, and will just need to be put in place at the building site. Manufacturing the modules at a plant will ensure better quality control and professional finish, with the added benefit that the structures are not exposed to the weather conditions.

A building frame made of

Wood City then allows imposing city architecture to meet modern wood-based building solutions in a unique way

wood elements is, depending on the solutions chosen, 20-70 percent faster to build than using competing solutions. The cost savings achieved through this make a wooden frame competitive in terms of price. The fact that it is faster to build also means that people and companies can move in more quickly. The structural system based on wooden elements is very safe in a fire - the CLT boards used in Wood City do not burn, when heated CLT only chars at a rate known in advance.

Further, modern sprinkler systems spread steam, which extinguishes any fire effectively and reduces

Why wood?

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Image © Stora Enso

Wood is a warm and natural material that has acoustically and visually attractive features.

It improves the atmosphere in a room by reducing fluctuations in humidity and filtering out air pollution. Wood is also a material that reduces stress. Wood is a 100 percent renewable building material, and, if managed properly, there is no shortage of wood. Wood absorbs carbon dioxide from the June 2015

Image © Stora Enso

Image © Stora Enso

TECHNOLOGY 49

Innovative use of space

Future outlook

In addition to eye-catching wooden architecture that Wood City will bring to the central Helsinki, it will be an example of innovative use of space as well. A service concept based on users’ needs is being developed in Wood City for the common facilities on the ground floor of the hotel and office buildings. Needs of future users of premises are investigated by means of different methods, including service design as the newest and the most important tool. ”In Wood City we want to create premises that really support business of our clients. Service design helps us to identify also hidden needs of the space users and dive into their real experience regarding various layout and service solutions. At its best, such half-public area unites different user groups,” said Tuomas Rantsi, Account Director from SRV. Future users of Wood City’s premises will be engaged in development and testing of generated area and service ideas in workshops together with the designers, builders and other professionals. SRV and Stora Enso have also entered into an agreement with the service design agency Diagonal (Helsinki) for

Despite the public debate around urban wood construction in Finland, there is no denying that wood provides excellent opportunities for constructing special architectural objects. With industrial concepts wood-based multi-storey construction becomes a truly alternative choice for urban construction - a cost-competitive and fast building solution that is also a safe and modest choice for residents. Wood City then allows imposing city architecture to meet modern wood-based building solutions in a unique way.

“Wood City, the eight-storey high Bridgeport House in London, a shopping center in Vienna and the Finnish Nature Center Haltia are all real proof points of projects in which Stora Enso’s building solutions have a key role, heralding the dawning of a new era of wood construction. Thanks to new fire regulations that came into force in April, Finland now has an excellent opportunity to secure its place globally as one of the top countries for innovative and environmentally friendly multi-storey wooden construction and, above all, an opportunity to build office buildings up to eight storeys high from wood,” concludes Kasurinen.

The industrialization of wood construction and innovative concepts make the building of wooden multi-storey buildings a genuinely competitive option

Image © Stora Enso

the development of great user experience in common premises.

Image © Stora Enso

damage caused by dampness in the building.

June 2015

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50 COMMENT

Big brands back EU battle against illegal timber

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June 2015

Some of Europe’s biggest consumer brands in timber products not only back the EU Timber Regulation and wider anti-illegal timber measures, they want them to be tougher and wider ranging. Timber sector journalist and commentator Mike Jeffree reports.

There’s a fairly widely held perception that the EU Timber Regulation (EUTR), and wider EU Forest Law Enforcement, Governance and Trade Action Plan (FLEGT), were anti-illegal trade measures imposed on a reluctant timber industry. It’s understandable, given the portrayal of the sector by some as reactive rather than proactive on environmental performance, and particularly tackling illegal logging.

However, a different picture emerges from the perspectives of three of Europe’s best known

consumer-facing timber and wood products companies; global home product retailer, IKEA, UK home improvement leader (and part of the wider Kingfisher group), B&Q, and Swedish-based international flooring giant, Kährs.

There’s no denial that illegal trading remains a problem. But they insist that they and the majority of the timber sector are as committed to eradicating it as anyone - and not just for the sake of image, or because it undercuts legitimate business. Hence the industry’s earlier adoption of its own responsible procurement policies, not to mention third-party environmental certification.

“Naturally we care too about green issues; forests, habitat, biodiversity,” said IKEA Global Forestry Manager Anders Hildeman.

“At IKEA it’s absolutely embedded

Image © IKEA

COMMENT being both ‘operators’, which first place timber on the EU market, and traders, which sell it on. But it did not require major revision of their anti-illegal timber strategies.

Illegality risk assessment and due diligence were already integrated into their operations, and they are also all working towards 100 percent certified sustainable sourcing.

What the EUTR did do, however, was prompt renewed scrutiny and reappraisal of existing systems and a step up in communication on illegality risk. Hildeman adds: “The regulation has specific due

51

overall effectiveness of their existing legality controls is that none of the companies had to axe suppliers post EUTR. “We pre-empt problems later by being clear on legality requirements with them from the outset,” said Uhler.

“Occasionally we’ve stopped sourcing from companies when documentation is inadequate, but we work with them and restart trading when problems are resolved,” added Hildeman. “I understand some operators dropped suppliers where due diligence was particularly challenging, but

Image © Kahrs

Image © B&Q

Image © B&Q

All three have the complexity of dual status under the EUTR; being both ‘operators’, which first place timber on the EU market, and traders, which sell it on diligence requirements we had to accommodate. We also undertook extensive EUTR training and, I believe, it also helped us strengthen legality messages to suppliers.”

Supply chain communication is a B&Q focus too. “EUTR made proof of legality harder, especially for paper-, chip-or fiber-based products due to complex supply chains,” said B&Q Sustainability ManagerProducts Julia Griffin. “But the more we ask suppliers questions, the easier obtaining information and risk assessment becomes.”

Further proof provided of the

that wasn’t the EUTR’s objective.

It disincentivizes suppliers from raising legality standards in places which need most support. It’s an area the EU should examine.”

What B&Q believes the European Commission (EC) should also now do is assess the EUTR’s performance to date and publish the findings.

“Currently there’s insufficient data on its impact on illegal logging and illegal trade flows into the EU,” said Griffin. “It’s vital to improving its operation and something we hope we’ll get from the EC’s current EUTR review.”

and central to corporate social responsibility (CSR).”

Kährs Environmental Sustainability Ambassador Bruce Uhler expressed similar sentiments.

“The forests and people at the sharp end who depend on them are core concerns for us. In fact, our unequivocal environmental stance is one reason people join us. For the millennial generation, it’s a prerequisite to recruiting new talent.”

So, far from passive players who had to be dragged through the EUTR, Ikea, B&Q and Kährs say they embraced it enthusiastically. More significantly still, they now want it developed and reinforced.

Image © IKEA

Training and Communication All three have the complexity of dual status under the EUTR; June 2015

www.timberdesignandtechnology.com

Image © Kahrs

52 COMMENT

Enforcement issues

The disparity created particular confusion for smaller suppliers, but also problems for multinationals trying to centralize a uniform EUTR approach across member states.

“It would also help suppliers and operators, and make the EUTR more effective, if the EC devised a

Global approach These international operations would also like to see closer alignment between the EUTR and its enforcement agencies, and anti-

Legality should be the base level requirement, with sustainability the natural next step - we should aim for both

Image © B&Q

One area where there’s solid consensus that the EUTR is not where it should be is enforcement uniformity. “There’s wide variance between member states in levels of scrutiny and requirements of Competent Authority (CA) enforcement agencies,” said Griffin.

“That risks distorting trade routes and accentuating unfair competition due to uneven policing and administrative and financial burdens of compliance.”

way not to have 28 different due diligence systems across 28 EU states,” said Hildeman.

There are calls too for the EUTR to be dovetailed more closely with sustainability certification. “The EU’s stated aim is to support sustainable forest management, but with business obliged to apply the same EUTR due diligence to certified as uncertified products, interest in voluntary certification could drop,” said Griffin.

Hildeman believes that certification schemes, with “systematic chain of custody”, should be accepted as evidence of negligible illegality risk. He adds: “Clearly FSC and PEFC certified products can’t have carte blanche through EUTR due diligence, but a negligible risk classification is reasonable and logical. And it would allow the EU to focus on higher risk areas and what should be the EUTR’s prime target, large-scale illegal timber trading by organized crime.”

“Legality should be the base level requirement, with sustainability the natural next step - we should aim for both,” remarks Uhler.

www.timberdesignandtechnology.com

June 2015

illegality systems elsewhere. Their prime targets are the U.S. Lacey Act and Australian Illegal Logging Prohibition Regulation (AILPR), but Japan’s Goho scheme and China’s embryonic legality system were also mentioned.

“If we harmonize legality definitions internationally, it could give all schemes momentum and create a ripple effect into other markets,” said Hildeman. “It would also further benefit the battle against organized crime, which operates in the illegal trade globally.”

Another recommendation is to reduce or end current EUTR product category exemptions.

“We appreciate the operational difficulties of including all products when EUTR implementation remains a work in progress,” said Griffin. “But ultimately we want all wood products in scope so we’re not effectively running two (legality assessment) systems. It would make it more practical across larger product ranges.”

“Exemptions also send confusing messages to consumers and suppliers,” says Uhler.

The value of FLEGT VPAs None of the companies are currently major tropical timber consumers, largely they say because of their product profiles and customers ’ tastes. But all urged even greater backing for tropical suppliers in meeting EUTR requirements.

“It’s reported that European tropical timber imports have declined since introduction of the EUTR, and the fact that they’re seen as high risk of illegality and a due diligence challenge is clearly implicated,” said Hildeman.

“The tropics are experiencing some of the fastest deforestation, partly due to illegal logging, but mainly land conversion, so we need to support them in the marketplace to incentivize forest maintenance,” added Uhler.

It’s because of its particular focus on tropical areas that all three companies also want to see the EUTR-associated FLEGT Voluntary Partnership Agreement (VPA) initiative for supplier countries given added impetus. Under the programme, VPA signatory states undertake forest governance reform and establish legality assurance systems. In return, they can supply

Image © IKEA

COMMENT 53

FLEGT-licensed timber, which is exempt further due diligence risk assessment under the EUTR. As no FLEGT-licensed timber has yet been shipped, after several years of the VPA scheme’s existence, Griffin acknowledged it had not been front of mind at B&Q. “That’s not a criticism, we accept it’s a demanding initiative working in hugely challenging environments, and it has to be 100 percent water

tight,” she said.

At the same time, B&Q would now like to see information flow on VPA progress stepped up. Griffin said: “Ultimately we’ll be putting FLEGT-licensed timber on the market, so trade understanding needs to be developed, so we can get behind it and position it to customers.”

Hildeman agreed. “It is going to be a challenge to create market

Image © Kahrs

I don’t underestimate the challenges, but my message would be let’s get on with it!

incentive for FLEGT-licensed timber, as it will depend on achieving a critical mass,” he said. “It can’t be a market niche. Once those first countries start supplying licensed material, we need others following quickly behind.”

According to Griffin, it is important to communicate the benefits VPAs are already having on the ground in supplier countries, in terms of transparency, forest governance, and stakeholder engagement, another condition of the agreements. “Our customers pick up on social stories about supply chains,” she said. “They associate with them and subsequent purchases mean more.”

Uhler adds: “If we can communicate that FLEGT motivates suppliers to maintain their forest and supports livelihoods that pass down the generations, that’s a really powerful message.”

Hildeman believes that once FLEGT-licensed timber is available in the EU market, the initiative could also have value as evidence of risk mitigation under other market legality regulation, such as Lacey and the AILPR. That, in turn, would give it added impetus.

So his final statement, dispelling any last doubts that the timber sector is a reluctant partner in the project, is that, the sooner outstanding issues in the EUTR are resolved and FLEGT-licensing up and running, the better.

“I don’t underestimate the challenges, but my message would be let’s get on with it!” concludes Hildeman.

June 2015

About the Author Mike Jeffree graduated in history and economics from Cambridge University and holds a post-graduate diploma in journalism studies from City University in London. He has been a journalist for over 25 years, working for newspapers, magazines, broadcast and online media. He started to report on the timber and forestry industries in 1997 and was appointed editor of the world’s longest established publication in the sector, the UK’s Timber Trades Journal (TTJ) in 2001, a post he still holds today. He launched the magazine’s website, www.ttjonline.com, and its specialist construction title Timber & Sustainable Building. He is also Communications Consultant to the European Timber Trade Federation, works with the European Forest Institute and Global Timber Forum and reports on sustainable construction for the Danish digital title Dagens Byggeri. He has written for the German-based international timber title Euwid and has travelled widely in the industry, reporting on business and market developments worldwide, from the Americas to South East Asia.

www.timberdesignandtechnology.com

Image © Aljoud Lootah

54 WOOD WORKS

Image © Aljoud Lootah

The ‘Oru Series’

by Aljoud Lootah

www.timberdesignandtechnology.com

June 2015

Dubai-based designer Aljoud Lootah launched her debut furniture collection at Design Days Dubai, which was held earlier this year at Downtown Dubai. Entitled ‘The Oru Series,’ Lootah’s collection of geometric furniture and decorative objects take their inspiration from the ancient Japanese art of origami forms - the name ‘Oru’ originating from the Japanese words ‘to fold’.

“Origami is very important in Japanese culture, and I wanted to experiment with that and see how I could use the simple patterns and folds of origami in my own designs,” says Lootah. “I wanted to see if I could transform a simple folded shape into an object with function.”

According to Lootah, it all started with a humble Post-it note. Sitting

at her desk looking for inspiration one day, she picked up one of the yellow stickers and started folding.

She was intrigued by the way that this object could be transformed through such a simple process and decided to use this as the basis of her new furniture collection.

“The idea behind the designs is to show that folding a flat, two-dimensional sheet can create aesthetically appealing functional three-dimensional forms,” says Lootah. “I prefer to work and manipulate materials with my own hands and have always been fascinated by paper engineering so Oru feels such a natural direction for me.”

The Oru Series is comprised of four pieces - a table lamp, a chair,

Image © Aljoud Lootah

Image © Aljoud Lootah

Image © Aljoud Lootah

Image © Aljoud Lootah

WOOD WORKS 55

a decorative mirror and a cabinet with an exposed shelving unit - all of which have been crafted from teak, felt and copper. The decision to select teak was made after Lootah posted samples on Instagram and asked her followers to vote for their favorite. Each piece is available in a limited edition of just five but eventually Lootah plans to manufacture her designs to enable her passion for product and furniture to reach a wider audience.

Commenting on the collection, Lootah says: “The Oru Series is an exploration of form and function.

The collection consists of geometric furniture and decorative objects, which take inspiration from origami forms. Manufactured in Dubai, the

products, with their faceted design looking like complex folds but with sophisticated simplicity, are a modern interpretation of an ancient form of art.”

According to Lootah, the main challenge was to translate the shapes from paper to timber. With the multi-faceted and angular shapes, it was quite challenging to produce stable, functional and aesthetically appealing products.

As such, she worked with several models in paper, foam, acrylic and MDF before producing the final designs.

“Teak is an effective material for the construction of both indoor and outdoor furniture. I believe that its high-tensile strength made it the most suitable for the type of

products that I wanted to produce.

The angles of the pieces and the way they were designed required a type of wood that would be durable,” added Lootah. “Timber as a material is versatile and can be cost effective. It’s durable, when properly looked after it can last hundreds of years. It’s also structurally strong and not to mention aesthetically appealing.”

Showing her own furniture collection at Design Days Dubai is the realization of a long-held ambition of Lootah. Although her background is in graphic design, in 2013 she created the limited edition ‘Unfolding Unity’ stool that she showed to great acclaim at Design Days Dubai the same year.

“I used to long to be among the June 2015

designers and galleries showing at the fair and was delighted to be able to design even one piece,” she stated. “During the creation of the Unfolding Unity Stool, I so enjoyed the experience of transforming a two-dimensional design into a three-dimensional object, I realized that product design was the direction I must follow.”

Looking ahead, Lootah is keen to experiment with a range of different materials and is also eager to incorporate traditional Emirati craftsmanship into her work. She is currently working on producing another collection of limited edition products by next year, and plans to continue working on smaller-scale projects for corporate clients.

www.timberdesignandtechnology.com

56 SHOWTIME

Top Industry Exhibitions Coming Up This Season FURNISHING IN FOCUS

Australia’s leading manufacturers are once again banding together to present the biggest selection of locally produced furnishing designs to be shown in 2015. The ‘Furnishing in Focus’ exhibitions have introduced Australia’s top manufacturers to a broad cross section of industry visitors. As such, there has been overwhelming support for the principles of Furnishing in Focus, the results achieved so far, and for these exhibitions to continue as trade only shows, free of imported furniture product.

For two days, Furnishing in Focus will once again become for the first time a national exhibition centrally located under one roof at the Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Center (MCEC), representing manufacturers from all states. This year the show will welcome the support and sponsorship of the Australian Made Campaign Ltd. Held under the theme ‘Proudly Australiam, locally made’, the show is open to members of the Australian Furnishing Industry including manufacturers, retail buyers and staff, decorators, architects, specifiers, industry bodies and training establishments.

The show features Australian manufacturers of Furniture and Furnishings.

Exhibitors from all States are invited to participate in the event showcasing Australian-made lounge, dining, case goods, solid timber products, and bedding and bedroom products. In addition to the exhibition, Neale Whittaker, Editor in Chief of Vogue Living will speak on Emerging Design Trends and Claire Bradley, the talented editor of Inside Out will look at why the digital age is so important to the interior design world.

Image © SkogsElmia

Image © Furnishing in Focus

which is among the five largest forestry fairs in the world. The last edition of the fair in 2011 attracted 33,209 visitors and 323 exhibitors.

SkogsElmia is a meeting point for forest people from all over the world.

The show not only allows visitors to conduct business, but a lot of people take the opportunity to make the trip to an event of their own; forest owner’s organizations, banks and roundwood buyers organize bus tours. The live fair with vivid demonstrations is truly a reflection of Scandinavian forestry.

During SkogsElmia, the forest will be harvested and small-scale sawmills, log splitters, scarification equipment, GPS equipment and trailers will be in full swing.

June 4 - 6 Bratteborgs Gård | Jönköping, Sweden www.elmia.se/en/SkogsElmia

TIMBER & WOODWORKING 2015

Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Center (MCEC) Melbourne, Australia www.furnishinginfocus.com

Image © Timber & Woodworking

June 2 - 3

SKOGSELMIA The basic concept behind Elmia’s forestry fairs is to actively demonstrate forestry machinery and equipment for modern silviculture in its proper element: out in the forest. With 533 exhibitors and 54 215 visits in 2013, Elmia Wood is presently the world’s largest dynamic forestry trade fair. The organizers of Elmia Wood also host a smaller Scandinavian fair, SkogsElmia, www.timberdesignandtechnology.com

June 2015

‘Timber & Woodworking’ is being organized by Kazakhstan’s leading exhibition company - Atakent Expo - in conjunction with the Association of Furniture and Woodworking Industry of the Republic of Kazakhstan and the official support of the Ministry of Industry and Trade of Kazakhstan and akimat of Almaty. The event is a part of a bigger event - ‘The Week of Furniture Salon in Almaty’ - taking place from June 10 - 13, 2015 and which

SHOWTIME 57 also includes two other exhibitions ‘Furniture & Interior’ and ‘Architecture & Design’. Previous editions have attracted more than 160 companies and enterprises from 12 CIS countries including Russia, Austria, Azerbaijan, The Republic of Belarus, China, Germany, Italy, Kyrgyzstan, Latvia, Turkey, Estonia, Uzbekistan and Ukraine.

According to the organizers, these exhibitions contribute to strengthen the position of the domestic furniture manufacturers in both domestic and foreign markets enabling them to expand the horizon of business cooperation. It also allows Kazakhstani companies an excellent opportunity to establish new and strengthen existing contacts as well as to solve the problem of investment. One of the main objectives of the exhibition is the demonstration of advanced technologies and achievements in the field of furniture and woodworking industry. As such, the event showcases a choice of furniture of different versions, the style and direction, a variety of upholstery materials, accessories and decorative elements of interior.

June 10 - 13 Atakent Exhibition Center Almaty, Republic of Kazakhstan http://eng.atakentexpo.kz/news/detail.php?ID=117

June 23 - 27 Costa Salguero Center | Buenos Aires, Argentina http://feria.fitecma.com.ar/index.php/en/

MALAYSIAN FURNITURE & FURNISHINGS FAIR (MF3) Organized by the Kuala Lumpur & Selangor Furniture Entrepreneur Association (KLSFEA), the Malaysian Furniture & Furnishings Fair (MF3) celebrates the best of the furniture industry with the biggest home furniture fair in Malaysia. Inspiring homeowners with the best furniture from the industry, MF3 provides a wellspring of information and tips on transforming your home, and improving your home furniture and furnishing needs. With a consumer-oriented approach and free admission, the fair enjoys a huge turnout every year, prompting nearly all of the participating exhibitors to agree that MF3 is the most effective branding platform to jumpstart their furniture product lines and sales.

The exhibitors at the exhibition will showcase a wide range of products and services such as bathroom furniture, decorative items, design and renovation, door and windows, flooring and ceramics, home appliances, home furniture, kitchen furniture, landscaping, lighting solutions, office furniture, security & safety, soft furnishings, doors & windows, curtains, wallpaper, ceramics, flooring, decorative items and more. With the best package deals as the main attraction, MF3 promises to be the premier furniture exhibition in Malaysia, inspiring creativity and innovation for home owners and exhibitors alike.

The next edition of FITECMA will be held from June 23 - 27, 2015, at the Costa Salguero Center, in Buenos Aires, and will offer a wide range of innovations in supplies as well as in products for each segment of the wood-furniture value chain. As a leading exhibition for the sector in South America, the show aims to help companies in the woodworking industry increase production efficiency and flexibility, cut costs and gain competitiveness. Some of the key issues that the show aims to address is the revaluation of wood as one of the materials with larger use possibilities for the future’s sustainable architecture; the appearance of new composites and supplies with different applications in construction, decoration and furniture; and the gradual advance of bioenergy.

Both domestic and international players are set to display their latest products at the event. Given that Buenos Aires is an important consumer of products related to the construction sector, particularly timber, FITECMA offers an opportunity to present a wide range of reforestation and native wood products manufactured in Argentina. Testament to the importance of the event, companies offering wood preservatives or surface finishing (paints, lacquers, varnishes, abrasives, manual and automatic coating elements, etc.) and board manufacturers also take advantage of FITECMA as a platform to launch their new lines of coatings and colors. The same applies to manufacturers and distributors of high-value wood veneers,

Image © MF3

Image © FITECMA

FITECMA

roots and coatings; and of the increasingly extended range of reconstructed veneers.

July 3 - 5 Kuala Lumpur Convention Center (KLCC) Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia www.mf3.my

FURNITEX CONNECT With the new energized team at AFA and its active board, the mantra for FURNITEX Connect this year is ‘by the industry, for the industry’. Australia’s largest furniture and furnishings trade fair has been revised to a new trade and consumer show format. Key highlights for the show include: a June 2015

www.timberdesignandtechnology.com

58 SHOWTIME Hosted Buyer Program that brings key buyers to the event floor; Awards competitions; an industry conference run by Manufacturing Skills Australia (MSA); Knowledge Hub Sessions, designed to keep buyers on the floor; and industry association alliances to build target audiences.

According to the organizers, the decision by the Australian Furniture Association (AFA) to deliver a new format for this year’s FURNITEX Connect, which combines a trade element with a consumer aspect, means some operators will need to step back and understand that the decision is good for the industry as a whole. With the new set up, the aim is to build on the show’s position as the leading event for the Australian furniture and furnishings industry, whilst attracting thousands of local and international visitors.

(VIVID) will return in 2015 and is set to raise the bar for emerging Australian furniture designers. A major highlight of AIFF, the competition is expected to exhibit 90 products across the commercial, concept and student categories.

Another major highlight for the 2015 Fair includes the prestigious International Seminar Series. Guest speakers include Victoria Redshaw and Phil Pond from leading trend forecasting agency Scarlet Opus (UK), Allegra Hicks (USA), Anne-Marie Sargent, Diane Bergeron, Jason Grant and Robyn Holt. According to the organizers, the 2015 edition is expected to attract more than 10,000 Australian and International Buyers and over 220 exhibitors. As the key buying and networking event in the furniture and interiors industry, the show unites the furniture industry, offering exciting opportunities to talk face-to-face with some of Australia’s leading retailers, designers and decorators.

July 16 - 19 Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Center (MCEC) Melbourne, Australia

Image © FURNITEX Connect

www.aiff.net.au | www.decordesignshow.com.au

CHINA INTERNATIONAL BUILDING DECORATION FAIR

Image © China International Building Decoration Fair

July 9 - 12 Royal Exhibition Building, Carlton Gardens Melbourne, Australia http://furnitex.com.au

AUSTRALIAN INTERNATIONAL FURNITURE FAIR (AIFF)

The 17th edition of the China International Building Decoration Fair, jointly organized by China Foreign Trade Guangzhou Exhibition General Corporation (CFTE) and CFTC - China Foreign Trade Centre (Group), will be staged at China Import and Export Fair Pazhou Complex, Guangzhou from July 8 - 11, 2015. Held successfully for the pat 16 years, the show has developed into the largest trade fair for building decoration in Asia hosting over 2,600 exhibitors and attracting over 130,000 trade visitors.

According to the organizers, the fair this year will be held in 340,000 sqm of exhibition area and will be divided into 16 themes. In addition to the comprehensive range of products on display, the show also aims to be a source of inspiration with more than 40 industrial forums and meetings being organized alongside the exhibition. Key segments within the show include building, decoration, households, home textile, wallpaper and fabric, lighting, coatings, natural stone and integrated furnishings.

Co-located with Australia’s No. 1 interior design event - Decor + Design - the Australian International Furniture Fair (AIFF) is Australia’s largest trade only furniture event and will take place at the Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Center (MCEC) from July 16 - 19, 2015. The show will unveil the latest in furniture designs for commercial, residential and retail industry. In addition, Australia’s longest running design competition, Vibrant Vision in Design www.timberdesignandtechnology.com

June 2015

July 8 - 11 China Import & Export Fair Complex | Guangzhou, China http://gzfair.cbd-china.com/index.php?l=en

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60 SHOWTIME INTERVIEW

FMC China returns this year for its 21st edition to the Shanghai World Expo Exhibition & Convention Center (SWEECC) from September 9 - 12, 2015. Held concurrently with FMC Premium (also at the same venue) and Furniture China, which will be hosted at the Shanghai New International Expo Center (SNIEC), the event provides a comprehensive overview of the latest products and technology for the furniture industry. With a focus on woodworking machinery and raw materials for the furniture industry, the show will highlight cabinets, doors, architectural design, engineering contracting and decoration; present opportunities for furniture manufacturers and decoration manufacturers; and attract the best, most comprehensive and professional trade buyers. Helena Gao (pictured), Director, Shanghai UBM Sinoexpo International Exhibition Co.,Ltd., is confident of breaking new ground with the 2015 edition. In an interview with Timber Design & Technology, Gao provides an overview of the show.

FMC China provides the best woodworking machinery and raw materials for the furniture production, decoration and engineering sectors 01. In retrospect, what were the major achievements of the last edition of FMC China?

The 20th Furniture Manufacturing & Supply China (FMC 2014) successfully concluded on September 13, 2014 at the Shanghai World Expo Exhibition & Convention Center (SWEECC), gathering the leading enterprises, spreading new technology and information, representing furniture manufacturing of the highest level, and achieving a lot. Overall the show focuses on promoting upgrades and transformation of the furniture industry. The total area last year was 59,000 sqm with 786 exhibitors from over 45 countries, and 35,524 trade buyers from 108 countries who visited the show. Both the number of visitors and countries represented reached a new record last year.

Conferences and forums were also held over six different portions of the exhibition, including the 2014 China Upholstery Development Forum, China Woodworking Machinery Industry Forum, 1st China International Timber Order and Exchange Conference, 3rd Furniture Manufacturing Collaborative Innovation Conference, High-class Wine Reception For Waterborne Furniture, and E-business of Furniture Manufacturers and Suppliers. These conferences and forums mainly focus on the up and down stream linkages and on promoting upgrades needed in the industry.

In addition, Furniture manufacturing online (www.fmc.jiagle.com) helped to differentiate the show by integrating the internet and online trading with FMC China. The hope is that it will expand the four-day in-person FMC China exhibition into a 365-day online trade show for continued business and networking opportunities.

Event details Dates

September 9 - 12, 2015

Venue

Shanghai World Expo Exhibition & Convention Center (SWEECC)

Location

Shanghai, China

Organizer

Image Š FMC China

Shanghai UBM Sinoexpo International Exhibition Co.,Ltd.

Website

www.fmcchina.com.cn/en-us

www.timberdesignandtechnology.com

June 2015

SHOWTIME INTERVIEW

Image © FMC China

Image © FMC China

Image © FMC China

61

02. How is this year’s edition positioned? What are the main objectives for this year’s edition?

The main objectives this year include: Integration - restructuring the sections; Change - creating high-end and multiple frames; and Coherence - push the development covering the entire industrial chain. In 2015, FMC will feature a revised set up and will display more exhibits and industrial information for both exhibitors and buyers. As always, FMC promises to be a good stage for industrial companies to present themselves and the latest technologies and products. Restructuring the sections and enhancing the advantages and B2B stage the show offers in conjunction with the manufacturers and Furniture China, we hope to push development covering all the elements within the industrial chain whilst also saving time for buyers.

03. Are there any new events such as awards, seminars and workshops at this year’s edition?

Based on our experience from last year’s edition, we plan to hold different events for each of the sections covered in the show. Some of the events include - the China Furniture Industry Linkage Conference; the China Upholstery Industry Development Forum; the China International Timber Order and Exchange Conference; and the China Furniture Manufacturing Conference.

04. How does FMC China aim to be different from other industry trade fairs?

FMC China aims to be the leading platform for the furniture production, decoration and engineering sectors by showcasing the latest woodworking machinery and furniture raw materials. Despite the emergence of other industry fairs globally, FMC China has maintained its position as the leading industry event of its kind in the world. With a view to consistently improve the show, the UBM Group ensures adequate allocation of resources towards the organization of the show. More importantly, it’s not just the organization of the fair, but also the focus on up and down stream linkages and the promotion of upgrades needed in the industry. All of this combined

with our 20 years of success has helped ensure that FMC China is always a step ahead of its competitors.

05. What does FMC China specifically offer to the timber and related industries?

Last year, we ran the first ever China International Timber Order and Exchange Conference. We plan to host this event again this year as we want to provide our audience with as comprehensive a show as possible.

The timber industry, as is the case with other industries, needs to pay attention to new technologies and developments across the entire chain.

We hope to address their needs by highlighting the latest products and technologies whilst also encouraging dialogue and debate on key trends for the development of the industry.

06. How many visitors and exhibitors are likely to be there at the fair this year? What percentage of them are repeat exhibitors and how many of them are new?

As I have mentioned, we hosted 786 exhibitors from over 45 countries, and attracted 35,524 trade buyers from 108 countries at the show last year.

At present, our work is still ongoing and we continue to receive numerous enquiries from all over the world. Looking at the numbers from last year, we predict a 10 percent increase in exhibitors and a 20 percent increase in visitor numbers. As has been the case, approximately 70 percent are repeat exhibitors with the remaining 30 percent accounting for first-time participants.

07. Who are some of the new exhibitors making their debut at the show this year?

As in previous years, FMC China attracts interest from all across the globe.

The Taiwan Group will be participating within the woodworking machinery area; HongJiRui and LiWeiHong are two newcomers to the woodworking saws & tools section; and Lectra in the upholstery machinery area. In addition, the American Hardwood Export Council (AHEC) has also confirmed their participation with a 180 sqm pavilion.

June 2015

www.timberdesignandtechnology.com

62 SHOWTIME CALENDAR

Furnishing in Focus

China International Wood Expo

June 2 - 3 Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Center (MCEC) Melbourne, Australia www.furnishinginfocus.com

June 30 - July 2 Shanghai New International Exhibition Center (SNIEC) Shanghai, China http://www.chinaexhibition.com/Official_Site/11-6415-WOOD_ EXPO_2015_-_2015_The_5th_China_International_Wood_Expo.html

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Intermebel June 2 - 5 Kazanskaya Yarmarka Exhibition Center Kazan, Russia www.intermebelexpo.ru/eng ....................................................................................................

Wood Taiwan July 2 - 5 TWTC Nangang Exhibition Hall Taipei, Taiwan www.woodtaiwan.com ....................................................................................................

SkogsElmia

Malaysian Furniture & Furnishings Fair (MF3)

June 4 - 6 Bratteborgs Gรฅrd Jรถnkรถping, Sweden www.elmia.se/en/SkogsElmia ....................................................................................................

July 3 - 5 Kuala Lumpur Convention Center (KLCC) Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia www.mf3.my ....................................................................................................

Timber & Woodworking June 10 - 13 Atakent Exhibition Center Almaty, Republic of Kazakhstan http://eng.atakentexpo.kz/news/detail.php?ID=117 ....................................................................................................

Forest Products Machinery and Equipment Exposition

China International Building Decoration Fair July 8 - 11 China Import & Export Fair Complex Guangzhou, China http://gzfair.cbd-china.com/index.php?l=en ....................................................................................................

FURNITEX Connect

June 10 - 12 Georgia World Congress Center Atlanta, USA http://sfpaexpo.com

July 9 - 12 Royal Exhibition Building, Carlton Gardens Melbourne, Australia http://furnitex.com.au

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Iraq FurnExpo

Australian International Furniture Fair (AIFF)

June 10 - 13 Erbil International Fair Ground Erbil, Iraq www.iraqfurnexpo.com/2015

July 16 - 19 Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Center (MCEC) Melbourne, Australia www.aiff.net.au

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Timber & Working with Wood Show

Decor + Design

June 12 - 14 Hall 6, Sydney Showground Sydney, Australia www.timbershows.com.au

July 16 - 19 Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Center (MCEC) Melbourne, Australia www.decordesignshow.com.au

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FITECMA

Manchester Furniture Show

June 23 - 27 Costa Salguero Center Buenos Aires, Argentina http://feria.fitecma.com.ar/index.php/en/

July 19 - 21 Manchester Central Manchester, United Kingdom www.manchesterfurnitureshow.com

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SYLVA WOOD

AWFS Fair

June 29 - July 1 INTEX Shanghai, China www.sylvawoodexpo.com

July 22 - 25 Las Vegas Convention Center Las Vegas, USA http://awfsfair.org

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www.timberdesignandtechnology.com

June 2015

63

June 2015

www.timberdesignandtechnology.com

Image © Lester Ali Image © Lester Ali

Image © Lester Ali

64

Middle East Design. American Hardwood.

Dubai based design practice Anarchitect use American white oak to help evoke a Scandinavian freshness coupled with a New England crafted quality at No.57 Boutique Cafe.

Architects and designers all over the world 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 fti

www.timberdesignandtechnology.com

June 2015