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Issue 16 | October 2014
LEED v4: Understanding the changes and implications for the use of wood as a building material Global market for Green Building Materials expected to reach USD 528.8 billion by 2020 American red elm displayed in all its glory in the National Theater of Bahrain Illwerke Center Montafon: A green building for the future Bamboo: Good or Bad for the environment? PLUS Timber industry news, new products, exhibition previews and listings and more
A N A L Y S I S | I N T E R V I E W S | D E S I G N | S U S T A I N A B IOctober L I T2014 Y | www.timberdesignandtechnology.com | T E C H N O L O G Y1
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FROM THE EDITOR
Cover Photo: The National Theater of Bahrain Image © Nicolas Buisson
Editor’s comment Zaha Hadid, the world renowned London-based architect - who is best known for utilizing modern materials such as concrete, fibreglass and resin - recently chose timber for the tapered wooden structures of the Sleuk Rith Institute, a building conceived by human rights activist Youk Chhang for the Cambodian capital Phnom Penh. The complex has been granted approval and is scheduled to start
Issue 16 | october 2014 Timber Design & Technology Magazine Director Andy MacGregor publisher@citrusmediagroup.net +971 55 849 1574 Marketing Director Eric Hammond marketing@citrusmediagroup.net +971 4 455 8400
construction on site next year. The fact that Hadid selected timber for this landmark project is once again testament to the fact that wood is very much of the moment globally. In late 2013, the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC) released LEED v4. Described as a ‘quantum leap’, LEED v4 represents a major change from LEED 2009, with substantial differences in the Materials and Resources credit category and is said to speed up the credit submittal process for design teams and encourage building owners to better understand building maintenance and operation. In their report for this issue, Dovetail Partners take a closer look at the changes associated with LEED v4 and conclude that with the increased use of science-based tools to identify lowest impact alternatives, this may lead to wood products becoming the building materials of choice. In this issue, we also take a closer look at bamboo. Often refered to as ‘the timber of the 21st century’, bamboo is hailed as a new super material, with uses ranging from textiles to construction.
International Sales Director James Hamilton james@timberdesignandtechnology.com
From walls to flooring, bamboo is promoted as the environmental answer to wood. Environmentalists
Editor Tony Smith editor@timberdesignandtechnology.com
throughout the world. Whilst it has the potential to absorb large amounts of carbon dioxide, the
International Correspondent Eamonn Ennis eamonn@timberdesignandtechnology.com +91 98676 54952
love it for its quick growth and for the fact that it can be harvested without harming the environment. However, the downsides of bamboo are now being scrutinized as its popularity grows and expands biggest greenhouse gas, and provide some of the world’s poorest people with cash, some of key concerns include biodiversity, soil erosion, and chemical use. Timber also was a major component of the London Design Festival 2014, which opened earlier in September, and featured several installations that incorporate the use of wood. One project that captured our attention was ‘The Wish List - What I Have Always Wanted Is….’ exhibition, a unique collaborative project between some of the world’s best-known design names and up-and-coming
International Representatives Rabia Alga AntExpo Org. | Turkey +90 216 541 0390 rabia@antexpo.net
designers. The project has not only engaged the interest of ten design legends, each of whom
Elias Aggelopoulos Med Expo | Greece +30 210 2931011 info@epipleon.gr
demonstrates the versatility of American hardwoods and the ability to experiment with designs both
Timber Design & Technology is published 6 times a year 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
commissioned something for their personal collection. It has also given an extraordinary opportunity to a talented group of emerging designers, who worked closely with their commissioners to develop the designs and constructed them with the help of Benchmark’s master craftsmen. As such, it big and small. Interestingly, although wood is one of the oldest and most common construction materials, it’s typically perceived as weaker and more susceptible to fire than alternatives like steel and concrete. These fears have been codified over the past century by means of restrictive limits on the height and area of timber buildings. Robert Gerard, Fire Safety Engineer at ARUP, highlights the key factors in understanding the fire risk in tall timber buildings. According to Gerard, the development of highly sophisticated new wood products, combined with the design industry’s growing commitment to sustainability, has led to increasing interest in tall timber structures. As always, I would like to encourage you to log on to the website - www.timberdesignandtechnology.com - for the latest updates and please get in touch if you have any suggestions for subjects we should consider covering.
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 © 2014 Citrus Media Group and may not be reproduced in any form without prior consent. Letters and readers’ contributions may be edited at our discretion.
October 2014 | www.timberdesignandtechnology.com
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www.timberdesignandtechnology.com | October 2014
IN THIS ISSUE
Contents 12 SUSTAINABILITY
LEED v4: Understanding the changes and implications for the use of wood as a building material
Taking a closer look at the U.S. Green Building Council’s LEED v4
16 MARKET REPORT Global market for Green Building Materials expected to reach USD 528.8 billion by 2020
P12
Defined as the future of the construction industry, green buildings are emerging from their niche market status into a mainstream force
20 ANALYSIS Bamboo: Good or Bad for the environment?
Often refered to as ‘the timber of the 21st century’, Bamboo is being hailed as a new super material, with uses ranging from textiles to construction
24 design & décor
P20
American red elm displayed in all its glory in the National Theater of Bahrain
A theater between land and sea
30 comment Understanding the fire risk in tall timber buildings
Robert Gerard, Fire Safety Engineer at ARUP, highlights the key factors in understanding the fire risk in tall timber buildings
34 technology Illwerke Center Montafon: A green building for the future
Project is one of the largest timber-built office buildings worldwide and is a milestone in resource efficient, sustainable construction
38 wood works ‘The Wish List - What I Have Always Wanted Is…’ at the London Design Festival 2014
A unique collaborative project between some of the world’s best known design names and up-andcoming designers
P24
PLUS p6 Latest News p44 Showtime October 2014 | www.timberdesignandtechnology.com
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NEWS
FMC China 2014 hosts 800 exhibitors and record 35,524 trade buyers Colombia, the Netherlands, Italy, Switzerland, Singapore, Mexico, Malaysia, Russia, Poland, South Africa, Japan, Canada, Korea, Brazil, Vietnam, Britain and India. In addition, a total of 35,524 trade buyers from 108 countries visited FMC China 2014. Both the number of visitors and countries represented reached record levels this year. According to the organizers, the conferences and exhibitor seminars focused on the upstream and downstream linkages with a view to improve and upgrade the industry. These included the 2014 China Upholstery Industry 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. In addition, the ‘100 Sofa Show’ pioneered a new supply linkage and a new model between fabric and sofa manufacturers. The exhibits included Woodworking Machinery & Tools, CNC Image © FMC China
Machinery, Coating Machinery, Upholstered Furniture Machinery, Furniture Adhesives, Office Furniture Accessories and Components, Furniture Hardware and Fittings, Furniture Inspection Design &
The 20th Furniture Manufacturing & Supply China (FMC China 2014)
Service, Wood and Surface Décor, Furniture Fabric & Upholstery
successfully concluded on September 13, 2014 at the Shanghai
Components, and the Interior Design and 100 Sofa Show. The
World Expo Exhibition & Convention Center (SWEECC), concurrently
organizers have also announced that FMC China 2015 will be held
with ‘FMC Premium 2014’. The total area of the show this year was
from September 9 - 12, 2015 at the Shanghai World Expo Exhibition
59,000 sqm with 800 exhibitors from over 45 countries and regions
and Convention Center (SWEECC) and Shanghai New International
including China, Sweden, Germany, France, USA, Australia, Turkey,
Expo Center (SNIEC).
Zaha Hadid designs five Wooden Towers to house Cambodian Genocide Institute Zaha Hadid has unveiled designs for the Sleuk Rith Institute, which will house the Documentation Center of Cambodia’s one million document archive and, as the largest collection of genocide related material in Southeast Asia, will become a global center foreducation and research into the documentation, causes and prevention of genocide. The institute’s design is organized as five wooden structures that are separate volumes at ground level, but interweave and link together as they rise upwards; connecting the different departments, visitors, students and staff within a singular whole. With an overall footprint of 80 meter x 30 meter at the base and 88 meter x 38 meter at roof level, the structures range between three to eight storeys. Each of these five buildings will house a different function: the Sleuk Rith Institute; a library holding the largest collection of genocide-related material in Southeast Asia; a graduate school focusing on genocide, conflicts and human rights studies; a research center and archive to influence national and regional policies and discourse; a media center and an auditorium that can be used by the institute and the entire community. Constructed from sustainably sourced timber, the primary structure, exterior shading and interior partitions give natural scale, warmth and materiality. The more complex forms have been designed and engineered to be assembled from economical straight and single-curved timber sections with established technologies. The Sleuk Rith Institute complex has been granted approval and is scheduled to start construction on site next year.
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Image © Zaha Hadid
NEWS
JAF Group takes over sites of timber wholesaler DLH hardwood. Now we intend to follow this with further product areas,” explains Alexander Flatischler, CEO, JAF Group. Until the late 1990s the JAF Group concentrated on expanding the company in Austria. Since the beginning of the 1990s, in parallel it has also focused on international growth, starting with the Czech Republic, then expanding quickly during the following years into other countries such as Germany, Slovakia, Hungary, Croatia and Romania. The JAF Group has also been running its own sawmill and veneer production in Brasov (Romania) since 2007 under the name ‘J.F.Furnir’. Since 2005, the young markets have followed, namely Bulgaria, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Poland, Russia and Serbia. With 50 branches in 13 countries, the JAF Group has a dense network in Central and Eastern Europe. The company has established itself as a service-oriented partner for the wood processing industry, the Image © Novak
construction sector and resale. Today the JAF Group is the market leader in Austria, the Czech Republic, Slovakia, Hungary and Croatia. “We regard the integration of the DLH sales areas China,
The international JAF Group based in Stockerau - also known in
Vietnam and Cameroon into our company as a great chance - our
Austria under the name J. u. A. Frischeis - will take over operations
customers will benefit from the worldwide network we will now
of DLH Asia and Africa covering the markets of China, Vietnam
be able to access by means of this expansion. DLH customers in
and Cameroon as of October 31, 2014 (subject to the competition
these
authority’s approval). The total turnover for this division of DLH
being able to draw on the decades of know-how, strong logistics
has been around EUR 74 million annually. The DLH Group is a
and well-founded contacts of a market leader in Central and
stock market listed company, which specializes in the worldwide
Eastern
wholesale of timber and timber products, and has been in Danish
the spot and are thus excellently informed about market conditions.
family ownership for more than 100 years. JAF, founded in 1948
Internationally we have direct access to the best procurement
by Josef and Antonia Frischeis, has 50 branches in 13 countries
markets, and benefit from the experience and opportunities of a
and is now Central Europe’s leading wholesaler of wood and wood
global group,” adds Flatischler.
based materials, and has remained an owner-managed company up to today. “We decided to acquire DLH Asia and Africa because, of course,
markets will immediately enjoy the additional benefit of
Europe: with our branches we are represented right on
“We have always aimed to build relationships with our customers and suppliers that will last for many years, as well as maintaining a balanced mix of innovation and tradition. In this area too, our
we see growth potential there. In addition, these markets fit
philosophy is a very good fit with the principles of DLH - as a family
perfectly with our plans to extend the international radius of the
company we appreciate the values and long-standing commercial
JAF Group. Up to now our global marketing expertise has mainly
traditions of the Danish group, and we will continue to work with
been in the areas of veneers and sawn timber - to be specific
these,” concludes Flatischler.
DOMOTEX asia/CHINAFLOOR 2015 almost sold out With over five months left to go, the organizers of DOMOTEX asia/ CHINAFLOOR have announced that 73 percent of the show has been sold out. The 17th edition of the show will take place on March 24 - 26, 2015 and will present not only the latest in flooring, but also new themed areas and interesting conference topics to further support the industry development. With 140,000 sqm of gross exhibit space, DOMOTEX asia/CHINAFLOOR will include 5 halls dedicated to carpet and rugs, 4 halls dedicated to wood, laminate, bamboo and other hard floors as well as 3 halls (one more compared to last year) dedicated to resilient commercial and industrial floorings with LVT leading this product category. In addition, the ‘World of Handmade Carpets’ concept will return following its launch in 2014, while the wood sector is back in the East halls of the Image © DOMOTEX asia/CHINAFLOOR
Shanghai New International Exhibition Center. ‘Color the Success in Flooring’ is the new slogan accompanying the 17th edition of this leading international trade event. The
for manufacturers’ products launches. In addition, the GreenStep Asia
InnovAction Flooring campaign, running for the third time in 2015,
Awards, organized by FCW and hosted by the show, is also coming
will reveal once again the newest products developed by the
back in March 2015 for its second edition. This is the only awards
industry specifically for the Asian region but also for the global
program giving recognition to green flooring solutions realized in the
markets. This campaign has already become one of the favorite tools
Asia-Pacific region.
October 2014 | www.timberdesignandtechnology.com
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NEWS
FAO and South Africa gear up for World Forestry Congress FAO Director-General Graziano da Silva met with Senzini Zokwana,
“As the first of its kind in the African continent, we want the
South Africa’s Minister for Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries
World Forestry Congress to be not only a success but a trendsetter,”
to discuss preparations for the 14th World Forestry Congress,
said Senzini Zokwana, South Africa’s Minister for Agriculture,
which will be held in September 2015 in Durban, South Africa.
Forestry and Fisheries. “We have one objective: promoting the role
The congress will bring together the global forestry community of
of forestry in denting hunger and unemployment. We also need
experts and policy makers to analyze and address current key issues
to identify and promote all the challenges of forestry, including
on the utilization and preservation of forests, including hunger
fires and recognize that communities must form part of forestry
prevention and mitigation of climate impacts.
protection.”
Structural Accoya® at FagelCats intended to encourage a sense of calm and peacefulness amongst the chaos of the busy Amsterdam city and this superior quality made the wood specification an easy decision. Importantly, though, Accoya’s strength, durability and low-maintenance requirements were also key, as were its incredible sustainability credentials and its Cradle to Cradle Gold level certification.” Created using Accsys Technologies’ propriety acetylation technology, Accoya delivers outstanding levels of performance, including dimensional stability, class 1 durability and sustainability. Made with FSC® certified wood from legal, manageable and sustainable forests, Accoya is an attractive wood product which is Swan EcoLabel approved and is perfect for a variety of uses from windows and doors to external cladding, structural projects and decking. Bryan Crennell, Director of Sales and Marketing at Accsys Technologies, added: “From an architectural perspective, FagelCats is an outstanding example of the way in which Accoya can be used to regenerate built-up areas, providing sustainable and durable buildings that remain sympathetic to existing infrastructure. It is also an example of the ways in which materials such as Accoya can respond to the needs of end-users, with aesthetic beauty and a natural appearance that adds the finishing touch to projects such as Image © Accsys Technologies
residential developments.”
Accoya®, the high performance modified wood product manufactured by Accsys Technologies, has been put to use in a structural capacity in a project specifically designed to allow elderly people and those suffering from dementia to live independently. Located in Amsterdam, FagelCats is a complex of 22 apartments for seniors aged 65 and over and four community homes with 24 hour on-site care, designed to meet the needs of local residents living with dementia. At the heart of the development, the garden pavilion is a sheltered communal area, which connects two five-storey buildings, providing a natural and peaceful escape from the densely populated city and encouraging a sense of friendship and community amongst residents. As well as designing FagelCats to support the needs of the elderly, architect Liesbeth Janson of Studio Huijgens seized the project as an opportunity to regenerate the Westerpark area of Amsterdam. The impressive wooden design in the interior of this closed building block respects the surroundings of the city’s famous World Heritage canal ring with a modern interpretation of Amsterdam’s iconic architectural style. In keeping with the centuries-long tradition of collaboration between art and design, Liesbeth developed the design with local artist, Aam Solleveld. Accoya Structural was used for columns, decking and window frames throughout FagelCats. Architect Liesbeth Janson commented: “Accoya gives FagelCats a soft and natural appearance, which is
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Image © Accsys Technologies
NEWS
dwp wins ‘Outstanding use of American Hardwood in the Middle East’ award for ‘Emaar Corporate Offices’
Image © dwp
Design Worldwide Partnership (dwp) won the ‘Outstanding use of
AHEC’s involvement as the Gold Sponsor of the CID Awards is
American Hardwood in the Middle East’ award for Emaar’s new
part of its extensive outreach campaign championing the usage
corporate offices at the Commercial Interior Design (CID) Awards
of American hardwoods and reflects its commitment to educate
2014, which took place on Monday, September 15, 2014 at the JW
specifiers and to increase awareness of the potential applications
Marriott Marquis Hotel, Dubai. The award was presented by Roderick
offered by American hardwoods. This year, the ‘Outstanding use
Wiles, AHEC Director for Africa, Middle East, South Asia and Oceania
of American Hardwood in the Middle East’ category once again
to George Kahler, Design Director, dwp. This is the fourth year
attracted nominations from leading design practices across the
running that the American Hardwood Export Council (AHEC), the
region. The shortlisted nominees this year included ‘Dolphin Energy
leading international trade association for the American hardwood
offices’ by Perkins + Will; the ‘Pavilion Cafe’ by Bishop Design; ‘Mint
industry, has supported the prestigious CID Awards.
Leaf of London’ by AMBB Interiors; ‘SKA Energy Office’ by TOPOS
According to the judges, this year’s winner was praised for ‘its industrial feel which works seamlessly with the open office
Design Studio; and the ‘Sofitel The Palm Dubai’ by MPD Interiors. “Over the years we have witnessed many developments in Middle
approach, using a mixture of materials to define key areas. In
East design styles and we are delighted to see the emergence of
addition, the creative use of hardwoods throughout the design
innovative and cutting edge design in the region, embracing the
brings warmth into the space, thanks to their application not only
use of natural materials and textures. The quality of this year’s CID
as flooring but also in the walls, seating and rooms’. The judges
Awards nominations underlined this perfectly. Wood is very much of
also wanted to highly commend the ‘Big Easy’ restaurant by
the moment globally and it is encouraging to see so many projects
Broadway Interiors & Prozha as they noted its harmonious design
in the Middle East incorporating American hardwoods in their
that demonstrates thought and consideration toward exhibiting the
design and in so many different functions and finishes,” concluded
owner’s South African heritage.
Roderick Wiles.
Emaar, one of the world’s largest property developers, wanted to reinvigorate their team and have a new vibrant workplace. In order to achieve this, they relocated their entire team to Emaar Square in Downtown Dubai, which involved dwp working to provide a new dynamic workplace, spread over 3 levels and 6,250 sqm - one that translated their vision for the future into an extraordinary design aesthetic, as a clear reflection of the Emaar brand. The project, led by Mohammed Alabbar, was not an ordinary relocation project. It was to be an honest reflection of the company’s vision, future and its ever-increasing role in the framework of a growing Dubai. “Emaar’s previous offices supported it through a different era for the development industry. It was emerging from the financial crash and wanted to claw back its entrepreneurial spirit, to shape up its operations, inspire the staff to perform and drive the organization forward,” says George Kahler. “Emaar’s previous office space was fragmented and did not fully reflect this new Emaar drive. The new office design completely changed the dynamic and has contributed to and reinforced the chairman’s vision. It’s a huge success.”
Image © ITP
October 2014 | www.timberdesignandtechnology.com
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NEWS
Indonesian forests to benefit from PEFC Certification Indonesian forests, home to some of the most biologically diverse
wood that comes from forests that have been independently
forests in the world, can now benefit from credible, globally
verified as sustainably managed. We encourage companies and
recognized sustainable forest management certification following the
consumers alike to opt for PEFC-certified products to support
endorsement of the Indonesian Forestry Certification Co-operation
forest owners in Indonesia that manage their forests sustainably,”
(IFCC) by PEFC, the world’s leading forest certification system. With
emphasized Gunneberg.
more than 50 percent of Indonesia’s land area forested, the country’s
The endorsement of IFCC by PEFC follows the most rigorous
rainforest is the third-largest in the world. It is considered one of the
assessment process existing globally for national forest certification
five most species-rich countries globally, home to about ten percent
systems seeking international recognition. PEFC requires all
of all known species of plants, mammals and birds.
standards to be developed through comprehensive, multi-stakeholder
“This endorsement signifies a turning point for Indonesia, a
and consensus-based processes at national level with all standard
country which is still struggling with combating high deforestation
requirements meeting or exceeding the environmental, social and
rates,” said Ben Gunneberg, Secretary General of PEFC International.
economic requirements of PEFC’s Sustainability Benchmarks.
“Forest certification represents an important mechanism to verify
“Finding the right balance that protects forests and the people
and promote sustainable forest management, thus safeguarding the
who depend on them is critical to achieving long term sustainability.
environmental, social and economic benefits that forests provide.
We have benefitted from the involvement of a wide range of
This is especially important in a country like Indonesia given the
stakeholders in the development of our national forest certification
significance of its forest resources both in terms of protecting its
system towards this ambitious goal, and the endorsement by
invaluable biodiversity and its contribution to the livelihoods of the
PEFC confirms that we are in alignment with globally recognized
millions of people that depend on forest resources to make a living.”
Sustainability Benchmarks,” said Dradjad H Wibowo, Chairman of
It is estimated that 80 million Indonesians rely on forests for their livelihood. Responsible management of the country’s forest resources
the IFCC. “Forest owners and companies are now able to demonstrate their
are also important from an economic point of view: smallholders and
good practices through certification and to re-gain the trust of the
industrial forestry operators, along with pulp and paper producers,
marketplace that has been lost over the past decade. Indonesia
depend on forests, and contribute approximately USD 21 billion to
recognizes the importance of sustainable forest management, and we
the economy - around 3.5 percent of Indonesia’s GDP. More than 4
encourage buyers globally to take a second look at certified forest
million people are employed by this industry.
products from Indonesia and to reward those who are committed to
“PEFC forest certification enables people to choose good wood,
safeguarding our forest resources,” concluded Wibowo.
UN launches ‘game-changer’ software to help developing countries monitor forests Accurate information is crucial for governments to manage their
international reporting requirements related to reducing emissions
natural resources sustainably, the United Nations Food and
from deforestation and forest degradation and increasing the carbon
Agriculture Organization (FAO) said at the launch of new software it
stock in forests. In addition, the FAO tools simplify the complex
hopes will help developing nations monitor the state of their forests.
process of transforming raw data such as tree measurements and
FAO has launched free software tools that it hopes will improve the
satellite imagery into interactive web pages with statistics, graphs,
way many developing nations monitor the state of their forests to
maps and reports.
tackle deforestation and climate change. “Many countries simply do not have a full picture of what is
“Increased transparency will help the policy makers obtain the information they need to make informed decisions,” said Rojas-
happening in their forests, and without that knowledge it is hard to
Briales, adding that earlier this year Ecuador and Tanzania have
develop effective forest policies to combat deforestation and forest
already completed their first national forest inventories with the help
degradation or to advance national climate change strategies,” said
of Open Foris tools.
Eduardo Rojas-Briales, Assistant Director-General for FAO Forestry. As it stands now, nearly 80 percent of developing countries have difficulty obtaining and using basic information about their forest resources. ‘Open Foris’ is a FAO-led initiative designed to assist countries in forest inventory - from assessment, design and field data collection to analysis and reporting. Released at the International Union of Forest Research Organizations’ World Congress in Salt Lake City, Open Foris tools are already being tested in more than ten countries in Africa, Asia and Latin America. “We hope that Open Foris will be a game changer, as it is the first comprehensive open source tool that will not only guide the countries through the whole process of data collection and analysis but will also encourage and facilitate open knowledge sharing in an innovative way,” added Rojas-Briales. The new software includes built-in tools to help countries meet
10 www.timberdesignandtechnology.com | October 2014
October 2014 | www.timberdesignandtechnology.com 11
SUSTAINABILITY
LEED v4: Understanding the changes and implications for the use of wood as a building material
I
n 2013, the US Green Building
Materials and Resources credit
Renovation, changes to the Materials
Council (USGBC) released LEED
category. Optional credits related to
and Resources category, and ways in
v4. Described as a ‘quantum
life cycle assessment (LCA), LCA-based
which changes may impact the use
leap’, LEED v4 is said to speed up
environmental product declarations
of wood.
the credit submittal process for
(EPDs), material ingredient
design teams and encourage building
verification, and transparent reporting
owners to better understand building
of raw materials sourcing are all new
maintenance and operation. New
additions for LEED v4. Also, the list of
BD&C: New Construction and Major Renovation Materials and Resources
standards and credit categories have
environmentally preferable products
There is a significant change from
been developed as part of LEED
has been modified to narrow the
LEED 2009 to LEED v4 in the
v4, as well as the introduction of
definition of locally sourced products,
Material & Resources (MR) section
prerequisites for metering of energy
exclude rapidly renewable materials,
(Table 1). Emphasized in the new
and water use, and establishment
and add a new bio-based products
standard are credits related to
of specific energy performance
category.
life cycle assessment (LCA), LCA-
requirements. Perhaps the most substantial changes in LEED v4 are to the
12 www.timberdesignandtechnology.com | October 2014
This article examines LEED v4 -
based environmental product
Building Design and Construction:
declarations (EPDs), material
New Construction and Major
ingredient verification, health product
sustainability
Image Š AHEC
declarations (HPDs), and transparency
forest products, reused and recycled
or the use of Life Cycle Assessment
regarding raw materials sourcing and
content products.
(LCA) to inform building design and
extraction. Also, a new locally sourced (100-mile radius) definition replaces the previous regional materials (500mile radius) credit. Stand-alone credits related to local
New Materials & Resources (MR) Credits in LEED v4, BD&C: New Construction & Major Renovations
materials selection. Building Product Disclosure & Optimization - Environmental Product Declarations (1-2 points)
sourcing, material reuse, recycled
As shown in Table 1, the MR section
Recognizes the use of products that
content and wood certification
of LEED v4 includes new credits.
have an Environmental Product
are no longer awarded, but are
Each of the new credits is briefly
Declaration (EPD).
now recognized in conjunction
described below. Building Product Disclosure &
with attainment of other criterion. In addition, reference to rapidly
Building Life-Cycle Impact Reduction
Optimization - Sourcing of Raw
renewable materials has also been
(up to 5 points)
Materials (1-2 points)
eliminated and replaced with
Focuses on optimizing the use of
Rewards the use of products that
responsible sourcing criteria that
materials and resources through the
publicly report supplier and extraction
include bio-based materials, certified
reuse of existing parts of buildings
locations. Replaces requirements for
October 2014 | www.timberdesignandtechnology.com 13
SUSTAINABILITY
Image © Dovetail Partners
materials reuse, recycled content, and rapidly renewable materials with six new responsible sourcing criteria: 1. Extended producer responsibility 2. Bio-based materials 3. Wood products 4. Materials reuse 5. Recycled content
LEED v4 retains USGBC’s somewhat contentious, singular recognition of FSC wood products certification
6. USGBC approved program
conscious consumers can use in making purchase decisions. The shift toward EPDs has long been in the works and is reflected in the Green Globes standard as well. Manufacturer and product-specific EPDs (or LCAs) are needed to get full product credit and before anyone can claim optimization credits under
difficult to obtain. LEED v4 retains
LEED v4. Currently only the North
Building Product Disclosure &
USGBC’s somewhat contentious,
American wood products industry
Optimization – Material Ingredients
singular recognition of FSC wood
has developed and published ISO-
(1-2 points)
products certification. In view of LEED
compliant EPDs for a wide range
Rewards the reporting of a product’s
v4 alluding to recognition of ‘USGBC-
of products. The cement/concrete
chemical ingredients.
approved equivalent’ programs, it
industry is reportedly moving toward
is incumbent on USGBC to publish
developing industry-wide EPDs but
guidelines as to what constitutes an
as yet nothing is publicly available.
While LEED v4 represents a
equivalent program and to develop
There is no apparent movement on
substantive change from LEED
an appropriate review and approval
behalf of the steel industry regarding
2009, some positions related to
process.
EPD development. As EPDs will take
Discussion
wood remain effectively unchanged
The move to EPDs in LEED v4
time to develop, it is likely to be some
and some points in the Materials
is a positive step. EPDs provide
time before EPD optimization credits
and Resources credits may be very
information that environmentally
are realistically available. Previous versions of LEED awarded points for products for which raw material extraction (or collection), conversion to products (manufacturing), and incorporation into structures all occurred within a 500-mile radius. The 500-mile local sourcing rule has been eliminated in LEED v4. In its place, a 100-mile radius is now specified as defining local sourcing, with extraction, manufacturing, and purchasing all to occur within that range. Perhaps more than any other industry, the shift is likely to benefit wood products manufacturers and distributors.
Image © Dovetail Partners
14 www.timberdesignandtechnology.com | October 2014
Use of Wood Products and LEED v4 Within LEED v4, use of wood
sustainability
products contributes to points in the following credits: Building Life Cycle Impact Reduction Life Cycle Assessment (3 points) Life cycle comparisons consistently show wood products have lower embodied energy and lower carbon emissions as well as significantly
EPDs provide information that environmentally conscious consumers can use in making purchase decisions
lower impacts across a broad
to a second point under this credit if it does not incorporate organic-based surface coatings, binders, or sealants.
The Bottom Line LEED v4 represents a major change from LEED 2009, with substantial differences in the Materials and Resources credit category. In LEED v4, USGBC has focused on transparency
spectrum of impact measures.
The second point is associated with
of information, energy-savings
Consequently, comparison of
extended producer responsibility,
through optimization, and building
dominantly wooden structures
bio-based materials, certified forest
performance and operation. Buildings
with those that incorporate little or
products, materials reuse, and
constructed in the future will be
no wood will almost always point
recycled content. Products that
significantly more energy efficient
to wood as an environmentally
typically qualify under the recycled
than today and, more attention
preferable option.
content provision include standard
will likely be given to minimizing
particleboard, fiberboard, and finger-
environmental impacts wherever
jointed studs.
possible. The increased use of
Building Product Disclosure & Optimization - Environmental Product
science-based tools to identify lowest
Declarations (1 point)
Building Product Disclosure &
impact alternatives may lead to
As noted previously, industry-wide
Optimization - Material Ingredients
wood products becoming the building
ISO-compliant EPDs are available
(1-2 points)
materials of choice.
for many wood products. However,
Untreated and unfinished wood
because this kind of EPD counts
is classified as an inherently non-
* This article is excerpted from a report
as only half product for purposes
emitting flooring source that can
issued by Dovetail Partners in August
of credit achievement, wood use
contribute to one point under this
2014. The full report is available at:
in itself is unlikely to satisfy the
credit. Refinished products may also
www.dovetailinc.org
credit requirement. The second point
contribute to an additional point if
under this credit (optimization) is
material ingredients are reported.
effectively unavailable until such time as one or more manufacturer-specific
Low-Emitting Materials (2 points)
EPDs are published.
Wood products are referenced in the Low Emitting Materials category,
Building Product Disclosure &
which is found in the Indoor Air
Optimization - Sourcing of Raw
Quality section of the various LEED
Materials (1-2 points)
standards. Use of composite wood
Manufacturers of all products,
products that meet certain California
including manufacturers of wood
Air Resources Board Airborne Toxic
products, can qualify their products for
Control Measure (ATCM) requirements
contributing to the first point under
can contribute to one of the points
this credit by publishing an annual
available under this credit. Untreated,
Corporate Sustainability Report.
unfinished wood flooring contributes
About the Author Dovetail Partners provides authoritative information about the impacts and trade-offs of environmental decisions, including consumption choices, land use, and policy alternatives. Jim Bowyer, Ph.D is the Director of Responsible Materials, Kathryn Fernholz is the Executive Director and Jeff Howe, Ph.D. is Dovetail’s Founder and President.
Table 1 comparison of material & resources - prerequisites & credits in leed 2009 and v4 LEED 2009 - NEW CONSTRUCTION & MAJOR RENOVATIONS
LEED 4 - BD&C: NOW CONSTRUCTION & MAJOR RENOVATIONS
MRp1
Storage and collection of recyclables
Required
Prereq
Storage and collection of recyclables
Required
MRc1.1
3 possible pts
Prereq
Reqired
1 possible pt
Credit
Construction & demolition waste management planning Building life-cycle impact reduction
MRc2
Building reuse - maintain existing walls, floors & roof Building reuse - maintain interior nonstructural elements Construction waste management
2 possible pts
Credit
2 possible pts
MRc3
Material reuse
2 possible pts
Credit
MEc4
Recycle content
2 possible pts
Credit
MRc5
Regional materials
2 possible pts
Credit
Building product disclosure & optimization enviromental product declarations* Building product disclosure & optimization - Sourcing of raw materials* Building product disclosure & optimization - material ingredients* Construction & demolition waste managment
MRc6
Rapidly renewable material
1 possible pt
MRc7
Certified wood
1 possible pt
MRc1.2
5 possible pts
2 possible pts 2 possible pts 2 possible pts
*If products meeting criteria for this credit are also locally sourced (i.e. extracted, manufactured, and purchased within 100 miles of the project site) they are valued at 200% of actual cost for purpose of credit calculation.
October 2014 | www.timberdesignandtechnology.com 15
MARKET REPORT
Global market for Green Building Materials expected to reach USD 528.8 billion by 2020
D
efined as the future of the
provides a comprehensive review
agricultural byproducts, and sheep’s
construction industry, green
of market trends, issues, drivers,
wool. Engineered wood, timber, and
buildings are emerging from
mergers, acquisitions and other
glass are also forecast to witness
their niche market status into a
strategic industry activities of major
increased demand.
mainstream force. The growing
companies worldwide.
need to reduce energy consumption
According to the report, the
Currently, the United States represents the largest market
represents the single most important
development of innovative, natural,
worldwide supported by higher
factor driving remodeling initiatives
high performance biomaterials
customer willingness to adopt green
in residential, commercial and
is poised to benefit demand.
practices. Growing awareness and
industrial construction sectors.
Biomaterials sourced from bamboo
financial foresight over the long-
Stringent government regulations
and agricultural derivatives, such
term energy and cost savings of
calling for mandatory renovation
as sugarcane bagasse, wheat straw,
green buildings is driving voluntary
or reconstruction of aging buildings
and fiber crops, are witnessing a
renovation of existing buildings.
is additionally fuelling the trend.
strong spurt in popularity. Building
Asia-Pacific is poised to emerge as the
Against this backdrop, demand for
insulation and roofing solutions are
fastest growing market with a CAGR of
green building materials is witnessing
witnessing increased investments in
16.9 percent over the forecast period
steady growth. A new report titled
research and production backed by
led by strong GDP growth, improving
‘Green Building Materials: A Global
venture capital funding. Efforts are
living standards, rising disposable
Strategic Business Report’ released
underway to replace plastic foams
income levels, and growing emphasis
by Global Industry Analysts Inc.,
with renewable solutions based on
on energy conservation.
16 www.timberdesignandtechnology.com | October 2014
MARKET REPORT
Image Š Cree
The Outlook
are more environment-friendly such
market is also influenced by factors
The green building concept is
as insulation with better energy
such as government incentives for
transforming the construction industry
efficiency, recycled concrete that is
green buildings, growing pressure to
landscape across both residential and
produced with eco-friendly techniques,
comply with low-energy construction
commercial sectors. Also known as
green roofing, energy-efficient
regulations, emergence of newer
sustainable building, green building is
residential windows, green floor
green technologies, and falling costs
a structure that is resource efficient
coverings, and others.
of green building materials. Further,
and environmentally responsible
Since its first adoption in few
the increasing occupancy rates of
throughout its entire lifecycle - from
government constructions, green
green buildings and the substantial
design and construction to operation
buildings are gradually expanding to
operational savings achieved by
and maintenance and further to
all construction sectors: residential,
building owners is encouraging
demolition and renovation stages. The
offices, hospitals, hotels, schools,
them to shift towards green building
focus of green buildings concept is
factories, and retail spaces, driven by
constructions, thereby stimulating
on improving efficiency of buildings
rising awareness about environmental
sales of green building materials.
in the use of energy, water and other
conservation and the adoption of
resources, while minimizing the
government mandates and voluntary
Building Materials is estimated at USD
impact on environment and human
standards, thereby driving up demand
281.9 billion in 2014, and is projected
health throughout the building’s life
for a wide range of green building
to reach USD 528.8 billion by the year
cycle. The concept relies on the use
materials. Besides environmental
2020. In the upcoming years, growth
of techniques and materials that
concerns, the green building materials
in the global green buildings materials
The global market for Green
October 2014 | www.timberdesignandtechnology.com 17
MARKET REPORT
market would be driven by rising consumer awareness about benefits of green technologies, implementation of regulations and policies emphasizing on achieving energy efficiency and green designs, and increased adoption of voluntary certification programs for green buildings. Continuous improvements in material science, changing design and construction practices, and the need for production efficiency in mature product segments are also driving the shift towards green building materials.
Since its first adoption in few government constructions, green buildings are gradually expanding to all construction sectors
Growth would also be driven by home improvement or refurbishment as well as new constructions in the residential
driven to a large extent by rising environmental concerns. With the construction industry accounting for a significant share of greenhouse gas emissions, green building materials offer huge opportunities globally, backed by their environmentfriendliness and increasing government support.
construction was marginally affected
to opt for green designs, given
Building renovations & remodeling: A key revenue contributor
its huge implications on realizing
Building renovations are expected to
substantial cost savings for the
drive significant demand for green
enterprise or home.
building materials in the upcoming
by restricted funding, other sectors of the construction industry continue
In particular, the private sector has
years. Stringent government
sector. Retrofits and rebuilds in
been rapidly adopting sustainable
regulations calling for mandatory
both commercial and residential
measures, due to emphasis on
renovations or reconstructions for
buildings are expected to drive up
saving costs by increasing energy
aging buildings, both residential
strong demand for green building
efficiency and also as part of efforts
and commercial, will continue to
materials. Europe represents the
of companies to be identified as
drive reconstruction and remodeling
largest market with estimated sales of
being environment friendly. Demand
activity, thereby boosting market
USD 92.4 billion in 2014. Insulation
for green building materials is also
prospects for various types of
represents the largest application market for green building materials, while Framing constitutes the fastest growing application category.
Rising energy consumption propels demand for green building materials Sustainable design concept continues to gain popularity across all sectors of the economy. Though considered as a non-essential investment, companies across the world are now adopting green building as a means to achieve sustainability and energy savings. Despite the fact that spending on green buildings during the recession years in some construction sectors such as public buildings
18 www.timberdesignandtechnology.com | October 2014
MARKET REPORT
of them being implemented as soon
use of recycled wood, cans, tires, and
as 2016. Led by these regulations,
bottles as replacement for traditional
construction industry participants
materials, to create eco-friendly
are engaged in developing products
buildings. For instance, in the flooring
that can limit demand for zero
market, focus is on using natural
energy buildings and also facilitate
materials, with wood, cork, reclaimed
compliance with new regulations.
hardwood, bamboo, and red oak
Though the current market for zero
finding widespread acceptance.
energy buildings is relatively small, thereby offering favorable prospects
Growing demand for green flooring materials
for green building materials.
With the growing emphasis on
the future looks extremely promising,
Traditional materials gain prominence as green buildings trend strengthens
energy and cost savings, consumers are increasingly looking towards products such as natural floors that need little energy to produce, or
An increasing number of construction
opting for local purchases so as to
projects across the world are striving
reduce transport energy costs. Other
to achieve green building certification
options include flooring with minimal
or recognition for their superior
or low VOC emissions and flooring
energy efficient green materials.
environmental performance, which is
made of renewable resources. A key
For instance, building renovations
giving rise to demand for materials
driving force for the market is slower
following Hurricane Sandy in 2012
that can improve manufacturing
economic growth, which is limiting
and tornadoes in early 2013 in the
processes and enhance performance
consumer spending levels, and turning
U.S. have and will continue to drive
while reducing the environmental
attention onto value-added products.
demand for green materials as a part
impact of buildings. A trend seen in
This is in turn driving demand for
of building renovations and retrofits.
this regard is the growing preference
energy efficient flooring options
for traditional methods and materials,
that allow consumers to cut down
which have been pushed to the back
overall costs.
Net zero energy buildings: The ultimate objective
burner over the past several decades
The green flooring market has
With green building practices gaining
in favor of petrochemicals-based
benefitted immensely from the
popularity in the construction
materials. Most of the traditional
increased adoption of LEED standards-
industry, the ultimate objective is
materials are sourced from bio-based
compliant products in the commercial
to design net zero energy buildings,
resources, which are low in carbon
flooring sector. The adoption in
implying buildings that consume as
and energy.
commercial flooring sector has also
Among the traditional materials
facilitated reduction in prices of green
by using renewable energy systems.
finding favor in the industry include
residential flooring materials, enabling
Several countries across the world
timber structures and cladding,
more and more consumers to opt for
have already set up long-term
bamboo flooring, straw-bale
the same. Lured by the huge potential
regulations and targets, which would
construction, natural mineral and fiber
in this rapidly growth segment,
necessitate construction of net zero-
floor coverings, cellulose insulation,
flooring manufacturers are offering
energy buildings. A number of these
and lime renders and mortars.
innovative flooring materials involving
regulations are likely to come into
Use of recycled materials is also
the use of sustainably sourced raw
effect in the near future, with some
increasing with companies making
materials and recycled content.
much energy as energy produced
Global Industry Analysts, Inc. (GIA) Global Industry Analysts, Inc., (GIA) is a leading publisher of off-the-shelf market research. Founded in 1987, the company currently employs over 800 people worldwide. Annually, GIA publishes 1500+ full-scale research reports and analyzes 40,000+ market and technology trends while monitoring more than 126,000 Companies worldwide. Serving over 9,500 clients in 27 countries, GIA is recognized today, as one of the world’s largest and reputed market research firms.
October 2014 | www.timberdesignandtechnology.com 19
ANALYSIS
Bamboo: Good or Bad for the environment?
20 www.timberdesignandtechnology.com | October 2014
ANALYSIS
O
ften refered to as ‘the timber of the 21st century’, Bamboo is being hailed as a new super
material, with uses ranging from textiles to construction. From walls to flooring, bamboo is promoted as the environmental answer to wood. Today, bamboo flooring is commonplace from showrooms to homes, and the building community expects that it will be used in plywood next. Further, new technologies and ways of industrially processing bamboo have made a big difference, enabling it to begin to compete with wood products for Western markets. Environmentalists love it for its quick growth and for the fact that it
The downside to bamboo lies in its construction; instead of being cut and used whole, like wood, bamboo is sliced into pieces and glued together
Environmental impact
include biodiversity, soil erosion, and
that global bamboo market stands at
case in recent years. Not only does
chemical use.
around USD 10 billion, and the World
a bamboo plantation not have the
Bamboo Organisation says this could
biodiversity of a natural forest, but
double in five years.
given its invasive nature, bamboo can
can be harvested without harming the environment. However, the downsides of bamboo are now being scrutinized as its popularity grows and expands throughout the world. Whilst it has the potential to absorb large amounts of carbon dioxide, the biggest greenhouse gas, and provide some of the world’s poorest people with cash, some of key concerns
What is Bamboo? Bamboo is a grass native to South
Today, the majority of the bamboo
The biggest argument made by the bamboo industry is that it can be harvested without killing the plant. The reality however is that farmers cleared virgin forest in order to plant their bamboo farms, which ensured that the profitability of bamboo surpassed the profit of rice and other kinds of farming. This hasn’t been the
also quickly take over a nearby forest. A key issue that needs to be
America, all parts of Asia, as well as
used in the United States is grown
northern Australia and areas of the
in China. Some of these plantations
considered is that rising demand for
southeast United States. Touted for its
date back hundreds of years, and
bamboo might threaten the remaining
strength, hardness, and fast growth
most of the world’s population uses
remnants of forest. In addition, the
rate, bamboo has more compressive
the grass in some form or another.
clearing of forest raises concerns
strength than concrete and the same
Mainly used in housing for flooring, in
over soil erosion, as do newly planted
strength-to-weight ratio as steel in
construction as support poles, and in
fields, especially on steep slopes.
tension. Significantly, its advocates
household implements like chopsticks
Researchers have found, though,
point out that it grows much faster
or cutting boards, the truth is that
that planting bamboo along river
than trees. Recent reports estimate
bamboo is flourishing.
banks helped decrease erosion. Once the grass was established on farms, erosion decreased there as well. According to Rupert Oliver, a simplistic single-issue comparison is often made between timber production (“trees require a long time to grow”) and bamboo (which has the single merit of being quick to grow) without any attempt to put this into the wider environmental context. As such, environmentalists are quick to forget that sustainable selection harvesting of semi-natural forest (typical in the hardwood industry) allows income generation while also maintaining biodiversity. Significantly, such forest management requires relatively little energy (no fertilizer, replanting or
October 2014 | www.timberdesignandtechnology.com 21
ANALYSIS
weeding required) and also helps protect watersheds. Contrast this with bamboo plantations, which require regular and intensive management, must be given ample water, actively protected from competitive weeds and, in many areas, require application of fertilizer. Many point to the fact that bamboo has the potential to ‘absorb large amounts of carbon dioxide’. While growing bamboo (like wood) certainly sequesters CO2, there’s no guarantee that the overall carbon footprint will be negative (i.e. more carbon ends up in stored in the finished product than is emitted in getting that product to market). The downside to bamboo lies in its construction; instead of
together under high pressure. All of
being cut and used whole, like wood,
this requires energy and leads to
enough evidence to say that bamboo
bamboo is sliced into pieces and
carbon emissions.
is necessarily better or worse for
In addition, there are serious
glued together.
According to Oliver, there is not
the environment than hardwood or
questions regarding health and
any other material. Some bamboo
only does bamboo require a relatively
safety surrounding how the bamboo
products may well contribute to
large amount of energy to grow, but
is handled and the chemical
carbon sequestration and in some
also to process. To produce bamboo
components used to glue and seal it.
circumstances bamboo production
flooring, for example, the outer skin of
At present, there are no standardized
might be a sound environmental and
the bamboo stem must be removed,
requirements for its construction or
social option. Elsewhere, sustainable
and then the stem is cut into strips,
the glue holding it together. In fact,
management of forests for hardwoods
which are treated against mould
rates of strength and hardness vary
will be the better option. The only
and insects. The strips may then be
from one end of the spectrum to the
way to make valid judgements of
boiled (steamed) to turn the material
other depending on supplier, and the
environmental impact is by comparing
a caramel brown color. The strips are
glue can contain formaldehyde and be
each product on a full cradle to
then kiln dried, pressed and glued
harmful to the environment.
grave basis.
Oliver highlights the fact that not
Don’t be Misled by Imitators CATEGORIES
AMERICAN HARDWOODS
BAMBOO
Sustainability
Maturity is reached in 40–50 years. According to the USDA Forest Service, there were 119% more hardwood trees in 2007 than in 1953, and the growth-to-removals ratio is 2.00 (Forest Resources of the United States, 2007).
Maturity is reached in 5–7 years. There are over 1,600 known species, but only several are suitable for flooring and panels. Non-suitable species and immature plants yield products that lack appropriate hardness.
Energy Consumption
Manufacturing energy is limited to running a saw blade.
Because bamboo is not a hardwood but a grass, its strips must be compressed with chemical-based glue, under extreme pressure, to be bound together. Glue content can range from 3–20%.
Off-Gassing
No emissions for methane, nitrogen oxides, and other particulate matter, and minimal emissions for carbon dioxide (Bergman and Bowe, 2008).
Lower grade bamboo products often use formaldehyde resins in the gluing process, which can lead to formaldehyde off-gassing.
Material Utilization
Virtually every part of a log is used as lumber or by-products (including bark, sawdust, and scrap); finished products can be repurposed or used as a combustible fuel.
High quality manufacturing techniques use only 65% of the raw material; traditional manufacturing utilizes only 35%. The remaining material is wasted, usually burned.
Quality
Standards, established by U.S. associations, regulate the quality of American hardwood products.
In China, where the majority of bamboo products originate, there are no organizations governing quality.
Carbon Sequestration
Hardwood trees store carbon as they grow and, when harvested from a responsibly managed forest, are actually a carbon-negative material.
Bamboo grass stores carbon during the growth cycle, but—due to extensive energy required to process and manufacture its products—bamboo is not a carbon-neutral material.
Aesthetics
American hardwoods come in a variety of species and lumber grades, providing color, pattern, and character marks to satisfy nearly every design scheme.
Bamboo products, flooring, and panels come in vertical- and flat-grain patterns and generally are a light, honey or natural color.
Life Span
A solid hardwood floor can last 125 years or longer with several refinishings.
According to manufacturers, bamboo flooring should last 30–50 years.
After Useful Life
Finished hardwood products can be repurposed or used as a combustible fuel. Even in a landfill, hardwoods will naturally revert back to nature.
Because of the high glue content, bamboo products will remain intact in a landfill almost indefinitely.
*Taken from www.hardwoodinfo.com
22 www.timberdesignandtechnology.com | October 2014
October 2014 | www.timberdesignandtechnology.com 23
design & décor
American elm displayed in all its glory at the National Theater of Bahrain
project was the subject of an
T
harmonious exchange with the nearby
one balcony to another. This enclosed
international tender won by the
National Museum, built in the 1980s,
shimmering gold jewel-case contrasts
French architects AS.ARCHITECTURE-
with which it shares public spaces
with the transparency of the main
STUDIO, a practice that already has
that serve as foundations for this
hall bathed in sunlight and stands as
several references to its credit in the
ceaselessly evolving cultural district.
the building’s true cornerstone: this is
Gulf region. Officially unveiled on 12
“A building is only meaningful if its
literally and metaphorically where it all
November 2012 during the festivities
personality and relevance combine on a
happens.
being held in Manama - the Capital
given site,” explain Roueïda Ayache and
Inside the main auditorium, the
of Arab Culture 2012 - this venture
René-Henri Arnaud, founding associates
flowing organic shapes have been
is among the Kingdom’s largest
of the AS agency.
entirely panelled in North American red
he National Theater of Bahrain
Its openwork structure creates a
enabling spectators to move from
Set between land and sea, the first
elm, a wood selected for its superior
theater of this scale in Bahrain, the
distinguishing feature of the National
acoustic qualities. The result is quite
venue provides a new stage for the
Theater of Bahrain is its roof canopy,
stunning: firstly because one rarely
eighth annual Spring of Culture, as well
a weave of openwork aluminium
sees projects where American red
as the election of Manama as the 2013
that is of major importance, to filter
elm has been specified on this scale.
Capital of Arab Tourism.
sunlight and, above all, keep the high
Furthermore the wood panelling has
temperatures in check. Inspired by the
been beautifully crafted to look like the
this maritime reference captures
country’s traditional wicker rooftops,
inverted hull of a ship, reminiscent of
the insular character of this Arab-
this immense sunshade also provides
the architecture of dhows, the ancestral
Persian Gulf archipelago together
natural ventilation for the extensive
fishing boats used on the Bahrain
with its extreme horizontality which
outdoor walkway, another of the
pearling trail, a very ancient local
fostered the building’s design. In fact,
theater’s attractive features.
tradition.
undertakings. As the first national
Bahrain means ‘two seas’ in Arabic:
AS.ARCHITECTURE-STUDIO chose to
AS.ARCHITECTURE-STUDIO’s
The wood panelling for the side walls
situate this 12,000 sqm theater facing
contemporary design blends perfectly
is made up of 30mm multi-layered
the artificial lagoon of the National
with its surroundings. Below the
MDF panels on steel and timber frame,
Museum, so as to preserve its views
canopy lies an inner shell clad in gold
finished with 6mm elm veneer facing.
and, more importantly, its majestic
tinted stainless steel, which houses the
This is up to the top of first balcony
profile towards the sea.
1,001-seat auditorium with a foyer
railing. Above this level are the solid
24 www.timberdesignandtechnology.com | October 2014
design & décor
Thanks to a range of sophisticated
Mai bint Mohammed Al Khalifa, who is
curtains behind. The back of the
stage equipment (invisible sound
committed to breathing new life into
auditorium is also made in solid elm
absorbing curtains, removable acoustic
the Bahraini cultural scene.
slats but with fixed acoustic insulation.
shells, padded leather chairs by
The curved soffits of the balconies
Poltrona Frau) the auditorium can
Minister of Culture, is the first woman
and main ceiling are also formed out
be easily reconfigured to cater for
to be awarded France’s Prix Colbert
of MDF in layers on steel and timber
different forms of live entertainment
in 2010 and also one of the most
frame and finished with elm veneer.
while retaining the same visual and
influential women in the Arab world.
Solid elm wood slats with acoustic
acoustic quality. The design of this
She helps promote contemporary
insulation have also been installed
Italian style theater which spans
design and creation in her country,
in the main lobby wall cladding. The
28 metres between the stage and
which also offers a wealth of historic
balcony railing tops are also in solid
the last row - was implemented
heritage. Her list of achievements
elm.
by AS.ARCHITECTURE-STUDIO in
ranges from placing the Fort Qal’at
partnership with London-based Theater
Al-Bahrain on UNESCO’s World Heritage
a fire retardant before assembly. The
Project Consultants, as well as that of
List, to the rehabilitation of the historic
bespoke joiners used the architects’
Albert Xu, the famous acoustic engineer
downtown Muharraq, the former capital
CAD drawings to assemble the
who has been involved in designing
of Bahrain.
panelling. The acoustic performance
some of the greatest concert halls in
of the panelling was also tested on a
the world.
All the panelling was treated with
scale model prior to assembly. Only the
This project is representative of an
Her Excellency, Bahrain’s current
By investing and believing in the benefits of cultural exchanges, Bahrain is establishing itself as a forerunner in
straight sections were prefabricated
emerging cultural life in the Middle
its openness to the rest of the world.
and the supporting main steel ribs
East, such as for instance, the theater
An undertaking encouraged by H.E.
were also cut to the required shapes
festival organized by the GCC (Gulf
Shaikha Mai, who is committed to
at the production plant. However all
Cooperation Council), which, brings
strengthening ties between her country,
the curved panelling was shaped and
together every two years the six Gulf
those of the Gulf, and the remainder
assembled on site and the brass strips
countries (Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Qatar,
of the world. The National Theater
to enhance the flowing lines of the
Oman, the UAE and Bahrain), and the
of Bahrain, which she has supported
interior design were also inserted on
Spring of Culture. It was launched by
for a number of years, will serve as a
site in the wood panelling.
the historian and writer H.E. Shaikha
platform for this new vision.
Image © Nicolas Buisson
elm slats with motorized acoustic
October 2014 | www.timberdesignandtechnology.com 25
design & décor
A theater between land and sea Bahrain’s National Theater forms, alongside with the Museum, a consistent architectural and landscaping entity, a true cultural center for the Kingdom. On either side of the lagoon, the museum’s white masses interact with the lightness of the theater’s aluminium canopy, the latter reflecting itself in the water surface. The roof canopy shelters the hall of the Grand Foyer, which is entirely glazed and its large entrance square which seems to float on the lagoon water.
Large open spaces for a cultural flagship The building is organized around the Grand Foyer with a clear separation of public spaces, which include the main auditorium, the foyers, another modular auditorium, the ‘majlis’ (lounges for officials) and the café from the spaces exclusively reserved for artists, technical staff and administrative employees. The main entrance for the general public crosses the shaded esplanade through the foyer-hall, which gives on to the lagoon, the museum, and further behind the Manama coastline. In the foyer, visitors discover the heart of the building: the 1,001-seat
Inside the main auditorium, the flowing organic shapes have been entirely panelled in North American red elm
main auditorium is cladded in gold colored stainless steel. The entrances to the auditorium are located on the sides of this volume, where two staircases lead also to the upper foyers and lead also to the stalls and the two balconies. The main reception desk, the ticket booths and a small bookstore are all located in the main hall/foyer, which can also host temporary art installations. Located on either side of the foyer is the ‘majlis’ lounge for officials and the café, which gives on to the beautiful shaded terrace beneath the canopy. The stage doors and entrances for the theater staff are on the building’s east facade. Adjacent to this entrance, the artists’ foyer gives them access to their dressing rooms and to the backstage. A staircase and an elevator lead to one part of the first floor, which is occupied by the theater’s administrative services whilst the other part is dedicated to technical services. The entrance on the north side of the building is restricted to technical staff and deliveries. It also leads to the workshop, storage rooms and backstage. The auditorium’s design seeks to foster a link between the artists and the audience. The flowing
Image © Nicolas Buisson
26 www.timberdesignandtechnology.com | October 2014
curves of the balconies, the smooth
design & décor
Image © Nicolas Buisson
Image © Nicolas Buisson
and comfortable texture of the woodwork, which swathes the entire space, all create the right conditions for the show. The main auditorium is designed like a musical instrument that resonates with a perfect tone.
Materials The materials have been specified to underline the National Theater’s architectural statement, its enhancement of the Bahraini landscape and its ambition to act as a focal point between land and Image © Nicolas Buisson
sea. The roof canopy that covers the entire building is made up of woven perforated ribbons of anodized
up by thin brass strips that underline
aluminum. The gaps they form ensure
the curved shapes of the balconies.
The stage design and seating plan
proper ventilation and create a play
A lower section of the building clad
The scenography for Bahrain
on light, which transforms both the
in granite, runs below the main
National Theater was developed
indoor and outdoor spaces, between
auditorium and includes all the other
in partnership with London based
land and sea, depending on the time
rooms. Three major public venues are
Theater Project Consultants, with
of day.
therefore highlighted both by day and
whom AS.ARCHITECTURE-STUDIO has
Beneath the shade of the canopy,
at night: the esplanade beneath the
worked in the past, on two theaters
the full height glazed wall of the main
canopy, the main foyer-hall and the
built in Angers, France, and the
foyer-hall is completely transparent
main auditorium.
Onassis Cultural center in Athens,
thanks to its glass stiffeners. Rising
Greece. The chosen layout of the main
above the roof canopy, the outer shell
A shimmering vision
of the main auditorium is covered
At dusk, the canopy’s surface seems
theater with an orchestra pit and a
with stainless steel with golden
like a silver sea out of which emerges
retractable orchestra shell to allow the
reflections. Its surface catches light
the gold-lit volume, as if the heart of
stage set to adapt to theater, dance,
under different angles: twinkling at
the building was beating. In the night
opera or concerts. The acoustics are
dawn, flamboyant at sunset.
of Manama, between sky and sea, the
also modular and adaptable to these
theater becomes a shimmering vision,
different types of performance.
Within the auditorium, the warm tones of the elm wood panelling are lit
made of light and reflections.
auditorium was that of an Italian
The stage floor is 30 meters wide
October 2014 | www.timberdesignandtechnology.com 27
design & décor
Image © Nicolas Buisson
and 18 meters deep. The stage
The seating plan is organized into
height beneath the spot racks is 20
three sections: a 543-seat front
meters high with an extra volume
orchestra section, a front balcony
below the stage floor. Three stage
with 245 seats and a rear balcony
light racks beam down from above
with 213, totalling 1,001 seats. The
the stage ceiling. The orchestra pit
central front orchestra section is split
is in the forefront, on the right of
into two halves with, seats in the
the retractable first five rows, to fit
wings at the back and on the sides,
an orchestra of 60 musicians. The
to follow the balconies’ curves. The
front stage is 19 meters wide and
auditorium’s interior design creates
9.5 meters high. Mobile panels form
a closer relationship between the
a diaphragm that can downsize the
audience and the stage. The design
structure to 12 meters by 7 meters.
of the side lodges and seating plan in
Sound and lighting is controlled
the wings creates a continuous flow,
from the technical booth located at
which plays down the distance to the
the back of the space at stall level,
back of the auditorium.
and is linked to the entire stagecraft equipment.
A smaller adjustable auditorium can host smaller performances. Its
The auditorium’s acoustic was
layout adapts to different seating
developed by acoustician Albert
plans: a front stage facing a floor
Xu, who had already worked in
of 144 seats; a circular seating plan
partnership with AS.ARCHITECTURE-
surrounding the central modular
STUDIO on the Onassis Cultural
stage or an open stage to do
Center in Athens. The acoustics
rehearsals. The room is equipped
were studied for live shows with no
with a technical ceiling grid
sound system support. To ensure
covering the entire surface as well as
good quality acoustics for each
the control booth so as to host
type of disposition, sliding curtains
all types of performance. Behind
located in the middle ground and
the stage are four individual
made up of wood panelled shutters,
dressing-rooms, four shared
which can customize the quality of
dressing-rooms for four and two
the auditorium’s acoustics to the
group dressing-rooms, offering
room’s acoustic properties to each
performers and artists the best
type of performance.
conditions to prepare.
28 www.timberdesignandtechnology.com | October 2014
Project Details Architects AS.ARCHITECTURE-STUDIO Civil Engineers SETEC BATIMENT Local engineering consultant ATKINS Stage design THEATER PROJECTS CONSULTANTS Acoustics XU ACOUSTIQUE Bespoke joinery Al Yusuf (Bahrain) Seating capacity Main auditorium 1,001 + 150 seats in smaller auditorium Surface area 10,370 sqm Budget 31 million euros Date of completion November 2012 Photo credit Nicolas Buisson Copyright ADAGP
Join us in building a sustainable tomorrow
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fti October 2014 | www.timberdesignandtechnology.com 29
comment
Understanding the fire risk in tall timber buildings
A
lthough wood is one of the oldest and most common construction materials,
architectural appeal. However, fears about fire safety
laminated veneer lumber (LVL), or glued laminated timber (Glulam).
have continued to limit its use.
Construction was recently completed
it’s typically perceived as weaker
Thankfully, a considerable amount of
on a 10-storey apartment building
and more susceptible to fire than
testing focused in Europe, Canada, and
in Melbourne, Australia, with taller
alternatives like steel and concrete.
New Zealand has begun to convince
structures up to 30 storeys under
These fears have been codified
designers and public authorities
design in Norway, Austria and
over the past century by means of
alike that wood can be as safe for
Vancouver. These buildings are cited
restrictive limits on the height and
buildings as steel and concrete. Height
for their advantages in sustainability
area of timber buildings. However,
limits for wooden structures have
resulting from the use of wood as
wood construction has experienced
been relaxed in some regions of the
a renewable construction material.
something of a renaissance over
world, while others have introduced
Claims have been made that they can
the past few years. Building
options for performance-based design
be designed to be safer than buildings
professionals and government
solutions. Timber structures up to 30
fabricated using structural steel due
officials alike have been drawn
storeys high are currently in design in
to the formation of an insulating char
to its sustainability credentials:
Norway, Austria, and Canada.
layer that forms on the perimeter of a
timber stores carbon dioxide, can
Recent architectural trends
laminated wood beam when exposed
be fully renewable, and prevents
include the design and construction
pollution typically generated during
of increasingly tall buildings with
Many in the architecture,
the extraction and manufacturing
structural components comprised
engineering, and construction
of steel and concrete. Timber also
of engineered wood including
industry believe that developing
offers unique design possibilities and
cross laminated timber (CLT),
a broader understanding of new
30 www.timberdesignandtechnology.com | October 2014
to a fire.
comment
Image © Will Pryce
Image © Architekturagentur
Image © Berg | C.F. Møller
technologies, design tools, and research will allay these fears and enable the construction of more and taller timber buildings. In an effort to fully understand the implications of this shift within the U.S. market, ARUP was commissioned by the non-profit Fire Protection Research
Wood construction has experienced something of a renaissance over the past few years
of exactly how exposed timber influences fire dynamics inside rooms. More needs to be known about how exposed timber materials impact both the development of fires and conditions within affected rooms throughout a fire’s duration, as these can impact occupant safety and structural stability.
Foundation to conduct a multi-phase study of fire safety in tall timber
combined with the design industry’s
buildings: Fire Safety Challenges of
growing commitment to sustainability,
laminated timber (CLT) is used for
Tall Wood Buildings.
has led to increasing interest in tall
walls or the undersides of floors,
timber structures. However, building
layers of char can form and fall off.
focused on gathering information
codes and regulations designed to
This process, known as delamination,
and identifying knowledge gaps,
address concerns about fire safety
may raise temperatures within the
was released in December, 2013.
still place strict restrictions on
room and contribute to the fire’s fuel
Robert Gerard, Fire Safety Engineer
timber construction across much of
load. In turn, the increased exposure
at ARUP, highlights the key factors
the world.
to heat may result in more severe fire
The report for the first phase, which
in understanding the fire risk in tall timber buildings. According to
Timber in room fires
Gerard, the development of highly
One of the top recommendations was
sophisticated new wood products,
to invest in greater understanding
For example, when exposed cross-
conditions at later stages in the fire duration, and speed the collapse of structural timber elements. However, while the general outlines
October 2014 | www.timberdesignandtechnology.com 31
comment
Image © Michael Charters
of this process are understood, the
Service penetration impact
specifics are unclear. More needs to
Holes are cut into building floors,
be known about the performance
walls, and ceilings to provide
of exposed CLT and other timber
for mechanical, plumbing, air
materials in room fires. This is vital
conditioning, electrical services, and
not only to enable designers to create
communications. These penetrations
safer timber buildings, but also to
must be lined with materials known
overcome negative stereotypes about
as fire stopping that contain fires and
the safety of wood during fires.
prevent smoke from spreading to
Connection performance
adjacent areas. In most buildings, the areas
Testing of steel connections such
surrounding these penetrations are
as nails, bolts, plates, and rods has
made of non-combustible materials. In
shown that exposed elements quickly
timber buildings, however, potential
lose strength when subjected to
charring where structure meets fire
fire. However, common means of
stopping may compromise performance.
protecting them - among others,
More research needs to be conducted
providing a protective layer of
to determine the best design for fire
gypsum board or embedding them
stopping in wooden buildings.
within the structure - can be less cost, structural efficiency, and
Expanding the knowledge base
constructability.
These examples represent some of
than ideal in terms of aesthetics,
More research is needed to allow
the most important gaps in knowledge
designers to understand and predict
about fire safety in timber buildings.
the fire performance of connections
Greater research and fire testing
in structural systems and develop
is critical to developing a better
safe, efficient, and architecturally
understanding of timber building
pleasing connections for new timber
fire performance. However, it is the
technologies. A high level of safety in
effective communication of these and
structural design will enable greater
related risks that will be necessary to
confidence in structural stability
enable the design and approval of tall
during building fires.
timber structures.
32 www.timberdesignandtechnology.com | October 2014
About the Author
Robert Gerard, P.E. - Project Engineer, is a licensed Fire Protection Engineer in the state of California and currently based in Arup’s Sydney office. Robert’s Master’s thesis, “Fire Resistance of Pre-Stressed Heavy Timber Structures,” focused on structural fire performance of multistory timber buildings. His research on fire safety of mid- and high-rise timber buildings has enabled him to establish strong international connections within the industry, including researchers, manufacturers, suppliers, designers and building authorities. Robert’s experience with fire performance and safety in tall timber structures has made him an authority on fire safety in high-rise timber construction.
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October 2014 | www.timberdesignandtechnology.com 33
technology
Illwerke Center Montafon: A green building for the future Project is one of the largest timber-built office buildings worldwide and is a milestone in resource efficient, sustainable construction
34 www.timberdesignandtechnology.com | October 2014
technology
T
he Illwerke Center Montafon
minimized resource and energy
(IZM) is one of the largest
use, up to 90 percent improved CO2
timber-built office buildings
balance, shorter construction times
worldwide and is a milestone in
and specifically precise construction
resource efficient, sustainable
quality. The LCT wood construction
construction. The IZM demonstrates
remains exposed and the fire
that size does not have to be
protection provisions are complied
expressed in height. The second
with in high buildings as well. All
building built with the LifeCycle
building components, including
Tower (LCT) system, the IZM is 120
energy supply, are individually
meters long with a usable area of
configured and optimized depending
10,000 sqm in Montafon, Austria.
on site situation.
The development of the IZM can be traced to the end of 2010
IZM grows within six weeks
when Hermann Kaufmann ZT GmbH
The environment of the new site
Architects, a close development
for the Illwerke Center Montafon is
partner of Cree GmbH, won an
characterized by a strong natural
international architectural competition
space with the artificial landscape
for the new Illwerke centre. The
adjustments to create the artificial
clients based their selection decision
lake and large cubes of the existing
mainly on the technological, ecological
buildings. The 120 meter long building
and economic advantages of the LCT
sets a self-confident, strong sign and
system - plus its demonstrably high
redefines the site with its unique
fire safety.
front and back. This attitude towards
The IZM uses LCT, a modular,
construction in the Alps follows the
flexible wood-hybrid construction
tradition of Vorarlberg power plant
system for the central office building.
construction. A quarter of the building
Industrial prefabrication in wood
protrudes into the lake, which is
construction has many benefits:
‘unusual’ in spatial experience.
Image © Norman A. Muller
Image © Norman A. Muller
Image © Norman A. Muller
October 2014 | www.timberdesignandtechnology.com 35
technology
Image © Norman A. Muller
The Illwerke Center Montafon had reinforced concrete work performed on site to the ground floor ceiling and the two access towers. The 10,000 sqm area of the building structure including facades were built in only six weeks using the LCT system. A special feature for large-volume wood construction in the LCT system is that load-bearing elements are not covered; wood-concrete composite elements are supported on glued wood supports that are integrated into the façade and held by steel carriers along the middle axis, supported on a series of reinforced concrete columns. Image © Norman A. Muller
According to the architects, in spite of the exposed wood construction, fire protection is warranted. In addition, the hybrid ceiling element with a concrete part that also divides the floors consistently in the support, as well as by the advanced fire apron in the façade area are important towards reaching the safety requirements, while the sprinkler system also compensates for material flammability. A strict façade grid - the canopies are at the same time a constructional weather protection and blind protection - glazed from desk height gives the building transparency and generous space. The consistent skeleton structure with few reinforcement cores offers high flexibility. At the same time, the building technology is used sparingly
Image © Norman A. Muller
36 www.timberdesignandtechnology.com | October 2014
and in a targeted manner. Primary
technology
energy consumption stays below 30 kWh/m./year, the heat demand at 14 kWh/m./year and is completely covered by the exhaust heat system of the Rodund plant, as is the cooling demand by the heat pump system. These indices, including those for ‘grey’ energy, turn the building into a site with exemplary effect.
LCT system pursues a ‘top-down’
The 10,000 sqm area of the building structure including facades were built in only six weeks using the LCT system
approach for high wooden structures, where all components are planned to be adjustable to the country-specific requirements and mainly using the resources on site, this means that it can be used internationally.
LifeCycle Tower The LCT (LifeCycle Tower)
Modern Workplaces
construction system is an innovative
IZM not only uses water for clean
controlled and optimized for each
wood construction based on a
energy generation, but also features
workplace. In addition, the wall
high degree of prefabrication
modern workplaces wherein 270
elements for interior design, veneered
and suitable for skyscrapers as
people work in a space of 10,000
oak, are simply clasped together in
well. Serial production warrants
sqm. The office concept was optimized
a construction kit system and thus
precise construction quality, quick
with team-oriented workspaces
adjusted to any working situation
construction progress, and high
with high flexibility featuring
easily and flexibly.
economic efficiency. LCT remains
predominantly. The open office
flexible across its entire life cycle.
combines two units each, structured
Research and Development
with low office furniture. There also
Cree GmbH, a Rhomberg group
especially since the easily removable
are areas to withdraw to, think tanks,
company, who acted as the
installed materials are a considerable
for focused work, that can be used in
general contractor on the project,
value accumulator. The facades can be
the longer term as well.
undertook the construction of IZM.
freely designed according to the needs
The research of several years in an
and wishes within the system. As a
comes from the floor. The other
interdisciplinary team of knowledge
regenerating material, wood requires
installations are routed in the ceiling
leaders of all areas marked the
little energy, even in processing.
below metal panels painted white.
beginning of development of the
What’s more, if the building is located
Lighting can be adjusted according to
innovative wood-hybrid construction
in a region rich in wood, this is the
the amount of natural sunlight and
system for large-volume buildings
most environmentally compatible way
each room’s climate is individually
with up to 30 floors. Given that the
of building.
Everything for the workplace
It permits custom room structures
Project Details Name: Illwerke Center Montafon (IZM) Client: Vorarlberger Illwerke AG Structure: Merz Kley Partner Building physics / accoustics: Wärme- und Schallschutztechnik Schwarz (WSS) Image © Norman A. Muller
Fire protection: IBS - Institut f. Brand-, Gerardschutztechnik und Sicherheitsforschung Façade: GBD Projects Site: 160,000 sqm Gross floor area: 11,500 sqm Usable space: 9,900 sqm Photo Credits: Norman A. Müller Image © Norman A. Muller
October 2014 | www.timberdesignandtechnology.com 37
wood works
‘The Wish List - What I Have Always Wanted Is…’ at the London Design Festival 2014
T
he Wish List - What I Have
Furniture, the compelling installation
talented group of emerging designers,
Always Wanted Is….’ exhibition,
will have an extended stay at the V&A
who worked closely with their
a unique collaborative project
until October 24, 2014. The project
commissioners to develop the designs
between some of the world’s best-
demonstrates the versatility of
and constructed them with the help of
known design names and up-and-
American hardwoods and the ability
Benchmark’s master craftsmen, some
coming designers, opened at the
to experiment with designs both big
with 40 years’ experience to draw
Victoria and Albert Museum as part
and small.
on. The result is ten beautiful objects
of the London Design Festival 2014.
The Wish List has not only engaged
in a variety of American hardwoods
Commissioned by the American
the interest of ten design legends,
including red oak, white oak, walnut,
Hardwood Export Council (AHEC), the
each of whom commissioned
hard maple, ash, tulipwood and
leading international trade association
something for their personal
cherry. The pieces show the amazing
for the American hardwood industry,
collection. It has also given an
versatility that can be achieved with a
and brought to life by Benchmark
extraordinary opportunity to a
single material. Image © Petr Krejci
38 www.timberdesignandtechnology.com | October 2014
wood works
Getting Away From It All
which is currently my favourite
considerable skill. The 2mm red
place for quiet time.” Why doesn’t
oak strips Cox chose for the curved
Commissioned by Terence Conran
the design titan simply do it himself?
screens had to be soaked in a brook
Designed with Sebastian Cox
“While I’ve had the occasional piece
on the Benchmark property before
Made from American red oak and
customized,” says Conran, “I have
they could become supple enough for
American cherry
never once had the opportunity to
weaving. Then Cox finished them with
Sir Terence Conran asked designer
design something purely and selfishly
a whitener to lighten their appearance
Sebastian Cox to create a “cocoon-like
for myself.”
to Conran’s specifications.
desk” in red oak and cherry for his
Regarding Conran’s brief for a desk,
For the cupboard roll-top,
office - a place where he could work
Sebastian says, “It’s a space Terence
Cox joined solid pieces of wood
without distractions, with everything
can work in without distractions,
mechanically, then built a drawer to
he needed at hand. “I like the idea
a cocoon-like desk with cabinetry
conceal the mechanism. “This was
of being cocooned away happily
around it, a space for undistracted
the most advanced, intricate and
designing or writing in blissful peace,”
creative thought.” Yet building it
challenging thing I had ever made,”
he says. “And it will save me going
from red oak and cherry took more
says Cox, “but how often do you get
in to the greenhouse in my garden,
than a little creative thought, and
the chance to design something for someone who is so important in the industry?” For his part, Conran says, “I have been making furniture for 60 years, but I am still learning from Sebastian.”
Image © Petr Krejci
A Stool for the kitchen
Image © Petr Krejci
she would not only own but also put
the house. Stools offer a dynamic
into production. She commissioned
kind of seating. There’s a temporary
Commissioned by Alison Brooks
a stool for her kitchen from Felix de
quality to sitting on a stool - you
Designed with Felix de Pass
Pass that could work in a range of
don’t have to commit to sitting down.
Made from American cherry
environments. “The stool,” she says,
I’ve never been able to find a really
Alison Brooks wanted an object that
“is always the most popular seat in
clever, beautiful kitchen stool that is the right height for a kitchen counter.” She chose cherry, a timber she felt was under appreciated and which her mother collected when she was growing up in Canada. “Cherry has a tight grain with lots of character. The color grows darker and richer over time to an incredible burnt umber color,” she adds. The stool consists of a cherry seat and post that de Pass steam-bent into three legs. With Benchmark’s help, he labored over how to attach the stainless-steel footrest, or “crown”, settling, eventually, on three discreet metal bars. Brooks helped the designer refine the seat into a light disc that becomes sturdier where it
Image © Petr Krejci
joins the base.
October 2014 | www.timberdesignandtechnology.com 39
wood works
Tulipifera Sharpeners Commissioned by Norman Foster Designed with Norie Matsumoto Made from American tulipwood Norman Foster may run one of the most technologically advanced practices in the world in, but he still likes to draw. “For as long as I can remember the pencil and I have been inseparable companions – sketching and scribbling are integral to my Image © Petr Krejci
way of life.” He described his wish as “a pencil sharpener for three sizes, capable of sitting on a desk and with a compartment to receive the shavings”. Foster has more than one desk, so the wish expanded into a family of pencil sharpeners, each for a different location. Foster and Matsumoto chose to design the pencil sharpeners
Image © Petr Krejci
in American tulipwood, which is often seen as a low-quality timber,
was wider than the thickest available
abundant and inexpensive. But Foster
stock. To compensate, Matsumoto cut
loved the variation in color. “Of all the
triangular pieces from the wood and
samples we examined,” he says, “it
joined them together. “The angles and
was uniquely pale and the grain had
jointing were challenging. There were
an almost marble-like quality.”
a lot of practical issues I had to solve,”
The cube, cylinder and sphere were
she says. Each sharpener has a tray
cut from solid pieces of tulipwood,
to sit on that is large enough to hold a
but the tetrahedron, at four inches,
sizeable collection of pencils.
Image © Petr Krejci
Ves-el Commissioned by Zaha Hadid Designed with Gareth Neal Made from American white oak Zaha Hadid’s wish was very openended, simply specifying ‘tableware’. Gareth Neal approached the project by thinking about the fluid nature of Hadid’s work but juxtaposing that with a functional element dynamic. From this, the water carafe idea emerged. He was invited to go to Hadid’s office and working with her design team, using the company’s modeling software to create the vessel; there he conceived the idea of extruding the form along one of its axes with a slit opening at the end that allowed the viewer to look into “a cathedral-like space”. Image © Petr Krejci
Benchmark had to upgrade its CNC software to achieve the complicated form. Neal constructed the vessels
by a potter’s thumb. Neal and Hadid
thing we have ever made.” Gareth
in two halves, which were expected
agreed to keep one vessel natural,
Neal adds, “I hope the pieces will
to be identical but in fact were not
while the other was ebonized. Sean
embed the design with a sense of the
quite, adding the sense of a “maker’s
Sutcliffe says of the results, “I have
handmade through the arm of a robot,
mark”. The process produced ridges
been running my workshop for 32
questioning the viewer’s perceptions
that were analogous to those created
years, and this is the most remarkable
of craft and the handmade”.
40 www.timberdesignandtechnology.com | October 2014
wood works
The Hole Chair Commissioned by Allen Jones Designed with Lola Lely Made from American maple and walnut veneer Jones’ wish was for a recliner in the shape of a human form, a concept he developed more than 10 years ago but, he says, “I didn’t have the facilities to pursue it.” The idea was that it should have a personalized form, fitted to the contours of his own body, while also deliberately androgynous. A dowel inserted into the drainage hole would take its inspiration from the removable phallus on Marino Marini’s statue of a horseman in front of the Peggy Guggenheim museum in Venice. Image © Petr Krejci
The chair evolved from a recliner into a more upright chaise longue. Lely made a full-sized model at Benchmark,
constructed the chair from maple
then drove it from the workshop to
and walnut veneer. “The only way we
Jones’s home at London’s Barbican,
could make the shape I wanted was
so he could have it “fitted” in the
in veneer,” she says. The main timber,
truck outside, to the entertainment of
maple, is a uniform pale color, and
passers-by.
contrasts well with the dark tones of
Of The Wish List project, Lola Lely
walnut. Lely built up the form with
says, “I was the problem solver. It
13 layers of veneer, adding special
was all right not to be so much of a
top and bottom walnut layers with
designer on this project. This is what
marquetry. “They went together like
Allen wanted and what he got.” She
jigsaws,” she says.
6 X 500
joints to join the pieces. Creating
Image © Petr Krejci
these was a delicate balancing act Commissioned by Amanda Levete
- they had to be tight enough to fit,
Designed with Win Assakul
but not so tight that a mallet would
Made from American walnut
be needed to separate them. The
Amanda Levete often entertains up
contoured reversible walnut dish with
to 18 people at the 4.8m-long dining
brass edging is in six pieces. Every
table she designed for her home. She
piece is subtly different because of
loved the idea of a long and reversible
the hand carving. “We had designed it
serving dish that would allow people
with as little flat surface as possible
to help themselves to cold meats or
on the underside, to reveal as much of
fruit. She also asked for a storage
the grain as we could,” says Assakul.
Image © Petr Krejci
box that should be as beautiful as the dish itself. Levete commissioned Win Assakul to design the pieces saying, “He is quite exceptional as a designer, thinker and communicator. It is rare to find those qualities in one so young.” Levete and Assakul chose American walnut to give the dish a rich and luxurious quality. The idea was that the dish would be nearly flat on one side, for cold meats and cheeses, and with deeper hollows on the other side, for fruit. It is in six pieces: four interchangeable central sections, and two ends. Assakul handcarved each section and used dovetail
Image © Petr Krejci
October 2014 | www.timberdesignandtechnology.com 41
wood works
Room Commissioned by John Pawson Designed with Studio Areti Made from American white oak and walnut John Pawson commissioned a family of elements for the country house he is currently remodeling for his family. The site includes agricultural buildings dating back centuries. “Rather than starting with the idea of commissioning a specific piece of furniture, I was interested in getting Studio Areti to explore the things you touch and use every day, that Image © Petr Krejci
are moments in the life of a place as well as objects - switching on a light, opening a door, hanging a shirt
element the pair designed was the
on a hook, taking a book down from
door. “When you have a door in a
a shelf,” he said. Pawson had not
wall it is an interruption to a very
worked with Studio Areti before but
pristine surface,” says Gwendolyn.
says, “I was interested in the breadth
“We decided to design a door that is
of training and experiences the two
not ashamed, but that works with the
sisters bring to their design studio -
wall in an elegant way.” The solution
from architecture and art history to
was to taper it, so it always looks half
product design.”
open - though this made hanging it
The team chose white oak
more challenging. The dimmer switch
and walnut. “We’re exploring the
demonstrates the sisters’ attention to
possibilities of their color contrast and
detail. When the light is off, the grain
very different characters of grain,”
on the knob is aligned with that of the
says Pawson. The most complex
base plate.
Image © Petr Krejci
Image © Petr Krejci
Table Turned
Image © Petr Krejci
as adults.” Having designed ‘Endless
direction on each layer, making the
Stair’ in collaboration with AHEC in
panels stronger and more stable). The
Commissioned by Alex de Rijke
2013, de Rijke wanted to work with
table was turned in three sections. “It
Designed with Barnby & Day
tulipwood again because he liked the
was incredible to watch such a large
Made from American tulipwood
fact that it is strong, light, abundant
object turned on the lathe,” says Day.
Alex de Rijke wanted a large circular
and beautiful. “The liveliness of the
The largest section turned at a speed
laminated-tulipwood pedestal
grain varies because it has grown in
of 62mph on the outer edge, so it was
table that looks as if it has been
different microclimates,” he says.
essential that nothing went wrong.
The design was initiated by
De Rijke spent a day at Benchmark
carved from a single tree. “We know everything takes place at the table,”
de Rijke and then developed
while the top was turning, refining
he says. “The best decisions are
collaboratively with Barnby & Day.
the profile of the edge. The end result
made, meals are enjoyed, homework
Rob Barnby and Lewis Day built up
weighs in at 170kg - more than was
is done, computers are used.” A round
the table from 13 rings of three-
anticipated, but far less than the
table is, he says, “more democratic. It
layered cross-laminated-timber
weight of the solid table it appears
means that children have as much say
(in CLT, the grain runs in opposing
to be.
42 www.timberdesignandtechnology.com | October 2014
wood works
The Ladder that likes the Wall Commissioned by Richard and Ab Rogers Designed with Xenia Moseley Made from American red oak Richard and Ab Rogers wanted a ladder that would allow them to perch at a height and be comfortable enough for writing, eating and working. They Image © Petr Krejci
also wanted it to be economical with materials. A ladder, says Ab Rogers, “is a simple diagram of how to get you off the ground.” To be sturdy enough for all those tasks, it needed to invert the A shape of a traditional fruit-picking ladder. Total stability would be borrowed from the existing architecture of the surrounding environment, leaning on a vertical
Image © Petr Krejci
surface - a wall or a bookcase. For The Wish List, Moseley saw
could provide handholds for people
herself as a facilitator. “At first I
going up and sitting down. Moseley,
didn’t see my stamp,” she says, “but
along with the Rogers, resolved this
now it is very much a meeting of
elegantly, designing one upright with
minds.” She became involved with the
a tight outward curve at the top, and
steam-bending of the American red
another extending beyond the tray,
oak she chose for the ladder (red oak
which can fold away. “It has been such
was chosen for its receptiveness to
a roller coaster and a whirlwind,” says
steam-bending). The uprights of the
Moseley. “It’s been more productive
ladder had to be designed so they
than I could ever have imagined.”
Image © Petr Krejci
Paul’s Shed Commissioned by Paul Smith Designed with Nathalie de Leval Made from thermally modified American ash Paul Smith’s request was for a garden shed, “Somewhere you can go to switch off, somewhere to relax,” he says. “In today’s world where everyone is so busy, I think this is really important and very needed.” He stipulated that one end of the shed should be glazed, offering a view out. Image © Petr Krejci
And, like the shed George Bernard Shaw used to write, Smith wanted his to rotate, so he could take advantage
seemed a sensible choice. De Leval
same time preserving enough strength
of sun or shade at different times of
chose thermally modified ash for
for modest structural use. The next
day. Paul Smith chose to work with
its dimensional stability, rich color
step will be to do some formal
Nathalie de Leval, saying, “Nathalie’s
and grain. She consulted with Arup’s
strength testing.”
understanding of the materials
timber specialist, Andrew Lawrence,
she works with is really amazing.
on the structure, which had to be
base, which sits on a hand-rotating
She combines this with fantastic
demountable. “Paul’s Shed is the first
mechanism. Diagonal tensioning
craftsmanship to make something
structural use of thermally modified
cables hold the shed in shape. “It is
truly contemporary.”
American ash,” says Lawrence. “The
all incredibly low tech, which I like,”
thermal modification makes the ash
says de Leval. “It’s a flat pack. But it
be all wood, thermally modified
resistant to decay and imparts a
was a lot of work. I did seven issues
hardwoods, with grade-one durability,
wonderful dark tone, while at the
of drawings.”
As Smith wanted the shed to
De Leval spent two days making the
October 2014 | www.timberdesignandtechnology.com 43
SHOWTIME
Top Industry
Exhibitions coming up This season
LESDREVMASH The 15th edition of LESDREVMASH, the International specialized exhibition for the Forest, Timber, Pulp and Paper and Woodworking Industries, will take place from October 20 - 23, 2014 at the Moscow ExpoCenter. As the largest trade show of its kind in Russia, Eastern Europe and the CIS, the 2012 edition attracted over 500 exhibitors with 60 percent of them coming from over 30 countries. In total, over 20,000 professional visitors attended the show,
SICAM
which was held in over 45,000 sqm of exhibition space. Aiming to provide a comprehensive overview of the industry, the show is supported by EUMABOIS and will feature companies under the following categories: Timber and logging industry; Primary processing of wood and wood based materials (production of semi-finished products); Secondary processing of wood and wood based materials (laminating, machining, gluing of solid timber); Surface finishing; Furniture production; Pulp and paper production; Special product groups; Tools; Forest products; Bioenergy, energy saving, ecology; Computeraided management; Forest reproduction; and Research and vocational education. The 7th edition of the Forest and Man International Forum will also run alongside the show. The forum’s slogan this year is ‘The Timber Industry: Investing in the Future’. As such, it will include about 20 events devoted to the most relevant problems of the Russian timber industry, wider co-operation with the global community, and discussions on effective development strategies. The
The sixth edition of SICAM, the International Exhibition of
participants will draw up joint plans for Russian federal
Components and Accessories for the Furniture Industry,
and regional authorities, Russian timber enterprises and
is scheduled to take place from October 14 - 17, 2014
interested foreign companies and associations concerning
in Pordenone. Strategically located at the heart of the
development of sustainable forest management and timber
furniture industry in Pordenone, where 40 percent of
processing in Russia.
Italian furniture is produced, the show’s success is proof of the importance of offering a showcase as complete and comprehensive as possible. Along with all the world leaders in hardware, the event will host decor papers, door fronts, wood, panels, components, equipments, household appliances, veneers, upholstery tools and materials, adhesives, glues, paints, fabrics and leathers. The unparalleled strength of the event is its specialized slant and the top quality of the enterprises represented. SICAM has established itself over the years as an event focused exclusively on components, accessories and semifinished products for the furniture industry, therefore a trade fair that bases a large part of its success on a format characterized by its extreme specialization. This guarantees that visiting operators can manage their time to the maximum and also provides the best possible participation conditions for exhibitors. As such, SICAM has grown year by year because it has succeeded in meeting the demands of its exhibitors and operators, putting them in the most suitable conditions to be able to focus solely on their business, seize opportunities and grasp new trends. Date: 14 - 17 October Venue: Pordenone Exhibition Center (Fiera di Pordenone) Location: Pordenone, Italy WEBSITE: www.exposicam.it/english/index.asp
44 www.timberdesignandtechnology.com | October 2014
Date: 20 - 23 October Venue: ExpoCenter Fairgrounds Location: Moscow, Russia WEBSITE: www.lesdrevmash-expo.ru/en
SHOWTIME
furniPRO Asia 2014
Belgrade Furniture Fair The Belgrade Furniture Fair (International fair for Furniture, Equipment and Interior Decoration, Machines, Tools and Materials for Woodworking) is ranked among the highest profile fair events of its kind in the field of furniture, interior decoration and accompanying industry of production materials and woodworking machines for the furniture industry in Serbia and Southeast Europe. For decades the show, which has been the meeting place for renowned manufacturers from the region, has offered an opportunity for exhibitors to present their latest products whilst keeping pace with the current furniture design trends, maintaining old contacts and establishing new ones, as well as exchanging information and ideas. The product range on display includes everything for the furniture industry from primary wood processing to the final product. All types of furniture will be on display, home and office furniture, interior decoration, as well as woodworking machines, tools and production materials. According to the organizers, the show will also include presentations, round tables and workshops, designers and architects offering advice to visitors, as well as the ‘Exhibition of Design’, which involves the participation of faculties, vocational schools and associations with the aim to connect young talented people, architects and designers with manufacturers.
The biennial furniPRO Asia is the leading trade fair for the woodworking, furniture and panel production industries in South East Asia. Offering an unparalleled outreach and access from the international woodworking and furniture production industries to trade professionals in the ASEAN region and beyond, the show attracts high quality buyers with its commitment to be a showcase and trading platform for the newest machinery and technologies in the market. furniPRO Asia serves as an ideal sourcing platform for customers from the ASEAN furniture and furnishings manufacturing industry, and offers manufacturers and service providers from the international woodworking, furniture and panel production industry an ideal gateway to the ASEAN markets. It is the premier networking and innovations exchange platform, boasting unique business matching and opportunities for particpants to exchange knowledge and insights with fellow industry professionals. This year, furniPRO Asia 2014 will be launching a new show segment called panelPRO Asia - the ideal platform for solution providers in the wood-based panel, veneer and plywood production industry. Panel Production is a key component of the industry’s value chain but it has never been presented as a focus exhibition segment within the ASEAN markets. In addition, a full-fledged conference programme, hands-on product workshops and exciting activities on the show-floor have been planned this year.
Date: 5 - 8 November Venue: Marina Bay Sands Expo and Convention Center Location: Singapore WEBSITE: wwww.furniproasia.com
Date: 10 - 16 November Venue: International Exhibition Center Location: Belgrade, Serbia WEBSITE: www.beogradskisajamnamestaja.rs
October 2014 | www.timberdesignandtechnology.com 45
SHOWTIME
EXPOBOIS
(EMAF) will offer a series of highly specialized events and a platform for leading players from the wood and woodworking machinery sectors. In addition, visitors are encouraged to make the most of the synergies offered by the three fairs and the business opportunities they offer to exchange ideas and experiences. The profile of exhibitors will include companies supplying cutting machines; sawing machines; planning machines; moulding machines; boring machines; sanding and polishing machines; combination machines; deforming machines; jointing and coating machines; bonding machines; presses; wood treatment machines; portable hand machines; and tools and other auxiliary equipment for the timber industry. In addition, leading suppliers of timber and its by-products, paints, varnishes, glues, iron tools and utensils, furniture fittings, and chemical products for timber treatment will also feature at the show.
The next edition of EXPOBOIS (the International exhibition of Woodworking Machinery Manufacturers and Timber
Date: 19 - 22 November Venue: EXPONOR - Porto International Fair Location: Leça da Palmeira, Portugal WEBSITE: www.fimap.exponor.pt/homepage.aspx
Industries) is set to take place from November 17 - 20, 2014 at the Paris Nord exhibitions center. Over the course of four days, the show will host more than 300 international exhibitors across 15,000 sqm of exhibition area, and succefully attract 20,000 professionals. A new
Hout & Habitat (Everything About Wood)
addition to the 29th edition of the show is the BOBĂ‚T space, which will target the construction timber market, accessories and finishing products. With the addition
The fourth edition of Hout & Habitat is slated to take place
of this new segment, EXPOBOIS aims to become the
from November 20 - 23, 2014 at the Antwerp Expo with a
most comprehensive exhibition in France for all wood
view to showcase the beauty and various qualities of wood,
transformation processes and uses.
especially given that wood is the material of the future
The show allows manufacturers, craftsmen, merchants
as it is sustainable and ecological, warm and comfortable
and buyers to view a comprehensive range of materials,
and healthy. The exhibition will aim to showcase various
machinery and equipment, workshop and on-site power
applications of wood including for construction, outdoor and
tools, accessories, finishing and decoration products. In
indoor uses, and in furniture and joinery.
addition, a series of conferences will welcome industry
The show attracted over 10,000 visitors in 2013
experts who will speak on topics such as the mutli-floor
and
building, robotics and automation, and the cost of energy
numbers this year. A key attraction at the fair is a display
in industrial processes amongst other topics. Following a
of projects that incorporate wood by some of the most
successful launch in 2012, the 2014 EXPOBOIS Trophies
famous Flemish interior designers and landscape artists.
will reward innovative products, concepts or services
Central to the theme of the exhibition is the versatility and
implemented by a manufacturer and their client in the
beauty of wood.
the organizers are confident of exceeding these
following categories: wood transformation processes; wood-based materials for construction, decoration or biomass; and services and logistics in the timber sector.
Date: 17 - 20 November Venue: Paris Nord Exhibition Center - Hall 3 Location: Paris, France WEBSITE: http://en.expobois.fr
FIMAP / FERRALIA / EMAF This year, EXPONOR will simultaneously host three exhibitions - FIMAP, FERRALIA and EMAF. The 18th International Fair of Woodworking Machinery (FIMAP), the 13th Exhibition of Accessories and Equipment for the Wood Industry (FERRALIA) and the 15th International Fair on Industrial Machinery, Equipment and Services for Industry
46 www.timberdesignandtechnology.com | October 2014
Date: 20 - 23 November Venue: Antwerp Expo Location: Antwerp, Belgium WEBSITE: www.houtenhabitat.be
SHOWTIME
Big 5 Dubai
Image © Big 5
The Big 5 Dubai celebrates its 35th anniversary in
and hands on experience. Experts from around the world
2014 and expectations are high for the show this year,
engage in the industry’s most topical discussions, finding
which is set to run from November 17 - 20 at the Dubai
solutions, facing challenges and seizing opportunities. As
International Exhibition and Convention Center. The show
the gateway to the Middle East and North Africa (MENA),
attracted more visitors than ever last year and with 98
the show provides both exhibitors and visitors with
percent planning to return this year plus a host of new
the opportunity to conduct serious business with like-
exhibitors from across the world, the organizers believe
minded professionals.
this year’s event will be the largest and best attended in its
The Big 5 returns in 2014 with eight dedicated product sectors: steel; building interiors; coating, adhesives &
illustrious history. As the largest event for the building and construction
sealants; general construction; kitchens & bathrooms; water
industry in the Middle East, the show attracts more than
technology; windows, doors and cladding; and heating,
2,500 exhibitors from 65 countries and takes place at the
ventilation and air conditioning systems (HVAC). The
Dubai International Convention & Exhibition Center. For
35th edition of the show has already seen an increase in
more than 30 years The Big 5 has provided a business
international exhibitors, driven by renewed confidence in
and networking platform for the construction industry. It
the region’s construction sector.
is an opportunity for buyers and sellers of construction
Running alongside The Big 5, two co-located events, PMV
products and services from around the world to source
Live and Middle East Concrete (MEC), offer a 360-degree
an astounding array of the very latest technologies,
platform to the building and construction industry, with the
innovations and techniques.
three shows providing the largest international building
More than an exhibition, the event provides attendees with unrivalled access to information, intelligence, contacts
construction, concrete and heavy machinery gathering place in the region. Last year both shows attracted a record breaking 32 percent increase in attendance over 2012, with another outstanding year expected for 2014 as companies in the PMV and concrete sectors take advantage of the region’s burgeoning infrastructure projects. Following last year’s record attendance across more than 130 educational seminars, 30 live product demonstrations, and 5 workshops, the organizers are are preparing an even larger and more interactive suite of educational activities at The Big 5, with more than 40 certified workshops plus a two-day conference on Sustainable Design and Construction taking place in 2014.
Date: 17 - 20 November Venue: Dubai International Convention & Exhibition Center Location: Dubai, UAE WEBSITE: www.thebig5.ae Image © Big 5
October 2014 | www.timberdesignandtechnology.com 47
SHOWTIME
International Trade Fair for Woodworking Machinery and Tools
Wood Fair The Korea Wood Industry Fair (Wood Fair 2014) is the only professional wood industrial exhibition in the country and is being spearheaded by the Korea Federation of Wood Industrial Societies, which combines 15 associations and groups all with a view to invigorate the wood industry in the country. The exhibition covers both wood and woodworking sectors and aims to disseminate information on wood as well as experiencing life with wood. According to the organizers, the aim is to create new business opportunities through the show for industry professionals whilst also showcasing a range of woodworking machines and highlighting wood as a truly sustainable material. An exhibition of wood products will further help to emphasize the importance and diverse use of wood. Key attractions of the fair include the ‘Wood Experience Festival’ and the ‘Korea Wood Design Awards’ in addition to seminars and other events. The idea is that by highlighting eco-friendly, high-quality structures, the show will shed light on the value of wood, which will further promote the production, distribution and consumption of wood. The profile of exhibitors includes eco-friendly & DIY products; manufacturers and distributors of timber; wooden facilities & interiors; wooden materials and Equipment & Tool; and wooden housing.
The International Trade Fair for Woodworking Machinery and Tools (Woodworking. Machinery. Technology. Tools 2013) will take from December 4 -6, 2014 at the Kipsala International Exhibition Center. The fair attracts both Latvian and international companies who participate with the objective to demonstrate woodworking and furniture making equipment, log sawing machines, door and window production equipment, professional power tools for woodworking and construction specialists, carpentry equipment, finishing equipment as well as a variety of materials and technologies. The exhibition will also showcase the latest products from European and global equipment manufacturers and Latvian-made equipment and tools. The show provides an important platform for the timber industry, especially since it is one of the largest manufacturing sectors in Latvia with an average growth of 15 percent over the past decade and with total turnover exceeding one billion in the past year. Given that the Latvian timber industry aims to increase export volumes and improve its domestic market, the show offers companies related to this sector - processing enterprises, window, door and furniture, wood-frame building and log-house manufacturers, carpenters, loggers, construction companies, timber distributors and other businesses the opportunity to increase their competitiveness. As a result, the industry is able to learn how to modernize and improve production efficiency, implement new technologies, innovative products and target new markets.
Date: 4 - 6 December Venue: Kipsala International Exhibition Center Location: Riga, Latvia WEBSITE: www.bt1.lv/kokapstrade/?lang=eng&menu=1
48 www.timberdesignandtechnology.com | October 2014
Date: 4 - 7 December Venue: Coex Hall C Location: Seoul, South Korea WEBSITE: http://woodfair.or.kr
October 2014 | www.timberdesignandtechnology.com 49
SHOWTIME
EXPO Calendar SICAM
14th - 17th October Pordenone Exhibition Center (Fiera di Pordenone) Pordenone, Italy
www.exposicam.it/english/index.asp LESDREVMASH
20th - 23rd October ExpoCenter Fairgrounds Moscow, Russia
www.lesdrevmash-expo.ru/en Pragoligna/Tooltec
Hout & Habitat (Everything About Wood) 20th - 23rd November Antwerp Expo Antwerp, Belgium
www.houtenhabitat.be Mebel
24th - 28th November ExpoCenter Moscow, Russia
www.meb-expo.ru/en
International Trade Fair for Woodworking Machinery and Tools 4th - 6th December Ķīpsala International Exhibition Center Riga, Latvia
www.bt1.lv/kokapstrade/?lang=eng&menu=1 Korea Wood Fair 4th - 7th December Coex Hall C Seoul, South Korea
http://woodfair.or.kr
30th October - 1st November Prague Exhibition Grounds Prague, Czech Republic
www.pragoligna.cz/en.html Holzhaus
30th October - 2nd November All-Rusian Exhibition Center Moscow, Russia
www.holzhaus.ru/en-GB
furniPRO Asia 2014
5th - 8th November Marina Bay Sands Expo and Convention Center Singapore
www.furniproasia.com
Wooden House Building 6th - 9th November KyivExpoPlaza Kiev, Ukraine
www.woodenhouse.kiev.ua/eng Belgrade Furniture Fair 10th - 16th November International Exhibition Center Belgrade, Serbia
www.beogradskisajamnamestaja.rs EXPOBOIS
17th - 20th November Paris Nord Exhibition Center - Hall 3 Paris, France
http://en.expobois.fr BIG 5 Dubai
17th - 20th November Dubai International Convention & Exhibition Center Dubai, UAE
www.thebig5.ae SoFab
18th - 20th November Poznań International Fair (MTP) Poznań, Poland
www.sofab.pl/en
FIMAP / FERRALIA / EMAF 19th - 22th November EXPONOR - Porto International Fair Leça da Palmeira, Portugal
www.fimap.exponor.pt/homepage.aspx Image © Petr Krejci
50 www.timberdesignandtechnology.com | October 2014
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