Architects Datafile (ADF) – Timber in Architecture (Supplement – August 2019)

4NEWS

WWW.ARCHITECTSDATAFILE.CO.UK ADF AUGUST 2019

FROM

THE EDITOR

Timber is undoubtedly the only all-natural material we currently know of that has such a wide

range of applications in construction. Its unrivalled combination of beauty, sustainability,

wellness, durability, strength and versatility means that it remains at the top of the list for many

architects, and that’s despite the recent setback of CLT being placed under threat for taller

structures post-Grenfell.

As our contributor from the British Woodworking Federation confirms on page 7, there’s no

reason why most materials in a modern structure can’t be made of timber. When it comes to

CLT for example however, it would be useful to have some UK production to enable specifiers

to shop around more locally, particularly as we confront the challenge of Brexit and a weaker

pound forcing import costs ever upwards.

Many of the projects shortlisted for this year’s Wood Awards feature intricately designed

structures which demonstrate the potential of timber technology combined with advances in

CNC machining to produce exciting and structurally robust forms. The timber may be sourced

from Europe or further afield, but often the architectural and engineering expertise that’s being

employed to push it to new limits is home-grown.

Examples from the shortlist include architects Haworth Tomkins’ ornate timber ceiling for the

refurbished Battersea Arts Centre, providing great acoustics as well as a highly unusual but still

fitting new look. Cambridge Central Mosque by Marks Barfield Architects sees the architects

finding an alternative to stone vaults using engineered spruce, and albeit less high-profile, but

no less impressive, Gianni Botsford Architects created a funnelling, grid-formed timber ceiling

for a house in London that is simultaneously high-tech and organic.

In total, 20 impressive structures (as well as 12 new timber products) have been nominated for

the Wood Awards 2019 shortlist. The shortlisted entries will be displayed at 100% Design,

which takes place from 18-21 September, at London’s Olympia. T he winners will be revealed at

the annual Wood Awards ceremony at Carpenters’ Hall, London on 19 November.

I encourage you to visit the event to see examples of what can be done in timber, as well as

delving into the case studies and news story subjects featured within this special supplement.

James Parker

Editor

ON THE COVER...

The interior of Polyvalent Hall in the Swiss

village of Le Vaud is constructed exclusively from

locally sourced white pine treated with a UV

protected solution which will maintain the wood’s

bright colour.

For the full report on this project, go to page 12

Cover Image © Matthieu Gafsou

TIMBER INARCHITECTURE08.19 adf

Annual subscription costs just £

for 12 issues, including post and

packing. Phone 01435 863500 for

details. Individual copies of the

publication are available at £5 each

inc p & p. All rights reserved

No part of this publication may be

reproduced or transmitted in any form

or by any means, electronic,

mechanical, including photocopying,

recording or stored in any information

retrieval system without the express

prior written consent of the publisher.

Although every effort is made to

ensure the accuracy and reliability of

material published in Architects

Datafile, the publisher can accept no

responsibility for the claims or

opinions made by contributors,

manufacturers or advertisers.

Editorial contributors to this journal

may have made a payment towards

the reproduction costs of material

used to illustrate their products.

The manufacturer of the paper

used within our publication is a

Chain-of-Custody certified supplier

operating within environmental

systems certified to both ISO 14001

and EMAS in order to ensure

sustainable production.

Printed in England

netMAG

publishingmedia– vertical search

Managing Editor

James Parker

[email protected]

Advertisement Manager/

Joint Publisher

Anthony Parker

[email protected]

Editorial Co-ordinator

Shelley Collyer

Editorial Assistants

Roseanne Field

Jack Wooler

Editorial Contributor

Sébastien Reed

Studio Manager

Mikey Pooley

Production Assistants

Georgia Musson

Kim Musson

Sales Executives

Suzanne Easter

Ian Fletcher

Kim Friend

Steve Smith

Audience Development

Manager

Jane Spice

Managing Director

Simon Reed

Advertising &

Administration

t 01435 863500

[email protected]

http://www.architectsdatafile.co.uk

Press Releases

[email protected]

Subscription circulation

enquiries

[email protected]

netMAGmedia Ltd

Cointronic House

Station Road, Heathfield

East Sussex, TN21 8DF