Category Archives: Wood, Paper & Green Building

CAMBRIDGE, UK — Students at the University of Cambridge will soon have a revolutionary new housing option that’s not just greener — it’s actually carbon negative. Feilden Clegg Bradley Studios has designed three crescent-shaped apartment blocks made from planet-friendly materials like cross-laminated timber. …So, how did they do it? The architects used their own carbon calculation tool to carefully choose building materials and construction methods that would minimize lifetime carbon pollution. By prioritizing recycled materials, local sourcing, and carbon-capturing CLT, they achieved a carbon-negative design. CLT was a key component due to its lightweight, air-sealing properties and built-in carbon storage. The robust timber structure also reduced the amount of concrete needed in the foundation, further shrinking the building’s carbon footprint. …The first lucky students will move into these planet-positive digs in the fall term of 2024. 

In the realm of architecture, aesthetics have long been intertwined with cultural norms, technological advancements and individual preferences.However, as society grapples with the urgent need to address climate change, industry experts are re-evaluating traditional approaches to building design and construction, making efforts to minimise environmental impact while creating visually appealing and functional spaces. For the past 100 years, architects and designers have relied heavily on materials such as glass, concrete and steel. The appeal: a marriage between an enduring modern aesthetic and the practical benefits of low maintenance and industry know-how. In contrast, environmentally conscious professionals have spent years exclusively crafting their relationship with bio-based materials like wood and fibre… There hasn’t been much synergy between the two approaches – aesthetics-led and sustainability-led – to building design …By prioritising environmental stewardship and fostering a culture of innovation, the architecture profession can play a pivotal role in shaping a more sustainable future for generations to come.

Paul Brannen

A new book, Timber! How wood can help save the world from climate breakdown is set to cause controversy in the conservative world of construction and in the more traditionally-minded elements of the environmental movement. …In a passionate and compelling argument, author Paul Brannen advocates the use of timber in buildings wherever possible. His controversial and counterintuitive argument is clear: planting trees is not enough to reduce the amount of carbon in the atmosphere, we also must chop them down and use more wood in our buildings. The felling of trees is of course followed by new sapling planting so that the whole sustainable process can begin again i.e. no deforestation should occur. This is the first book to take timber from the margins to the mainstream, from the forests to the cities. It tackles head-on questions about sustainability, safety, the biodiversity of commercial forests and the pressures on land use. 

This year’s Timber Construct Conference & Exhibition will be held on 12 -13 August at Rydges Melbourne. Owned and organised by the Timber Development Association, the industry body representing Australian forestry, timber manufacturing, and timber construction interests—the conference covers the complete construction spectrum—from materials and design to prefabrication and building techniques. Here’s what to expect: Expanded Content—A diverse range of sessions, panels, and presentations to cater to your interests and needs. This year we’ve assembled an amazing array of talented individuals, all keen to share their knowledge and insights with you; Enhanced Networking—We’re revamping our networking opportunities to ensure you make meaningful connections and collaborations; Cutting-Edge Exhibits — Our exhibition hall will feature the latest innovations and solutions from industry leaders and startups alike; and Inspiring Speakers — Prepare to be inspired by a lineup of thought leaders who will share their vision for the future.

Vincent Lartizien

Hemp is making a comeback as a building material in France – a decade after one of the country’s largest construction firms lost money investing in it. Saint-Gobain … formerly launched a line of hemp-based insulation panels to replace fibreglass and rockwool insulation. However, they withdrew from the market because of poor sales. …One of the pioneers of the hemp industry in France, however, former professional surfer Vincent Lartizien, is building a new factory to make concrete blocks with hemp incorporated in them. …“Builders and architects are approaching us because the new building standards RT 2020 mean that ordinary concrete is very difficult to work with,” Mr Lartizien told The Connexion. “They need something which is lower in carbon dioxide counts and which has better thermal efficiency.” …“The market has moved and there is now enough demand for building materials with hemp in them to be competitive,” he said.

As reported by Ramtech, Timber Square is an ambitious project by Landsec aimed at achieving net-zero in London. The site, which spans over 370,000 sq ft, is safeguarded by Ramtech’s WES3 wireless fire alarm system, installed by Wingate. The development is conveniently located near London Bridge and Waterloo… The project aims to retain 85% of the existing structure and utilise cross-laminated timber, significantly reducing CO2 emissions. …Timber Square presents unique fire safety challenges due to its timber construction. …During construction, the risk is heightened because of exposed timber and other combustible materials on-site. …Wingate installed over 400 WES3 devices on-site to address these fire safety risks. The WES3 system, a fully customisable temporary wireless system, provides a simple and secure method for communicating fire and medical emergencies in complex environments.

The Netherlands — Triodos Groenfonds co-finances the construction of The Urban Woods Delft, a unique wooden building in the City of Delft, together with Triodos Bank. The building will contain 102 energy-neutral, climate-adaptive and nature-inclusive apartments for the private rental market. The Urban Woods Delft building has a modular and demountable construction, allowing for the layout to be adjusted as need change. It will be among the tallest buildings in the Netherlands  that are made entirely of certified sustainable wood, without a concrete core. It is  constructed with a tree-saving technique and the use of biobased materials – such as cross-laminated timber and flax – greatly contributes to a lower environmental footprint. The complex will consist of eleven floors including a (bike) basement.

TASMANIA, Australia — The release of the first official concept designs of the proposed Macquarie Point stadium predictably ignited the conversation around the project, spurning a swag of differing opinions and questions from the Tasmanian public. …Most people have questions, and they range from roof shadows to the heavy use of timber. …The type of timber being proposed is an engineered wood product called glulam. However, the particular local species is yet to be decided. “So we’re not just using things like radiata pine, we actually want to use eucalypt,” Mr Richardson said. We’ve done some work with that. There’s more to do and we’re looking into supply chain issues. “We’re wanting to invest in Tasmania, so all the components are built here rather than the timber being brought over to the mainland and brought back.” 

Forest and Wood Products Australia (FWPA) is set to spearhead an initiative highlighting the advantages of timber framing in construction, aiming to boost its promotion efforts. Originally founded within the Softwood Manufacturing Chamber of the Australian Forest Products Association and financially supported by the Timber Framing Collective, the ‘Timber Framing: The Ultimate Renewable’ campaign will undergo a rebrand under WoodSolutions and be overseen by FWPA to sustain its achievements. To oversee the effort, FWPA has appointed former board member and Timber Framing Collective founding member, Christine Briggs, as Campaign Manager. …FWPA’s Head of Build Environment and WoodSolutions Program, Kevin Peachey, emphasised the importance of the campaign in supporting the forest and wood products industry. …In addition to existing campaign funding provided by the Timber Framing Collective funding partners, FWPA has committed further investment to ensure the ongoing success of the campaign.

You might think that wearing a top made from wood pulp would give instant eco-credentials – it is renewable, biodegradable, and, having once been a tree, it has soaked up some carbon along the way. What’s more, it’s not plastic. This is why many brands are opting for viscose, Lycocell, acetate and modal – soft, silky, semi-synthetic fabrics made from tree-pulp – as an apparently more sustainable option. Except that the chances are that your wood-pulp top may not be so green. “Deforestation continues to be a problem,” says Nicole Rycroft, of Canopy, a Vancouver-based NGO. …In total, about 300m trees are logged globally each year. …“Significant amounts” of viscose come from endangered forests in Brazil, Canada and Indonesia, says Rycroft. …One-sixth of the world’s biggest viscose producers are described as “high risk” in CanopyStyle’s latest Hot Button Report, which assesses producers’ risk of deforestation and their adoption of lower-carbon alternatives to virgin wood-pulp.

With the advent of the Olympic Games in Paris—after an entire century—just around the corner, the historically and culturally rich suburbs of Saint-Denis prepare for a grand welcome with the award-winning Aquatics Centre. Designed by Cécilia Gross of VenhoevenCS and Laure Mériaud of Ateliers 2/3/4/, it is the sole permanent building out of all the new structures built to host the Games. …The project is a part of Paris’ urban renewal strategy, aspiring to contribute to a longstanding legacy for the neighbourhood and beyond. …The building features inclined walls sheathed in horizontal wooden members—creating a warm, inviting facade design. The form of the expansive wooden roof resembles a gentle wave, reflecting the fluidity of the pool on the floor. …Using bio-sourced wood as a construction material brings warmth and comfort to the arena while addressing the structural, aesthetic, acoustic, energy, social and urban concerns.