27 The timber revolution
Sarah Harding of Accsys Group reports on how the UK is experiencing a revolution in timber in architecture, as designers and specifiers increasingly embrace the material’s combination of beauty and environmental advantages
Tomorrow’ presented an intriguing glimpse into the future of architectural timber solutions. With engaging and in-depth discussions from industry-leading experts throughout the public exhibition, topics such as ‘Forests and Sustainable Cities’ and ‘A Revolution in Construction: Hand in Hand with Nature’ were explored in depth.
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The panellists – Dr Layla McCay (Centre of Urban Design and Mental Health), Michael Ramage (Centre for Natural Material Innovation at The University of Cambridge), Kevin Flanagan (PLP Architecture) and Elina Grigoriou (Grigoriou Interiors) – have all utilised cross laminated timber (CLT) extensively in their latest projects and research.
Urban practicality combines with aesthetic beauty
Commenting on the context of urban densification and the associated need to build upwards, Clare Farrow, co-curator of the exhibition, pinpointed a key issue: “New luxury towers built of concrete, steel and glass present exciting and symbolic visions of this future, but there is also a flip-side. The problem is that cities already account for 75 per cent of global pollution and consumption of non-renewable resources. In the UK for example, the energy consumed in the construction and operation of the built environment accounts for almost half of the country's carbon dioxide emissions.” Timber offers a direct solution to this problem; its carbon credentials are unparalleled; it is five times lighter than concrete; and its thermal properties make it an ideal material for both interior and exterior applications. In particular, modified timber provides compelling environmental advantages over non-renewable carbon-intensive materials such as plastics, steel and concrete. The
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environmental impact of this timber can be assessed at all stages of its life cycle, from cradle to grave.
Industry comments Kevin Flanagan, partner at PLP Architects, is just one of the many who has recognised the outstanding potential that timber can offer. He has designed a conceptual timber skyscraper at London’s Barbican (also discussed on page 6 of this supplement), which was originally intended to be provocative, to test both public and industry reaction. At the event, Kevin Flanagan discussed
the key construction benefits: “Timber is very light and extremely easy to manoeuvre and because of this, structures can be built inside a factory and then shipped to site in ready-to-assemble components, meaning much shorter build times on-site.” Furthermore, due to its lightness, timber can also be used to add to existing structures, which may be of paramount
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unning earlier this year at the Roca London Gallery, ‘Timber Rising: Vertical Visions for the Cities of
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