Timber Design & Technology Middle East - October 2015

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October 2015 Issue

MIDDLE EAST

22

www.timberdesignandtechnology.com

The Cube: Europe’s tallest hybrid cross laminated timber residential building TREEHOUSING International Wood Design Competition winners announced at World Forestry Congress World deforestation slows down as more forests are better managed Moretti Group: Specialized know-how in the construction industry Timber and stone combine to deliver warm and rustic aesthetic at Alila Jabal Akhdar Resort

ANALYSIS

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INTERVIEWS

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DESIGN

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October 2015 www.timberdesignandtechnology.com SUSTAINABILITY | TECHNOLOGY

Farlin group of companies are vertically integrated with an established presence worldwide in timber logs, sawn timber, plywood, panel products and coal for energy sectors.

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

www.farlindubai.com info@farlindubai.com

The Cube | Image © Jack Hobhouse

October 2015 Issue 22 DIRECTOR Andy MacGregor publisher@citrusmediagroup.net +971 55 849 1574 MARKETING DIRECTOR Eric Hammond marketing@citrusmediagroup.net +971 4 455 8400 INTERNATIONAL SALES DIRECTOR James Hamilton james@timberdesignandtechnology.com EDITOR Tony Smith editor@timberdesignandtechnology.com INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT Eamonn Ennis eamonn@timberdesignandtechnology.com +91 98676 54952 INTERNATIONAL REPRESENTATIVES Rabia Alga AntExpo Org. | Turkey +90 216 541 0390 rabia@antexpo.net ELIAS AGGELOPOULOS Med Expo | Greece +30 210 2931011 info@epipleon.gr Timber Design & Technology is published 6 times a year

by Citrus Media Group (powered by WillyMac Associates FZ LLC) Level 14, Boulevard Plaza - Tower One, Emaar Boulevard, Downtown Dubai, PO Box 334155, Dubai, UAE is designed by UC Design and is printed by MASAR Printing Press Great care is taken to ensure the accuracy of the contents of Timber Design & Technology but the publishers accept no responsibility for any errors or omissions.

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Letters and readers’ contributions may be edited at our discretion.

EDITOR’S NOTE The XIV World Forestry Congress, hosted by the Republic of South Africa, brought together the global forestry community to review and analyze the key issues and to share ways of addressing them. At the Congress - the first to be held in Africa - the FAO announced the results of its Global Forest Resources Assessment 2015. A key highlight of that report was that over the past 25 years the rate of net global deforestation has slowed down by more than 50 percent. Highlighting the positive news, José Graziano da Silva, FAO Director-General believes that “together, we can make forests one of the great comeback stories of our time.” We start this issue with a closer look at the state of forests today and the progress made through sustainable forest management.

The winners of the TREEHOUSING International Wood Design Competition were also announced at the World Forestry Congress. The competition challenged architecture students, professional architects and engineers around the world to develop innovative wood housing and affordable urban building solutions for Africa and beyond. Entrants were required to use any sustainably harvested wood material or product as the primary material for their designs. One of the main aims of the contest was to highlight the huge potential of legal and sustainably produced wood as a cost-efficient and versatile building material and valid alternative to non-renewable materials such as steel and concrete. With over 200 projects entered into the prestigious competition, we take a closer look at the winners and highly commended entries.

This issue also throws the spotlight on how timber can work with other materials to achieve a desired design aesthetic. At the Alila Jabal Akhdar Resort Hotel, the use of strong natural textured materials, predominantly timber and stone, gives the interior a warm and rustic aesthetic that one would find in a traditional local Omani mountain village home located in the adjacent mountains. Similarly, in the case of Casa Marino, located in an area of woodlands approximately 350 kilometers south of Buenos Aires, the use of materials attribute the scheme its understated finish, with concrete and wood working together to achieve a balance between building and landscape. You can read about these and several other projects in the pages that follow.

As a part of our ongoing endeavor to improve the magazine, we have launched a new section ‘Tall Timber’ where we will throw the spotlight on wooden towers. Given the growing acceptance of cross laminated timber and other engineered wood products, it is no surprise to see an increase in the number of timber buildings under construction. As such, we explore Europe’s tallest hybrid cross laminated timber residential building in this issue. 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. In closing, I would like to thank our advertisers, our partners and our readers.

Image © Matthias Pliessnig

CONTENTS

06 News

36 COMMENT

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

How much can wood do?

14 SUSTAINABILITY

50 TECHNOLOGY

World deforestation slows down as more forests are better managed

TREEHOUSING International Wood Design Competition winners announced at World Forestry Congress

18 MARKET REPORT

62 WOOD WORKS

Growing construction activity and floor replacement - enormous opportunity for the flooring market

Matthias Pliessnig pushes the boundaries of wood

22 ANALYSIS

66 SHOWTIME

Designing Inspiring and Sustainable Wood-based Buildings and Interiors: seminars in Dubai and Doha

A preview of the top industry exhibitions coming up this season

DESIGN & DÉCOR

TALL TIMBER

PROFILE

26 Alila Jabal Akhdar

32 Casa Marino

40 The Cube

46 Moretti Group

Timber and stone combine to deliver warm and rustic aesthetic

Concrete and wood work together to achieve a balance between building and landscape

Europe’s tallest hybrid cross laminated timber residential building

Specialized know-how in the construction industry

6

NEWS

Image © Leaders in Design MENA

As the Middle East and North Africa region is taking over the global design and architecture industry with the ever growing demand mainly in the fields of hospitality, commercial properties, education and healthcare, Leaders in Design MENA, organized by the International Business Council, that will take place from November 15 - 16, 2015 in Dubai, has gathered an outstanding line-up of speakers working with multi-billion iconic projects across the MENA region in order to discuss further advancement of the sector.

“For many years now, Leaders in Design MENA, organized by International Business Council, is a forum for the region’s driving elite of the real estate industry to connect with new potential business partners and develop valuable relationships. It is a great opportunity to share our vast experience with other professionals as well as to take the pulse of the region,” said Francis Gallagher, Principal and Managing Director of HKS Architects Ltd. One of the most crucial topics that will be deliberated during the summit is Sustainable Design. Green design has gone from a novelty approach practiced by a few select designers for an enlightened group of clients, to an indispensable consideration of the design process among all firms, big and small.

“Leaders in Design MENA is one of the most important events in the region for designers and I am honored to be invited to share my experiences in architectural design at the conference. This event offers a great opportunity for design professionals from around the globe to discuss current issues,

Image © Leaders in Design MENA

OVER 200 GLOBAL DESIGN INDUSTRY LEADERS TO CONVENE IN DUBAI

challenges and market trends, especially their impact on future development and the design profession in the Middle East and North Africa. I believe both the programmes line up and the spontaneous conversations that follow will spark a lot of ideas and definitely inspire every one of us,” adds Michael Fowler, Managing Director of AEDAS Middle East.

Among 60 presenters, some of the renowned gurus in the industry are Marc Cerone, the Director of Adrian Smith + Gordon Gill Architecture; Andrew Linwood, Head of Design of Areen Hospitality; Clay Pendergast, Senior Vice President of HOK; Predeep Menon, CEO of RSP Architects; and Tom Hasker, Managing Director, Property, Atkins Middle East.

According to Elena Jassim, CEO of International Business Council, “The Middle East is becoming a trend-setter when it comes to the design and architecture industry. We at International Business Council are extremely pleased to host such prominent industry leaders at our summit Leaders in Design MENA and receive such a wholehearted support from both global and regional frontrunners.”

The American Institute of Architects (Middle East), Association of Professional Interior Designers, the Middle East Council of Shopping Centers and RIBA Gulf, amongst other industry bodies, have endorsed Leaders in Design MENA and will be playing an active role in the summit’s agenda over the course of two days.

D.R. JOHNSON IS FIRST CERTIFIED U.S. MANUFACTURER OF CROSS LAMINATED TIMBER D.R. Johnson received the first U.S. certification to manufacture cross laminated timber (CLT) under a new standard approved by the American National Standards Institute. The CLT panels were tested and certified by the American Plywood Association. The certification clears the way for the company to market its 3-lam, 5-lam, and 7-lam CLT panels to an emerging U.S. wood building market.

“Our company has historically embraced opportunities presented by new technology and markets,” said Valerie Johnson, President of D.R. Johnson.

“We’re proud that, working in collaboration with key partners, we have achieved this milestone. We are now ready to manufacture high quality mass timber components - both CLT panels and glulam beams - to advance the revival of building with the world’s most environmentally sound product: wood.”

CLT is an engineered wood panel typically consisting of three, five or seven layers of dimension lumber oriented at right angles to one another and then glued to form structural panels with exceptional strength, dimensional stability and rigidity. These panels are components of a construction system commonly referred to as ‘mass timber construction,’ a revival of building taller buildings with wood, greatly reducing the carbon footprint of the project. These buildings have high seismic resilience and better fire resistance than concrete and steel. Using both building materials www.timberdesignandtechnology.com

October 2015

in a hybrid system is also possible.

Many industry leaders and Oregon policymakers view the development of CLT as serving two important objectives: advancing sustainable building design and promoting rural economic development. The product creates a new market for struggling Oregon sawmills and a new technology for developers who are eager to further reduce carbon emissions tied to buildings. Until now, however, the U.S. market has been slow to materialize.

“The market for CLT is growing,” said Johnson. “We are either under contract or in design conversations with over a dozen projects along the West Coast. Demand is there, and we expect other manufacturers may enter the market soon.”

D.R. Johnson is currently manufacturing CLT panels for the Richard Woodcock Education Center at Western Oregon University. Western Oregon University was the first project to contract with D.R. Johnson and provided the momentum to build the CLT plant and press. D.R. Johnson is also manufacturing CLT for a mixed-use building in NW Portland being developed by Albina Bank. In addition to those projects, the company is in design consultations with numerous other West Coast developers.

Combined, the contracted work and project pipeline represents nearly a half-million square feet of CLT panels.

Swedish wood – a versatile, modern material

Natural Living

Renewable Stylish

Strong

Swedish sawn timber is mainly softwood: spruce and pine. Thanks to its high quality, Swedish wood is used for furniture, floors, wall panels, moldings, windows and doors, as well as construction.

All Swedish timber comes from sustainably managed forests, where every harvested tree is replaced by several planted seedlings. World-wide, Sweden is the third largest exporter of sawn timber.

info@swedishwood.com • www.swedishwood.com

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NEWS

American Softwoods (AMSO), the promotional partnership formed by three major U.S. softwood trade associations, has announced its participation in the 18th International Furniture Components, Accessories, Forestry Products and Wood Technologies Fair (INTERMOB 2015). The event, which will be held from October 10 - 14, 2015 at the Tüyap Fair, Convention and Congress Center in Istanbul, will see the participation of eight U.S. softwood lumber exporters in addition to representatives from the Softwood Export Council. AMSO’s participation will encourage the use of American softwoods for both internal and external projects and increase awareness of commercially available species.

AMSO’s participation at INTERMOB is aimed at promoting American softwoods in the face of increasing demand for timber in Turkey and the wider Middle East region. According to the most recent statistics, which have been compiled from the latest data released from the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), Turkey imported USD 393,000 worth of American softwood lumber in the first half of this year. Historically, the United States has been an important supplier of softwood, comprised mainly of southern yellow pine. In recent years, Russia and Ukraine have become major sources for softwood for the Turkish wood products industry on account of lower prices due to their proximity and the ability to ship smaller quantities in lesser time.

“Although Turkey has the second largest forest area in the region after Russia and is the third largest producer of hardwood in the region after Russia and Romania, it still cannot meet demand for both hardwood and softwood.

Wood processing plays a significant role in Turkey’s economy, especially for rural employment, with industrial wood production mainly geared towards the manufacturing of wood-based panels (plywood, blockboard, particle board, medium density fiberboard, high density fiberboard and oriented strand board) and pulp. Given the tremendous scope for further growth, we are looking to leverage our presence at INTERMOB Istanbul to further increase knowledge and exposure of American softwoods in Turkey,” said Charles Trevor, Consultant to American Softwoods.

At INTERMOB Istanbul, the American Softwoods pavilion will showcase the strength and variety of the different U.S. softwood species in addition to distributing technical publications on the applications of American

Image © AMSO

AMSO TO PROMOTE STRENGTH AND VARIETY OF AMERICAN SOFTWOODS AT ‘INTERMOB ISTANBUL’

softwoods. The show will provide a platform for the participating softwood exporters to interact directly with decision-makers in the wood industry and further promote the strength, flexibility, versatility and beauty of American softwoods. Participating companies include Elof Hansson, Mauvila Timber, Almond Lumber Company, Tumac Lumber Company, Ontario Project Management, Klumb Lumber, Robinson Lumber and Seven Seas Group USA. “Participating at key events like INTERMOB, in addition to holding workshops and seminars gives us the opportunity to share the comparative benefits of U.S. softwoods with our intended audience of importers, traders, flooring, furniture and joinery manufacturers as well as the specifiers. Given that Turkish mills, wood panel and furniture industries have been using an increasing amount of U.S. woodchips, hardwood and softwood lumber in recent years, we anticipate a sustained growth in demand. Through our increased activities in Turkey, we hope to build awareness on the advantages of using American softwoods, not only in terms of quality but also amidst the widespread demand for proof of sustainability,” concluded Trevor.

Image © Södra

THE ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACTS OF WOOD-BASED PRODUCTS

UPM and the Finnish Environment Institute (SYKE) have been developing a method for assessing ecosystem services derived alongside the production of wood-based products. The pilot study focused on the environmental impacts resulting from the growth of trees used for the production of one tonne of pulp. In the study, the carbon sink effect, water protection and the sustainability of native forest species were analyzed in detail. The study confirmed that the forest area from where pulpwood is sourced yields multiple benefits besides just wood raw material.

The study also examined the amount of wood required for the production www.timberdesignandtechnology.com

October 2015

of one tonne of softwood pulp at UPM in Finland, as well as the time required for the trees to grow. The trees purify over eight million liters of water and absorb over 4,000 kg of carbon dioxide during their lifetime. The majority of Finland’s 20,000 forest species also inhabit areas used for wood production.

Hundreds of species, such as moss, lichen and insects, depend on trees used in pulp production. Forest renewal secures the long-term survival of these species.

UPM’s operations are based on using wood in multiple efficient ways to produce not only pulp, but also sawn timber, plywood, composites, papers and label materials. The company also uses industrial by-products and residues to produce energy, biochemicals and renewable diesel.

“With the help of ecosystem services, the environmental impacts of land management and raw material production can be described in a more diverse manner. For our study, we selected indicators that relate to the most important global environmental issues, such as renewable natural resources, climate change, clean water and biodiversity. All in all, the benefits derived from forests are highly diverse, extending from products we can collect to recreational enjoyment,” says Timo Lehesvirta, Director, Forest Global, UPM. “Projects like this are essential for the evolving bioeconomy in Finland.

Companies should include the evaluation of natural ecosystem services in their management systems, and develop this into a responsible and productive business. The indicators or methods for measuring ecosystem services are not yet agreed upon anywhere in a commensurable fashion. Our research marks one step forward,” says Petteri Vihervaara, Senior Research Scientist specializing in ecosystem services, SYKE.

NEWS

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Anarchitect, an award winning international architecture, interior architecture and design practice based in Dubai with collaborative studios in London, has won the ‘Outstanding use of American Hardwood in the Middle East’ award for ‘No.57 Boutique Café’ at the Commercial Interior Design (CID) Awards 2015. The award, which was sponsored by the American Hardwood Export Council (AHEC), the leading international trade association for the American hardwood industry for the fifth year running, was presented by Roderick Wiles, AHEC Director for the Middle East and Africa, to Anarchitect’s Jonathan Ashmore and co-collaborator on the No.57 project, Tarik Zaharna.

Anarchitect was praised for its “well presented and completed project”.

The judges described the design as clear, well explored and effortless in execution. Crafted materiality and a sense of intrigue all in a relatively small space shaped the design approach of Anarchitect, who envisaged the restaurant as a natural evolution of the famous dinner club events created and run by their clients for the last couple of years. In addition, the judges highly commended the HSBC Office in Etihad Towers by Artillery Architecture Interior Design for its “comprehensive use of wood with nice detailing which goes beyond floor finishing”. Other nominations for the award included the ‘Tabu Bar’ by MMAC Design Associates and ‘Townhouse Fairmont Residence’ by Alfred Johnson Design.

According to Ashmore, the decision was made to work with a refined palette of three main materials for the overall project. The light and airy bistro uses American white oak plank floors, custom made tables with carrara marble tops and black powder-coated metal details. Constructed from hollow square section powder-coated steel with solid American white oak shelf inserts, the bespoke storage wall and kitchen pass was carefully designed to accommodate all types of crockery and bottles. Material composition is then reversed in the dining area to include marble floors, American white oak table-tops and custom-built joinery and banquets,

Image © ITP

Image © Lester Ali

Image © Lester Ali

ANARCHITECT WINS ‘OUTSTANDING USE OF AMERICAN HARDWOOD IN THE MIDDLE EAST’ AWARD FOR ‘NO.57 BOUTIQUE CAFE’

which offers a contemporary elegance for late afternoon and evening dining.

“The project looks great and functions exactly as we planned it. No.57 was a solid and well detailed canvas upon which we wanted our clients to grow and add their own styles over time, just like a residential project.

The project was also a seed in a new location with an interesting client to hopefully act as a catalyst for the wider surrounding community to take inspiration. We have had a great response internationally for the design of the project and also positive feedback from the clients, staff and visitors for the overall look, feel and functionality for the space. Having worked with white oak on previous projects, we will continue to work with it on future projects both in the Middle East and internationally,” said Ashmore.

Anarchitect also designed all of the custom joinery pieces and timber wall panelling using American white oak solids and veneers with an open grain. According to Ashmore, the freestanding banquets and the raised rear nook with feature cradenza in the dining area stand out against the carrara marble floors, crisp mirrors and clean lines of the walls and ceilings. White oak was preferred for its tone and prominent grain to achieve the desired look for the joinery. It was important that the wood looked natural and so a clear-matte lacquer was used to protect it, which also opened up the grain to contrast the solid smooth finishes of both the marble and powder-coated metal finishes elsewhere in the project.

“American white oak is widely available and is a popular choice with architects and designers in export markets around the world, due to its color consistency and the high volume of square edged lumber production, and veneer availability. Suitable for flooring, furniture, joinery and also certain structural applications, white oak is one of the most versatile of the many hardwood species available from the United States. At this year’s CID Awards, white oak was well represented, but it was also great to see a broad range of other American hardwood species used in variety of creative and well-designed applications,” concluded Wiles.

October 2015

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10 NEWS

SHIGERU BAN TO MAKE UK DEBUT WITH TIMBER PROJECT

Image © Shigeru Ban Architects

Shigeru Ban has been commissioned to design a mixed-used residential and office project in London for his first-ever project in the United Kingdom on an “eyesore” site next to London’s City Hall. Ban was awarded the Pritzker Architecture Prize in 2014 for his use of recycled cardboard tubes to create emergency shelters for disaster victims. For this project, he will work with Waugh Thistleton, specialists in cross laminated timber, on a scheme for private developer John Curran at Potters Fields near Tower Bridge.

In November 2014, the London Borough of Southwark in November 2014 sold a 220-meter former school site to Curran, who already owns the neighboring plot. A report from the borough announced that this move would “improve what is currently quite an eye-sore next to Potters Field Park, and provide new office and compound space, which could be used by the Potters Fields Management Trust to replace the poor quality accommodation they currently operate from.”

According to the plan, the council would own the office space in the development, and lease it for profit. The council has also sold “oversail” rights to the developer, allowing the new development to be built over Potters Field Park. The designs for the new development are yet to be unveiled, but the project will contain office spaces and apartments in what is currently a highly desirable area of London.

TOP TIMBER EXPERTS TO SPEAK AT ‘WOOD ARCHITECTURE - ART & FUNCTION’ CONFERENCE

Image © Bergen and Omegn Building Society

Image © AHEC

The Endless Stairs, Metropol Parasol, Centre Pompidou-Metz and TREET. These may sound like places or words from a fantasy novel but they are not. They are iconic structures that have been designed by world-renowned architects using timber. In an effort to showcase timber’s vast potential in architecture and the construction sector as a whole, the Malaysian Timber Council (MTC) is bringing together the designers of these iconic structures to share their insights into building with timber.

“As one of the oldest building materials known to man, timber is able to present itself in a whole new perspective, thanks to the latest technological innovations that are enabling architects to create such engineering marvels,” said MTC Chairman Datuk Wee Jeck Seng. “The availability of engineered timber construction materials such as glulam, opens up possibilities and pushes the boundaries for the industry. This conference is a priceless opportunity for local industry members to gain insights into working

www.timberdesignandtechnology.com

October 2015

with timber from experts who are not only masters of using timber in construction, but have produced world-class masterpieces with it. It’s almost like having Picasso here to talk about art!”

The international conference, which will be held on November 24, 2015 in Kuala Lumpur, is called ‘Wood Architecture - Art & Function’. The speakers include Andrew Lawrence, Juergen Mayer-Hermann, Rune Abrahamsen, Jonas Lencer and Frank Miebach. Following the international conference, MTC and the Malaysian Institute of Architects as well as Universiti Teknologi Mara (UiTM) will be organizing a special workshop on November 25, 2015 entitled ‘Designing with Timber - An Architectural Perspective’, specifically for architecture students in Malaysia. Andrew Lawrence and Jonas Lencer will share their experiences and ideas on using timber in architecture while providing a platform for students to discuss the challenges involved in building with timber.

12 ADVERTORIAL

Quality comes from within

Hettich is one of the world’s largest manufacturers of furniture fittings.

Every day, over 5,800 members of staff take up the challenge of developing intelligent technology for furniture. A family-owned business, Hettich is at home in Kirchlengern, Germany.

The company is reputed for its meticulous work on products that one can’t see; noticeable nonetheless through the job they do. Hettich hardware solutions not only bring movement, safety and convenience to furniture and kitchens, but also continue to do so after years of use.

Some kitchens never fail to delight. That’s also because of their inner values. The innovative hinges, drawer and sliding door systems from Hettich guarantee luxurious convenience that fascinates and turn trends into reality.

Many kitchen manufacturers opt for Sensys with integrated Silent System.

Besides the design aspects which have resulted in the iF Product Design Award and Red Dot Product Design Award being given to the Sensys wideangle and thick door hinges, high user benefit is one other particular reason why three of Germany’s five major kitchen are successfully fitting out their ranges with Sensys.

The Silent System’s efficient performance makes it possible to install one hinge less for some commonly used door formats. The exceptionally wide self-closing angle of 35 degrees lets doors close reliably and silently with a nudge of the hand. There is no need to adjust or even deactivate Silent System on small doors. Operating reliability is given across a wide temperature range of +5°C to +40°C without doors slamming closed or staying open. www.timberdesignandtechnology.com

October 2015

Image © Hettich

Image © Hettich

Hettich fittings create new trends in functionality

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The ArciTech drawer system from Hettich also provides many attractive options. It impresses users with its incredibly smooth running action and exceptional stability. Depending on taste, there are three different design options to choose from, always based on the same drawer side profile: besides the drawer, the broad lineup includes a pull-out with railing, steel TopSide or DesignSide in glass.

The new Push to open Silent function combines a mechanical Push to open mechanism with the luxury and convenience of Silent System. In particular, the system impresses with narrow gaps between drawer fronts and an opening distance that’s second to none. The result: classy handleless design and high user convenience from using standard ArciTech drawer elements for cost effective production.

New design options for wall and base units and large pantry units can be created with sliding door solutions from Hettich. This is where InLine XL and InLine S are used as new sliding door systems for flush fitted fronts. The new SlideLine M system permits the combination of open and closed sections and, above all, leaves no margin of doubt with its ease of installation and the ability to use it with shelves in a thickness of 15mm and over.

Even though these furniture fittings do their job out of sight, they play an important part in kitchen and furniture design. Besides functionality, this also applies to design options, as supremely demonstrated by sliding door systems in kitchen cabinets or the Push to open Silent function.

With 38 subsidiaries and partner agencies as well as production sites in America, Europe and Asia, the company is never far from its customers wherever they are in the world. As specialists in every market segment, Hettich knows the different needs across different segments and makes sure it meets them in the products it develops.

Hettich has a separate environment committee that has been established for each production site and regards statutory provisions as minimum requirements. At significant sites, the company also implements the stringent EMAS Directive. Significantly, Hettich is committed to drive forward developments that in future will help to save even more raw materials and support the necessary endeavors towards complete sustainability.

Image © Hettich

Image © Hettich

Image © Hettich

ADVERTORIAL

October 2015

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14 SUSTAINABILITY

World deforestation slows down as more forests are better managed FAO publishes key findings of Global Forest Resources Assessment

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October 2015

SUSTAINABILITY The world’s forests continue to shrink as populations increase and forest land is converted to agriculture and other uses, but over the past 25 years the rate of net global deforestation has slowed down by more than 50 percent, according to a report published by the FAO. Some 129 million hectares of forest - an area almost equivalent in size to South Africa - have been lost since 1990, according to FAO’s most comprehensive forest review to date - The Global Forest Resources Assessment 2015 (FRA2015).

FRA2015 continues the tradition of seeking to describe the world’s forests - a tradition that began in 1948. Its development began in June 2011 as the FRA Advisory Group discussed the FRA Long-Term Strategy and the implications for FRA2015. The design process involved users, national correspondents and experts from a wide variety of technical backgrounds. Countries representing some 75 percent of the world’s forest area contributed to constructing FRA2015 content.

FRA2015 includes reports for 234 countries and territories, of which 155 reports come from countries themselves - countries that contain 98.8 percent of the world’s forests. The remaining 79 countries and territories (covering only 1.2

percent of the world’s forest) were reported as desk studies prepared

by FAO. FRA2015 contains some 120 variables covering the period 1990-2015.

The report noted however, that an increasing amount of forest areas have come under protection while more countries are improving forest management. This is often done through legislation and includes the measuring and monitoring of forest resources and a greater involvement of local communities in planning and in developing policies. The FAO study

the report in Durban.

He noted an “encouraging tendency towards a reduction in rates of deforestation and carbon emissions from forests,” as well as improved information that can inform good policy, noting that presently national forest inventories cover 81 percent of global forest area, a substantial increase over the past 10 years.

“The direction of change is positive, but we need to do better,” cautioned da Silva. “We will not succeed in reducing the impact of climate change and promoting

Over the past 25 years the rate of net global deforestation has slowed down by more than 50 percent covers 234 countries and territories and was presented at the World Forestry Congress in Durban, South Africa.

“Forests play a fundamental role in combating rural poverty, ensuring food security and providing people with livelihoods. And they deliver vital environmental services such as clean air and water, the conservation of biodiversity and combating climate change,” said José Graziano da Silva, FAO Director-General at the launch of

sustainable development if we do not preserve our forests and sustainably use the many resources they offer us,” he added.

A key development has been the reduction in net loss of natural forests, which declined from 8.5 million hectares per year between 1990 and 2000 to 6.6 million hectares per year between 2010 and 2015. These results have contributed to reducing total carbon emissions from forests by more than 25 percent between 2001 and 2015.

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Main findings While in 1990, forests made up 31.6 percent of the word’s land areas, or some 4,128 million hectares, this has changed to 30.6 percent in 2015, or some 3,999 million hectares, according to the report.

Meanwhile, the net annual rate of forest loss has slowed from 0.18 percent in the early 1990s to 0.08 percent during the period 20102015.

Today, the bulk (93 percent) of the world’s forest area is natural forest - a category that includes primary forest areas where human disturbances have been minimized, as well as secondary forest areas that have regenerated naturally. Planted forest, another subcategory, currently accounts for 7 percent of the world’s overall forest area, having increased by over 110 million hectares since 1990.

The report stresses the critical importance of forests to people, the environment, and the global economy. The forest sector contributes about USD 600 billion annually to global GDP and provides employment to over 50 million people.

Biggest losses in Africa and South America Africa and South America had the highest net annual loss of forests in 2010-2015, with 2.8 and 2 million

Forested areas have decreased but rate of net forest loss has been cut by 50% Percentage of global land area

31.6%

30.6%

1990

2015

5 million 4 million 3 million 2 million 1 million

The biggest loss has been in the tropics, particularly in Africa and

3 999 million ha

Net forest area has increased in over 60 countries and territories, most of which are in the temperate and boreal zones.

October 2015

www.timberdesignandtechnology.com

Image © FAO

4 128 million ha

South America.

16 SUSTAINABILITY

hectares respectively, but the report notes how the rate of loss has “substantially decreased” from the previous five-year period.

Since 1990 most deforestation has taken place in the tropics.

In contrast, net forest area has increased in temperate countries while there has been relatively little change in the boreal and subtropical regions.

However, given global population growth, average per capita forest area has predominantly declined per person in the tropics and subtropics, but also in all the other climatic regions with the exception of the temperate.

Better-managed forests Globally, natural forest area is decreasing and planted forest area is increasing and while most forests remain publicly owned, ownership by individuals and communities has increased. In all cases FAO stresses the importance of sustainable

forest management practices.

Natural forests, the least touched by humankind, contribute to conserving genotypes - the genetic constitutions of organisms - and in maintaining the composition of natural tree species while providing vital habitats to endangered animal species.

Forests help replenish groundwater supplies crucial for drinking, agriculture and other uses.

They also protect soils from erosion, avalanches and landslides. Planted forests, for their part, are often established for production and where well-managed can provide various forest goods and service and help reduce the pressure on natural forests. This must also be seen in the context of the increase in global wood consumption and the continued widespread reliance on woodfuel.

“The management of forests has improved dramatically over the last 25 years. This includes planning,

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October 2015

knowledge sharing, legislation, policies - a whole range of important steps that countries have implemented or are implementing,” said Kenneth MacDicken, leader of FAO’s Global Forest Resources Assessment Team.

He underscored how since 1990 the designation of additional forest land for conservation increased by some 150 million hectares and that forest in protected areas has increased by over 200 million hectares.

Safeguarding biodiversity Forests are rich in biological diversity, and home to more than half of the terrestrial species of animals, plants and insects. FAO warns that despite conservation efforts the threat of biodiversity loss persists and is likely to continue with deforestation, forest degradation - a reduction in tree biomass density from human or natural causes such as logging,

fire, windthrows and other events - pollution and climate change all having negative impacts.

Currently, forest area primarily designated for biodiversity conservation accounts for 13 percent of the world’s forest, or 524 million hectares, with the largest areas reported in Brazil and the United States.

Over the last five year period Africa reported the highest annual increase in the area of forest for conservation while Europe, North and Central American and North America reported the lowest compared to previous reporting periods, while the increase reported

by Asia for 2010-2015 was lower than that reported for 2000-1010 but higher than the increase reported in the 1990s.

Addressing climate change Deforestation and forest degradation increase the concentration of greenhouse gases

SUSTAINABILITY

17

What do forests look like?

The bulk of the world’s forest is natural forest.

7%

The share of planted forest is increasing.

96%

100

94%

93%

Global forest area, 2015 Planted forest area

93%

0

4% 1990

6% 2005

7%

Planted forest

2015

Image © FAO

Natural forest

Natural forest area

Sustainable forest management: progress so far There is increasing awareness of the need to retain the diverse and fundamental functions provided by forests – attention paid to sustainable forest management (SFM) has never been higher.

Permanent forest is increasing and includes both state and privately owned land

Forest located within legally established protected areas Additional forest area has been put under protection, most of which in the tropics.

Forest area certified as sustainably managed increased everywhere

World forest a rea

Forests under internationally verified certifications

100%

210 million ha

Private forest lands intended to remain forests (17%) Declared permanent forest estate (37%)

0%

(1990 –2015)

million ha

500

54%

400 300 200 100

More measurements, monitoring, and reporting

The majority of these plans require social and community involvement.

77%

World's forest area in 112 countries covered by national inventories completed or initiated since 2010

2000

2014

18 million ha 438 million ha Image © FAO

2.1 billion ha, or 52% of the world's forest, is under management plans

2014

Challenges remain The extent of the world’s forest continues to decline as human populations continue to grow and demand for food and land increases.

0.8 ha per person

0.6 ha per person

1990

2015

Governments, private companies, communities, civil society and international organizations must invest in forest management to ensure a steady supply of forest goods and services for future generations.

Forests should be regarded as an integral part of the rural space, providing global public goods such as clean air and water and many other ecosystem services.

Implementing sustainable forest management practices requires sound policies and positive returns on investment to encourage adoption.

Image © FAO

in the atmosphere, but forest and tree growth absorbs carbon dioxide, which is the main greenhouse gas.

FAO notes how a more sustainable management of forests will result in a reduction in carbon emissions from forests and has a vital role to play in addressing the impacts of climate change. FAO has estimated that total carbon emissions from forests decreased by more than 25 percent between 2001 and 2015, mainly due to a slowdown in global deforestation rates.

“We will not succeed in reducing the impact of climate change and promoting sustainable development if we do not preserve our forests and sustainably use the many resources they offer us. Committing to zero illegal deforestation would send a strong message in this direction. Together, we can make forests one of the great comeback stories of our time. We need this today and for our future generations,” concludes da Silva.

About FAO An intergovernmental organization, FAO has 194 Member Nations, two associate members and one member organization, the European Union. Its employees come from various cultural backgrounds and are experts in the multiple fields of activity FAO engages in. FAO’s staff capacity allows it to support improved governance inter alia, generate, develop and adapt existing tools and guidelines and provide targeted governance support as a resource to country and regional level FAO offices.

October 2015

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18 MARKET REPORT

Growing construction activity and floor replacement enormous opportunity for the flooring market Preeti Tawale from MarketsandMarkets highlights key developments in the global flooring market

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October 2015

MARKET REPORT The market for flooring according to a study conducted

by MarketsandMarkets, titled ‘Flooring Market - Trends & Forecast to 2020’ - is segregated on the basis of types, material, flooring system, application, and regions. The flooring types segment comprises the prime types of floorings such as soft coverings, resilient, non-resilient, and other types. The materials required for flooring market are classified as carpets & rugs, tile, vinyl, wood, and others.

The carpets and rugs segment accounted for the major share in 2014, in the flooring market whereas vinyl is fastest growing material during the review period.

The market has further been segmented on the basis of applications, which are residential and non-residential.

The non-residential market comprises commercial, healthcare, hospitality, sport centers, education, and others; the residential segment includes private spaces, bungalows, and apartments. The residential segment held the largest market share in 2014, because of the urbanized population and increase in the income and spending capacity of end users. On the basis

Canada

of key regions, the flooring market has been segmented into North America, Europe, Asia-Pacific, and the Rest of the World (RoW).

Regional Analysis: AsiaPacific Projected to Grow at the Highest Rate The market for the flooring industry has seen an upward surge. This is attributed to the economic improvement and the increasing number of upcoming construction projects. The AsiaPacific region accounted for largest market share, followed by Europe and North America respectively, in 2014. However, as the flooring market in developed countries matures, markets in developing countries such as China and India are estimated to grow at a higher rate from 2015 to 2020. China, with the highest CAGR, is estimated to grow faster than any other countries. This is because of the high population in the country along with new construction projects coming up in the next five years.

Future outlook

to manufacture products has become a pioneering phenomenon.

These drivers focus on reinforcing the growth of flooring market in the future, and proportionally focus on dealing with severe environmental issues.

Replacement of floors represents a huge opportunity for the flooring market. The replacement of existing floors with new ones is a significant market. In the U.S., households spend USD 200 - USD 2,300 annually on the replacement of flooring. The valuation of the whole process is based on several vital aspects such as the total affected area, type of material used, old flooring and new flooring, and additionally, labor charges.

All developed countries such as the U.K., Japan, Australia, France, and Spain are spending more on replacement of floorings.

Increasing disposable income and spending capacity has driven the increasing need for improved interiors, making flooring a very important part of the construction industry. The flooring market is primarily driven by increasing urbanization, increasing industrialization, and the emphasis on the manufacturing of creative and innovative products. More vitally, using recycled raw materials

Wood Flooring The flooring market has been advancing in the recent past and an increasingly diverse range of flooring materials are being used as a result of modernization in the flooring industry. Wood flooring is one of the popular flooring material options and is preferred for its aesthetic as well as durable properties. Furthermore, wood flooring is highly resilient as it is environment-friendly, has resistance to stains, and requires less maintenance. As a result, despite a continuous increase in the cost of raw materials, demand continues for increasingly popular hardwood flooring products, even though they are higher priced.

Increasing construction in emerging economies and growing urbanization drive the wood flooring market. The Asia-Pacific region led the wood flooring market, with Southeast Asia and China as the major consumers and manufacturers of wood flooring.

Wood flooring is one of the popular flooring material options and is preferred for its aesthetic as well as durable properties

U.K.

Germany

France

U.S.

19

China Japan India

Mexico

Indonesia Brazil Australia

<4.0% CAGR

4.0%-5.0% CAGR

5.00%<CAGR

October 2015

www.timberdesignandtechnology.com

Image Š MarketsandMarkets

Argentina

Image © MarketsandMarkets

Image © MarketsandMarkets

20 MARKET REPORT

Competitive landscape - leading players opt for mergers & acquisitions strategy

Companies are also trying to enter new regions by merging with or acquiring new companies in emerging markets

The global flooring market is dominated by key players such as Mohawk Industries (U.S.), Shaw Industries (U.S.), Armstrong World Industries (U.S.), Tarkett (France), Forbo Corporation (Switzerland), Toli Corporation (Japan), Gerflor (France), The Dixie Group (U.S.), Interface Incorporation (U.S.), Polyflor (U.K.), and Congoleum (U.S). Leading manufacturers in the flooring market opt for mergers & acquisitions in order to gain competitive advantage and expand their business on a global scale.

Mergers and acquisitions formed the major strategy adopted

by most of the players in the flooring market. Companies such as Mohawk Industries, Tarkett, and Gerflor were the key players that acquired newer companies to expand their business. The rising construction market as well as high growth in emerging markets has encouraged major players to adopt this strategy. Companies are also trying to enter new regions by merging with or acquiring new companies in emerging markets.

Apart from mergers and acquisitions, new product launches were adopted by companies, which

accounted for 40 percent of the developments by the key flooring companies. New product launches also formed an important part of the developments in the flooring industry; Armstrong announced luxury vinyl tile (LVT) with the I-Set™ Installation System, which enabled installations to be completed in about half the time of orthodox methods. The solution launched was lucrative for both the organization and end-users.

With increasing construction activity in developing countries and the growing need for flooring

replacement market among developed as well as developing nations, the flooring market is expected to flourish in the near future. Alongside, the flooring industry has taken eminent steps to focus on eco-friendly techniques such as the use of recyclable materials in the manufacturing process of flooring materials, which will have a positive impact on the overall flooring market. * This article contains text from the ‘Flooring Market - Trends & Forecast to 2020’ report prepared by MarketsandMarkets.

For more information or to buy the report, please visit: http:// www.marketsandmarkets. com/Market-Reports/flooringmarket-110789434.html

Image © MarketsandMarkets

About Markets andMarkets

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October 2015

MarketsandMarkets is a global market research and consulting company.

It is the World’s No. 2 in terms of premium market research studies published annually.

Serving as a business intelligence partner to Fortune 500 companies across the world, it provides multi-client reports, company profiles, databases, and custom research services.

For more information, please visit our website: www markets andmarkets.com

Sustainable Softwoods Americaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s forests produce over 80 million cubic metres of sawn timber a year, making America the largest timber producer in the world.

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

People you can do business with info@americansoftwoods.com

22 ANALYSIS

Designing Inspiring and Sustainable Wood-based Buildings and Interiors: seminars in Dubai and Doha

Image Š FII

Canadian architect Michel Languedoc shares his views and insights into the use of wood in modern construction

Brenton Skytrain Station

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October 2015

GlaskoSmithKline INC, Quebec City

mainly in small family homes.

Timber is now a whole family of very sophisticated, highperformance engineered products.

Cross laminated timber is the ‘new concrete’, it has excellent strength, thermal and acoustic qualities.

The ‘Designing Inspiring and Sustainable Wood-based Buildings and Interiors’ seminar will feature four speakers. Mohammad Mohammad, Research Leader and

wood expert at FPInnovations (FPI); Alain Boulet, a wood construction product and transport specialist for QWEB; Canadian architect Michel Languedoc; and John Stewart, lecturer in architectural design and construction management, will share their expertise, experiences and insights with you. Timber Design & Technology sits down with Michel Languedoc, who shares his views and insights into the applications of wood in modern construction.

What is your ultimate goal when it comes to your work?

Image © FPInnovations

Over the past few years, Canada has developed a number of innovative wood-based products and structural solutions that are now available for use in building construction. Linking scientific advances with technical expertise, these innovative products and solutions are helping to showcase the application, practicality and environmental benefits of using wood in various types of building systems, including larger and taller wood buildings.

To highlight these developments, the Quebec Wood Export Bureau (QWEB) and the Government of Canada’s Trade Commissioner Service are organizing a series of seminars on November 15 at the Intercontinental Hotel The City Doha and on November 18 at the Shangri-La Dubai.

Wood is a miraculous material; grown by the sun, renewable, beautiful, and a natural sink for carbon. Its strength to weight is spectacular and its cellular structure hints that we are only beginning to harness its potential in building.

Despite being the world’s oldest construction material, wood is slowly becoming the most advanced construction material. Wood has undergone a renaissance in terms of processing and manufacturing of engineered timber, as opposed to just building with traditional sawn timber with limited applications

Image © Richard Desjardins of FPI

ANALYSIS 23

Every space has untold potential.

Developed to its fullest, it can fulfill needs, express values and reflect a culture. Creating meaningful places is about listening, analyzing, imagining, executing. It is about mastering every detail. Our objective is to create environments that go beyond the functional and technical performance to define a meaningful experience for the user.

We pride ourselves in stepping out of our defined roles as architects and engineers to become partners in seeking the appropriate solutions to the needs and “buy-in” objectives of our clients.

We are also driven by the belief that it is our responsibility to ensure our work is sustainable and October 2015

intrinsic to all solutions, in order to minimize the impact on the built environment. Our strong desire is to contribute towards creating a responsible and caring world. This is why we are committed to a holistic process and accompany users in understanding and articulating their goals and needs, before proposing any building solution that reflects and suits these same goals and needs.

Why do you like incorporating wood in your designs?

Let us go back to the first century when the Roman architect, Vitruvius (De architectura) summarized his preference for wood in three main principles that still apply today. Wood was preferred

by Vitruvius for its: Durability - it should stand up robustly and remain in good condition; Utility - it should be useful and function well for the people using it; and Beauty - it should delight people and raise their spirits.

This malleable and renewable material remains popular because it is available practically everywhere on the planet and its transformation is already accessible to all craftsmen without the need for complex equipment or tools. As an architect, beauty and warmth are easily achievable in architectural www.timberdesignandtechnology.com

Image Š StÊphane Groleau

24 ANALYSIS

Telus Stadium, Quebec City

design and these virtues are fully recognized and appreciated by users. It comes as no surprise then that building regulations are opening up to the usage of wood in a broader scope of applications, including structural components.

What are some of the common treatments and/ or new developments in the applications of wood in interior design?

Wood has always been the preferred exterior or interior finish for architects and designers for its availability, unlimited transformation possibilities, durability and richness of texture.

It is renewable and environmentally friendly. Traditionally, hardwoods are mainly used for interiors. Floor finishes, door and wood frames, integrated furniture and exposed structural elements all benefit from its various colors and textures.

Softwoods on the other hand are considered for exterior and interior architectural uses/applications.

Certain types offer better resistance to humidity and are more suitable for exterior finishes. Most are also commonly used for interior wall and ceiling finishes, as well as for furniture.

More recently, engineered wood has created a revolution in the wood industry and allowed exponential possibilities offering economical strategies without affecting the appearance or the quality finish.

The shapes and sizes became practically unlimited and give designers more room for innovation www.timberdesignandtechnology.com

Wood is a miraculous material; grown by the sun, renewable, beautiful, and a natural sink for carbon. and creativity. Organic shapes and textures of wood will serve multiple purposes, such as improving room acoustics or enhancing the geometrical expression of a space.

How do you see the use of wood in construction in the Gulf region?

The traditional and architectural vocabulary of the Gulf region took its roots thousands of years ago and, culturally, it is strongly embedded in the daily life of its population. It is sophisticated and articulated around specific geometric figures that call for flexibility, resistance to natural elements and friendly craftsmanship in the selection of materials.

Structurally, for daily needs, usage and habits are the same as in any other country. Wood is renewable and cost-effective.

Wooden construction could be assembled as quickly as steel structures but has superior performance attributes. It is with interior design that its usage opens the door to creativity and where the possibilities become endless. A variety of colors and textures are available and will bear richness and comfort that we find in Middle Eastern architecture. Wood paneling for walls and ceilings can easily be assembled and finished October 2015

with various types of attractive coatings.

What would you tell your fellow architects in the region who think that wood is a material that doesnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t fit within the local building preferences?

Traditionally, wood has always been the preferred construction material in many countries across the world. Recently there has been an increased appetite by architects, engineers and developers in specifying wood in their construction projects.

Wood blends well with stone and introduces both the simplicity of construction and the capacity to arouse emotions. It will achieve the design flexibility required to articulate the vocabulary and

express the rich Arabic culture, the warmth to create the proper ambiance and the texture to help acoustics. Wood has also been found to have psychological and physiological advantages over other construction materials in the built environment. Like stone, it is rich in appearance and exhibits beautiful colors, tones and texture. Used appropriately, it will reveal itself to create an almost emotional bond to the contrasting materials.

Michel Languedoc

November 15

November 18

Intercontinental Hotel, The City, Doha

Shangri-la Hotel Dubai

9.00 am onwards

9.00 am onwards

For more details on the seminars, please contact Ms. Ana Ferro, Trade Commissioner at the Embassy of Canada to the UAE, by e-mail anamargarita.ferro@international.gc.ca or by phone +971 2 694-0376.

Slide it. Love it.

Are you open to new trends? Because if you are, new doors are about to open for you too. In this case they open to the side.

Whether for bedroom, living room, office or kitchen and bathroom furniture – Hettich can offer you innovative sliding door systems that go perfectly with your furniture ideas.

Find out more at www.hettich.com

TopLine XL, the concealed premium quality sliding-door system brings fascinatingly smooth, even running action to doors weighing up to 80 kg.

The new Silent System generation provides user convenience in a new dimension: when opening and closing, in both directions with three doors, and including soft collision.

Sliding doors Hinged doors Flaps

InLine XL lets you create flushfronted units that provide premium-class convenience: opening in response to a light pull on the door's leading edge.

Exquisitely smooth running action.

Silent System adjusts to suit any preference. Doors opening flush with each other.

Benefits consumers see in sliding doors.

… are not in the way when open. … open / close without taking up any space. … are easy to open / close. … can be used as large-surface design elements. … are particularly suitable for barrier-free homes.

1

2

totally disagree

3

4

5

6

entirely agree

The single-track, closely hugging SlideLine M sliding door system cultivates the art of changing between open and closed sections in furniture with stunning effect.

Two doors running across each other are guided by a single profile.

Silent System is invisibly integrated into the running component.

SysLine S is the perfect sliding door system for medium-sized units. The top running fitting is distinguished by quiet and exceptionally smooth sliding action. The optional Silent System is fully integrated in the runner profile.

Everyone does it: Slide it. Love it.

Showroom: Hettich Application Centre,1st Floor, Al Hareb Building, Opp.Tasheel, Oud Metha Road, Dubai, United Arab Emirates, Phone: +971 4 3359666, Email: info_hme@in.hettich.com Sales Office: Hettich Middle East DMCC, PO Box: 115081, Office Unit No.1903, JBC 3 Tower, Cluster „Y“, JLT, Dubai, United Arab Emirates, Phone: +971 4 3695336, Fax: +971 4 3695339

26 DESIGN & DĂ&#x2030;COR

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October 2015

DESIGN & DĂ&#x2030;COR 27

Timber and stone combine to deliver warm and rustic aesthetic at Alila Jabal Akhdar Resort

Image Š Alila Hotels & Resorts

Design inspired by the site, local culture, unique terrain and Alila brand

October 2015

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28 DESIGN & DĂ&#x2030;COR materials, predominantly timber and stone, gives the interior a warm and rustic aesthetic that one would find in a traditional local Omani mountain village home that are located in the adjacent mountains.

P49 Deesign were responsible for all of the interior design of the project comprising all public areas; restaurants & bars; meeting rooms; guestrooms, suites and villas; and spa. According to Carl Almeida, Partner at P49 Deesign, the materials used in traditional Omani village homes and details from their construction were incorporated into the design throughout. The firm also worked very closely with Atkins, the architects, to ensure that planning strategies were incorporated into the base building design, which then ensured a seamless flow from exterior to interior. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Before we started the project, we did a research trip of the site and surrounding areas and were inspired by the amazing and unique terrain as well as the many heritage sites

The use of strong natural textured materials, predominantly timber and stone, gives the interior a warm and rustic aesthetic

Image Š Alila Hotels & Resorts

The Alila Jabal Akhdar Resort Hotel is set on a towering plateau of the Al Hajar mountain range at 2,000 meters above sea level overlooking the dramatic gorge with views across to the mountains. The hotel has been designed to offer first class facilities and guest amenities amid one of the most spectacular and undisturbed locations rich with a history and culture unchanged for centuries. The 86-key hotel comprises of a main hotel building and detached cluster suites perched along the cliff edge. The main building is the centerpiece of the project offering core hotel facilities with direct links to pool house and spa.

The design aesthetic was fully inspired by the site; the local culture; unique terrain and also the Alila brand aesthetic. The result is a building and interior that is in total harmony with its context. However, the planning principles are very contemporary and give the spaces simplicity of form. In addition, the use of strong natural textured

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October 2015

Image © Alila Hotels & Resorts

available in the mountains.

The overall design then follows traditional building principles however within a contemporary reference. The palette of materials and colors was conceived following traditional village principles of material and color as well. According to Atkins, the client’s vision was to develop a hospitality development which was architecturally sympathetic to its surroundings supporting the local economy by drawing increased tourism spend to this naturally stunning area. The hotel is expected to act as a catalyst for further investment, which will create jobs and support the longterm economic growth of Oman.

“The resort maintains a ‘singular design direction’ that continues throughout the hotel from public

A key aspect that influenced the design was that the project was aiming for LEED rating, which is significant given the harsh nature of the climate

Image © Alila Hotels & Resorts

that surround the area. Although rocky at first glance, Jabal Akhdar, also known as the ‘Green Mountain’ has an abundance of local flora such as Pomegranate trees and mountain roses. We used these elements as inspiration through various aspects of the project. For example, Juniper and Pomegranate were used as color schemes for some of the villas.

The desert rose was also used as a design for a screen that you will find throughout the public areas.

This is actually what we chose as a ‘signature’ design element for the project,” says Almeida.

A key aspect that influenced the design was that the project was aiming for LEED rating, which is significant given the harsh nature of the climate. This influenced the decision in selection of the materials and construction techniques, where almost everything was sourced locally. For instance, the thick walls that envelope the building are made of stones that were dug out of the site during the pre-construction digging phase. Even the artwork and accessories such as pottery are from local craftsman and rugs were made by local villagers. Further, the artwork on the walls in the ‘Juniper Restaurant’ only uses local juniper wood that had already fallen of trees.

The mountain location significantly affected the design through the fact that traditional buildings from over 100 years ago were based on the materials

Image © Alila Hotels & Resorts

Image © Alila Hotels & Resorts

DESIGN & DÉCOR 29

October 2015

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spaces through guestrooms.

Overall, public areas floors are made of stone, as you would find in a traditional village home.

Warmth and softness was added by numerous rugs on the floor, which again is a traditional touch. These also allowed us to bring some color into the interior as local rugs incorporate strong colors within the natural weave designs. Walls generally are raw stone from the surrounding area while this has been broken up in some areas by soft textured plastered walls in simple off white. This philosophy continues in guestrooms where the walls are a mix of raw stone and plaster. An additional touch on the walls of the bedrooms (and in some of the public areas) are ‘hand painted’ murals of local flora done by local artists,” adds Almeida.

Image © Alila Hotels & Resorts

Image © Alila Hotels & Resorts

Image © Alila Hotels & Resorts

30 DESIGN & DÉCOR

The project illustrates how natural local materials can be used to deliver and celebrate traditional Omani architectural design, while showcasing modern sustainable methods

Project Details Project Name Alila Jabal Akhdar Resort

“The key challenge of designing this property was to understand the locality and culture. Once we understood that after our research trip, there were no significant challenges from a design point of view. We had a fantastic owner (OMRAN) that trusted us and let us design what we felt was ‘right’.

Alila was also very supportive of our ideas and added value in terms of operational strategies and efficiencies. If there were any real challenges, it was the actual construction on site in a fairly remote location where access was

www.timberdesignandtechnology.com

October 2015

difficult. Full credit goes to the site team and the various contractors that worked tirelessly to achieve this amazing outcome,” concludes Almeida.

Overall, the project illustrates how natural local materials can be used to deliver and celebrate traditional Omani architectural design, while showcasing modern sustainable methods, which will support the commercial and operational success of the project.

Alila Jabal Akhdar then is truly a reflection of its location sitting comfortably within its context.

Owner OMRAN

Management Company Alila Hotels & Resorts

Location Jabal Akhdar, Oman

Architects Atkins

Interior Design P49 Deesign

Photography Credits Alila Hotels & Resorts

32 DESIGN & DĂ&#x2030;COR

Concrete and wood work together to achieve a balance between building and landscape ATV Arquitectos builds glass, timber and concrete house in an Argentinian forest www.timberdesignandtechnology.com

October 2015

Image © Albano Garcia

DESIGN & DÉCOR 33

Located in an area of woodlands approximately 350 kilometers south of Buenos Aires, ‘Casa Marino’ by ATV Arquitectos seeks to blend with the rural terrain.

The project is surrounded by tall pine trees that cast long shadows and create large areas of shade.

Respecting its environment and taking advantage of the views, the house tries to preserve and adopt its surroundings.

According to the architects,

the use of materials attribute the scheme its understated finish, with concrete and wood working together to achieve a balance between building and landscape.

The main materials used in the building’s construction were chosen to blend in with the surrounding scenery, with timber and glass inserted between the concrete floor slabs.

Focusing on the materialstructure matters, the project looks

into concrete-wood matching, suggesting concrete as the material, which defines the spacetectonic structure of the project.

Three supporting partitions, lying linearly with each other, support the slab floors, which in turn hang from the superior beams. This enables the facades to be more open and enhancing the sense of proximity with the forest.

The structure, with its dimension and texture differences, defines October 2015

the space and at the same time limits and maximizes the open plan in the public sector. This gives rise to the phenomenon of a space completely ethereal in terms of limits; given that the whole joinery can be opened completely thus building a continuous semi-covered area. The forest then is the house’s limit.

Wood is the material used to create all the volumes and partitions and it is the element, www.timberdesignandtechnology.com

Respecting its environment and taking advantage of the views, the house tries to preserve and adopt its surroundings master-bedroom suite at the far end and two further bedrooms contained behind wooden walls.

The transition from the public to the private space is made through a vertical circulation, which takes the subject through different sensations as regards light and visuals. At the same time, a piece totally made of wood goes all over the project, fitting into the concrete structure and relating the different levels with storage places

and overhead lightning depending on the conditions.

Almost as if it were a negative, the project looks into the phenomenical and material relation, which arises between the downstairs world (public) and the upstairs world (private). From the concrete textures to the wooden joineries (closing downstairs in the exterior and upstairs in the interior) the project presents this counterpoint, emphasizing the

Image © Albano Garcia

which defines the possible limits, which might arise from this environment. These limits are blurred, manipulated. They can be shifted, closed, moved, separated, and so define relations with the environment.

The house functionally sets the access from a patio appendicular to the terrace, which suggests continuity of the street expansions.

This patio divides the studio sector and the public space, made up of a living and dining room, kitchen and grill sector. On the first floor the bedrooms are spatially defined by the location of the wet areas and the wooden partitions. At the same time, this level has access to an observatory deck overlooking the forest.

Slatted timber screens wrap around the ground floor and fold back so the open-plan living, kitchen and dining area can extend out onto a large terrace. Only part of the ground floor is enclosed, with the remainder forming a covered patio housing a large grill for open-air cooking. Large stone tiles used as flooring in the main living space and the patio create a sense of continuity when the end wall is removed.

The timber-decked terrace that borders the house on one side is interrupted by openings through which the trunks of trees emerge.

A concrete staircase next to the entrance ascends to the first floor, where a corridor lined with glazing on one side provides access to the

Image © Albano Garcia

34 DESIGN & DÉCOR

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October 2015

difference between the supported and the supporting, as a tree expressing the elements which shelter the protected space.

“Timber is used throughout the interior to form partitions and fitted cabinetry. The wood complements the textured concrete surfaces, which retain the grain of the boards used during the casting process. Further, the use of custom joinery softens the utilitarian concrete walls and floors giving soul and a gentle nod to the wooded forest. Ultimately, the rawness of the concrete and wood complete the decoration via natural textures and pattern,” concludes Vanesa Lijdens.

Image © Albano Garcia

DESIGN & DÉCOR 35

Project Details Project Name Casa Marino

Location Pinamar, Buenos Aires, Argentina

Image © Albano Garcia

Architects ATV architects (AzubelTrabucchi-Viggiano)

Project team Arch. Karina Pafundi, Arch.

Damián Parodi

Project Manager Arch. Vanesa Lijdens

Construction Management Arch. Vanesa Lijdens

Coworkers Arch. Soledad Melillo

Structural Advisor Eng. Ángel Santos

Environment Advisor Estudio Bulla

Project Manager Arch. Vanesa Lijdens

Image © Albano Garcia

Image © Albano Garcia

Area

October 2015

450m²

Photography Credits Albano García

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36 COMMENT

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October 2015

COMMENT 37

How much can wood do?

Sustainable construction and suitable materials to be a key focus of The Big 5 Wood has played an important role in shaping life in the Middle East region for centuries. A sustainable and durable construction material, various types of wood have been used to construct the iconic sailing vessels that formed the backbone of regional pearling, fishing, and global sea trade industries throughout the ages.

Today, while dhows and other traditional vessels are still a familiar sight in places like Dubai Creek, it is a boom in construction that is behind the demand for wood.

An increasing tendency towards green building materials and regulations has seen an estimated

East and North African Region of U.S. hardwood lumber in 2014.

Meanwhile, with the countryâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s 13.5 percent share of this export market valued at USD 86.54 million in 2012, cities like Dubai have become a hub serving the GCC, Iran, and East Africa.

The promotion of tourism by regional governments is also creating a demand for wood flooring, furniture, and interior design features in the tourism, leisure, and hospitality sectors. In this regard, Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates, and Qatar registered the largest growth in hotel projects under construction during 2015.

which is in stark contrast to the ideas of a few decades ago that suggested a rapid increase in urbanization would make wood unsustainable.

Aside from the obvious benefits of using natural materials like wood in construction, which lends both longevity and aesthetics to buildings, more than 200 million acres of forestland in the U.S. alone are certified as sustainable and responsibly managed, and are attributable to four main forest certification programmes active in North America, namely the Forest Stewardship Council, Sustainable Forestry Initiative, American Tree

New and innovative techniques and technologies, as well as more sustainable harvesting practices are behind this new way of thinking, which is in stark contrast to the ideas of a few decades ago that suggested a rapid increase in urbanization would make wood unsustainable 70 percent of all timber imported into the region now being used by architects, interior designers, and other professions within the building sector.

The remaining 30 percent of wood imports into the GCC is being used by furniture factories and carpenters - with the likely destination for these end products just a few steps down the supply chain in the form of homes and commercial properties.

Buoyed by a regional construction market that is investing millions of dollars in education, healthcare, and affordable housing projects, the United Arab Emirates became the top importer in the Middle

According to the May 2015 STR Global Construction Pipeline Report, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates lead the hotel construction market with a pipeline of more than 50,000 hotel rooms under construction in total. This includes 28,050 rooms in 64 hotels in Saudi Arabia and 22,724 rooms in 90 hotels in the United Arab Emirates.

Used sustainably, timber and wood products have the potential to drive the growing green building trend in the GCC and worldwide.

New and innovative techniques and technologies, as well as more sustainable harvesting practices are behind this new way of thinking,

Farm System, and Sustainable Forest Management Programme.

Meanwhile, a model developed by the Athena Sustainable Materials Institute in Canada has shown that the lifecycle attributes of wood make it a greener choice than steel and concrete when measured by energy use, greenhouse gases, air and water pollution, production of solid waste and overall ecological resource use indicators.

With so much to learn from rapidly emerging trends in the use of timber and wood products, technologies, and techniques, the topic of sustainable construction and suitable materials will be a

Image Š Norman A. Muller

Table 1 Sustainability Attribute

Wood

Steel

Concrete

Total energy use Greenhouse gases Air pollution Water pollution Solid waste Ecological resource use

Lowest Lowest Lowest Lowest Lowest Lowest

140 percent more 45 percent more 42 percent more 1900 percent more 36 percent more 16 percent more

70 percent more 81 percent more 67 percent more 90 percent more 96 percent more 97 percent more

October 2015

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38 COMMENT key focus of The Big 5 in 2015.

As the largest and most popular construction event in the Middle East, The Big 5 brings the most important leaders together from across the industry to discuss the latest methods, techniques, and insights from one of the most dynamic construction markets in the world.

As in previous years, the

four-day exhibition will feature a series of high-quality, free certified workshops, with visitors guaranteed access to at least 64 workshops at the 2015 event.

Each workshop will be led by a key industry speaker with in-depth knowledge into the region’s construction industry.

Workshops at the event will cover sustainability, business and

market intelligence, design and architecture, affordable housing and sustainable communities, and technology in construction.

More specifically, workshops will explore UN Global Compact principles related to sustainability and ethics in real estate construction, as well as updates on Dubai green building regulations, materials testing, certification, and

best practices, and a series of indepth introductions into the theory and practice of lifecycle costing and assessments for green buildings in the GCC. * This article has been written by Josine Heijmans, Event Director for The Big 5 in Dubai, who holds an MBA from CASS Business School at the City University of London.

Top 5 Education Workshops 1. Updates to Dubai Municipality’s green building regulations, 23 November 2015, 10:00 2. A cost-benefit analysis of energy efficient technologies, 24 November 2015, 17:00 3. Life cycle cost assessment (LCCA) of green buildings, 25 November 2015, 15:00 4. Introduction to the UN Global Compact Principles: Sustainability and ethicality in real estate and construction, 26 November 2015, 10:00

* For more information about the free workshops and industry speakers taking part at The Big 5, please visit https://www. thebig5.ae/free-education/certified-workshops/agenda/ or email victoria.wilcox@dmgevents.com

Image © Big 5

Image © Big 5

5. Life cycle costing: Theory vs practice in the GCC region, 26 November 2015, 12:00

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October 2015

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40 TALL TIMBER

The Cube: Europeâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s tallest hybrid cross laminated timber residential building Hawkins\Brown pairs CLT and steel for recordbreaking apartment block

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October 2015

Image Š Jack Hobhouse

TALL TIMBER 41

October 2015

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42 TALL TIMBER

The hybrid structure makes intelligent use of the best properties of both materials to create a lightweight, strong and modern construction that achieves much lower embodied carbon emissions than an equivalent concrete frame development is an important factor in the quality of the apartments - homes with three external walls have great access to natural light and can be properly crossventilated, making them more comfortable during hot weather. It also creates wonderful views, which

we have maximized by ensuring each apartment has a decent-sized balcony or terrace.”

According to Smith, twisting half the floors of a basic cruciform shape towards the sun creates generous sunny terraces and means all flats have at least two aspects

Image © Jack Hobhouse

Hawkins\Brown, an established architecture practice based in London and Manchester, has completed ‘The Cube’, Europe’s tallest hybrid cross laminated timber residential building on Wenlock Road in Hackney, England.

Commissioned by Regal Homes, the GBP 10 million project, located at 17 - 21 Wenlock Road, has a unique timber/steel hybrid structure and is the tallest building to use structural cross laminated timber in Europe, reaching a total height of 33 meters.

The 6,750 sqm scheme, for which Regal Homes won the London Evening Standard New Homes Award for Developments of Outstanding Architectural Merit in 2015, has been designed with a twisted cruciform plan, ensuring each apartment has views up and down the neighboring canal basin to the west, or across the park to the east.

The cruciform layout turns the traditional inward-looking courtyard block on its head, creating four courtyards that face out towards the surrounding city, creating views and improving access to light and air from apartments that have three external walls. In addition, 1,190 sqm of commercial space has been created on the ground floor of the development, facing onto Wenlock Road.

Alex Smith, Associate at Hawkins\Brown said: “The Cube breaks new ground and demonstrates the great potential of cross laminated timber as a material that enables rapid construction with a reduced environmental impact.

The cruciform layout of the

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October 2015

and some have three. To achieve the unique ‘twisted stack’ layout of The Cube, which has floors that cantilever out from the main mass of the building, Hawkins\Brown worked with specialist contractor B+K Structures to develop a CLT and steel hybrid structure built around a reinforced concrete core.

The CLT panels and elements of the steel frame were manufactured offsite and brought together for assembly, minimizing wet trades and time on site. The CLT panels are set into the steel frame, bracing it to form an integral part of the structure. The hybrid structure makes intelligent use of the best properties of both materials to create a lightweight, strong and modern construction that achieves much lower embodied carbon emissions than an equivalent concrete frame.

The elevations of the building have been clad in slatted western red cedar. An open screen of black brick creates an orthogonal grid that wraps around the Wenlock Road elevation of the building, creating a visual harmony with the neighboring buildings appropriate to the nearby conservation area.)

Timber was always going to be the prime structural option, given

Image © Jack Hobhouse

Image © Jack Hobhouse

Image © Jack Hobhouse

Image © Jack Hobhouse

Image © Jack Hobhouse

Image © Jack Hobhouse

TALL TIMBER 43

October 2015

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44 TALL TIMBER the London Borough of Hackney’s enthusiasm for more sustainable buildings. However, specialist timber design, supply and erect subcontractor B+K Structures specification manager Craig Liddell says that this project “didn’t lend itself obviously to CLT construction.”

Liddell adds: “Although we’ve done curved and even circular CLT buildings, most CLT structures are basically rectangular “flat pack” designs, like the Graphite

400mm by 200mm universal beams and columns are used, mainly to carry the façade loads. Intumescent coatings provide the necessary fire resistance.

“The Cube was created to be a pioneer of architectural possibilities, pushing the boundaries of residential construction and developing homes that are also works of art. The recognition that The Cube has received for its design

Timber was always going to be the prime structural option, given the London Borough of Hackney’s enthusiasm for more sustainable buildings and construction credentials is a testament to its innovative design, and our ability to interpret and realize the ambitious vision that the architect had for the scheme.

Arguably the ‘unbuildable building’, our in-house construction arm has broken new ground with this project and we will look to building on this legacy with further CLT developments in the imminent future,” concludes Simon de Friend, CEO at Regal Homes.

Image © Jack Hobhouse

Apartments, with all walls and floors CLT. At Banyan Wharf the best option was a hybrid design.”

Concrete was chosen for the basement and ground floor and for the central service shaft, which provides all the necessary lateral stability. From the first floor upwards, CLT and steel form the intricate structure. Columns are only 200mm by 200mm, remarkably slim for such a tall building. Around the perimeter,

Project Details Architect Hawkins\Brown

Planning consultant Signet Planning

Structural engineer Pringuer James Consulting Engineers

Services engineer Spencer Mayes

Main contractor Regal Homes

CLT/steel subcontractor B+K Structures

CLT engineer

Image © Jack Hobhouse

Engenuiti

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Sustainability consultant JS Lewis Ltd

Transport consultant i-Transport

45

October 2015

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46 PROFILE

Moretti Group: Specialized know-how in the construction industry www.timberdesignandtechnology.com

October 2015

The Moretti Group is an Italian construction company with over 45 years of experience in public and private building. As such, the company is established as an authority and market leader with specialized know-how and diversified experience in the construction industry.

From the integration of prefab concrete and wooden buildings with iron, glass and stone to ready-made public and private buildings, as well

Image © Moretti Group

PROFILE 47

as infrastructure and real estate; every project is carefully analyzed and delivered by Moretti.

From the raw material supply to the building yard management, from the assembly to the final inspection, passing through the strategic expert advice to the design and from the turnkey to the ready-made projects: Moretti is a company based on several knowledge fields leading to a number of solutions through

different kinds of cooperation.

With a mindset geared towards continuous innovation, the group has collaborated with more than 2,440 external engineers and architects on 1,195 projects in the past five years. Timber Design & Technology takes a closer look at the Moretti Group.

Industrialized Building With a production area covering more than 200,000 sqm and two

Image © Moretti Group

Image © Moretti Group

A self-sufficient entrepreneurial organization, the Moretti group is capable of providing solutions for all kinds of requirements by combining its own resources across a wide range of sectors

production facilities in Brescia and Vercelli (near Milan), Moretti is one of the most important companies in the industrialized building sector in Italy. It is also one of the first to have developed a focused commitment to technological research. Its hard-working activity has led to a wide range of building solutions.

Moretti can meet any application needs and can optimize the designers’ activity. This is possible October 2015

because of the versatility and character of its system resulting in the ability to satisfy even the most demanding requests.

According to the company, these are important requirements to ensure technological innovation, promptness, precision and cost compliance.

Industrialized construction systems made of wood At Moretti, industrialized www.timberdesignandtechnology.com

processing of lamellar wood follows the highest certified quality standards. Its cooperation with the best sector specialists and universities allows the utilization of the most innovative structural systems.

As such, an excellent range of solutions have been applied to wine cellars, wooden houses and roofing structures as well as large structures such as industrial buildings, touristic and sport facilities along with commercial centers and places of worship.

The ability to meet the most sophisticated design requirements has made Moretti the ideal partner for clients looking for tailored services and solutions.

Accounting for aesthetics, functionality, reliability and energy savings, Moretti is increasingly playing an influential role within the international architectural landscape.

Glued Laminated timber constructions

many respects. As a matter of fact the beauty of natural wood and its sustainability hide properties at the forefront of technology in fulfilling the needs of modern living.

Architecturally versatile: glued laminated timber constructions are suited to be shaped by designers and engineers so as to fulfill the aesthetic project requirements and to create spaces full of charm.

Geometries, spans and colors: working with glued laminate timber also means using an environmentally sustainable material, which is a key consideration for the design and construction industries. A new modus operandi with respect for the environment and for the

health of the future occupants of the architectural spaces, in line with the new needs of saving and rationalization of consumption has placed emphasis on material selection. Environmentally friendly, glued laminated timber helps save energy and improves housing well being.

Applications of Glued Laminated Timber Sport Glued laminated timber constructions in the field of sports are the most complete answer to the different requirements of wellness and fitness facilities.

The characteristics of the material allow for it to be used in moist

Image Š Moretti Group

Architecturally versatile. Natural.

Technically efficient. These are but a few of the factors accounting for Morettiâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s passion for glued laminated timber, the beating heart of each project that the company is involved with. A live and dynamic material, always and anywhere, the company has built key projects using glued laminated timber.

Engineering: choosing glued laminated timber as a key element of an architectural project means preferring a performing material in

Image Š Moretti Group

48 PROFILE

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October 2015

environments (swimming pools) and to create moderate-weight, versatile, rumble-proof, aseismic structures in wide spaces with wide free spans (sport arenas).

Moretti offers glued laminated timber with diameters of over 80 meters. Overall, glued laminated timber construction is the ideal solution in the field of sports on account of the material design and its aesthetics, which gives any environment a feel of well-being and dynamism.

Entertainment Multiplexes, concert halls, discos, and theaters are examples of environments where glued laminated timber constructions can create very appealing settings and turn a simple space intended for entertainment into a comfortable and enjoyable place. The properties of the material are not limited to the aesthetics of the place; they can also play a functional role.

Choosing glued laminated timber inside structures for entertainment also makes sense from a technical perspective: it regulates sound diffusion, allows its correct propagation and limits distortions and reverberations.

Shopping Centers, Trade and Industry With glued laminated timber, the aesthetics of spaces of industrial buildings and big shopping centers can be transformed and enriched.

Moreover, the use of a natural and

PROFILE 49 sustainable material allows for a feel of harmony and well being in workplaces as well, for the benefit of those who live in them every day.

The glued laminated timber constructions by Moretti offer the opportunity to go beyond, thanks to the ability to produce elements of any dimension and shape, also of exceptional size and with peculiar curves.

Residential and Tourism projects

Image © Moretti Group

Image © Moretti Group

Glued laminated timber is a common sight in hotels, resorts and renowned beauty farms. However, there is a growing trend of private houses and residential projects using the material. This is especially in the case of tourism and housing projects where sustainable building does not mean sacrificing architectural aesthetics. Quite the opposite in fact; by creating tourist structures or houses in glued laminated timber, the energy performance of the building is improved with no real impact on the architecture of the project, which can avail itself of a very resistant (to fire and earthquakes) and flexible material. Moretti’s expertise from simple plaster to stone cladding all the way up to wood means that all finishings and dimensions can be customized.

Expo Milan 2015

Image © Moretti Group

Moretti’s experience and expertise meant that it was able to interpret and reinterpret the expo concept, manage deadlines and complex organizational requirements.

Universal expositions traditionally involve big challenges for the architectural and building sectors.

However, given the practical experience gained and the varied range of skills at Moretti, the company was able to deliver as is evident in the Expo Milan 2015. Two important projects took shape at Moretti’s yards respecting deadlines and meeting the customers’ expectations: these two key strategies in the public contracts are the standard principles for Moretti. * Moretti Group has a regional office in Dubai. For any enquiry please contact us on +971.4.4269913 or Ms Francesca Di Caro on +971.050.9533229 October 2015

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50 TECHNOLOGY

TREEHOUSING International Wood Design Competition winners announced at World Forestry Congress Architecture contest called for innovative and affordable solutions to house growing urban population

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TECHNOLOGY The winners of the TREEHOUSING International Wood Design Competition were announced at the recently concluded World Forestry Congress in Durban, South Africa.

More than 200 projects by teams representing 60 countries were submitted for the contest, which was jointly organized by the Canadabased DBR | Design Build Research School and the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO).

Housing for the world’s growing urban population and the threat of deforestation are two of the most significant issues facing humanity today. As such, the competition challenged architecture students, professional architects and engineers around the world to develop innovative wood housing and affordable urban building solutions for Africa and beyond.

Entrants were required to use any sustainably harvested wood material or product as the primary material for their designs.

“One of the main aims of the contest was to highlight the huge potential of legal and sustainably produced wood as a cost-efficient and versatile building material and valid alternative to non-renewable materials such as steel and concrete that leave a much heavier carbon footprint,” said Jukka Tissari, Forestry Officer at the FAO. Innovation in sustainable forest management and wood processing combined with advancements in wood design practices can contribute to addressing the needs of the world’s impoverished people. The use of new wood products and

materials then provides a unique opportunity to not only address the needs of growing urban populations, but also, through improved forest practices and growing markets, to begin to counteract the spreading effects of deforestation.

“Wood has been used as a building material for thousands of years and, worldwide, one in three houses are made from wood, yet it is a material that tends to be

“We could not be more pleased and impressed with the number and quality of the competition submissions,” said Green. “Wood in building design is seeing a resurgence around the world as architects and designers learn to work with it in more innovative and sustainable ways. New wood technologies are linking our rural forest economies with our growing urban environments with

Wood has been used as a building material for thousands of years and, worldwide, one in three houses are made from wood, yet it is a material that tends to be side-lined in larger-scale modern building projects side-lined in larger-scale modern building projects. We hope the many extraordinary entries in this contest will encourage and inspire policymakers, architects, city planners and designers to look afresh at using renewable woods for housing,” added Tissari.

Two competition categories: tall and affordable wood housing Sponsored by the FAO, the competition aimed to offer unique insights into how housing for the world’s growing urban population and the threat of deforestation intersect. Canadian architect Michael Green, author of The Case for Tall Wood Buildings, led a jury that also included British architect Andrew Waugh and South African architect Richard Stretton.

increasingly larger and now taller wood buildings.”

“This competition underscores the impact that architects and designers can have in reshaping our communities and cities with healthy, safe, sustainable and beautiful wood buildings that connect each and every inhabitant with the wonder of nature,” added Green.

For the first of two categories in the competition, the city of Durban allotted an abandoned 2,280 square meter site, 97 Ingcuce Road, at a major intersection near the city center to inspire tall wood housing projects. Entrants were asked to design a high-rise solution that would address the housing needs of the community.

Two submissions tied for the Grand Prize in this category: Ayla Harvey (South Africa), an

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51

architectural student whose design ‘Jungle Gym’ was praised by the jury as “playful and imaginative capturing the dynamic spirit of urban life” and Koura Studios and ARUP Seattle (USA) for their design ‘Nkosi Market’ which the jury said represented the “strongest point tower design of all the submissions.”

The student prize was awarded to STark (France/Germany) for their design ‘The Social Net Wood’ which was considered by the jury to be “entirely buildable.” Honorable mentions went to Adrianna Colón and Isaias Rubert (Puerto Rico) and Javier Mosquera González (Spain).

The second category challenged applicants to design affordable wood housing for a site anywhere in the world, with a focus on improving and providing global housing solutions in wood. Solutions specific to the African continent were encouraged because of the location of this year’s World Forestry Congress.

The Grand Prize winner of this category was Shosholoza and Friends (Italy) for their design ‘(HOUSE)TREE(WORK)’ which was praised by the jury for its “clarity and simplicity.” Second prize went to A.gor.a Architects (Thailand) for their design ‘Temporary Dormitories for Mae Tao Clinic’ which the jury said “underscores the diversity of innovation scales that can be realized with wood construction.”

The student prize was awarded to Monika Wozniak (Poland) for her design ‘Natural Wood Skin’.

Honorable mentions went to Nguyen Manh Hung and Dong Minh Anh of (Vietnam) and Marc Benjamin Drewes (Germany).

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52 TECHNOLOGY

JUNGLE GYM Category 1 - First Place (tied) Ayla Harvey - Durban, South Africa A Jungle Gym is seen as a symbol for a non-linear and collaborative lifestyle; not living in the conventional way of climbing the rungs of a ladder to get to the top. It negates the idea of hierarchy and instead strives for organic and flexible spaces that have the ability to adapt to ever changing circumstances and enable open-mindedness and equality.

The concept is directly represented in the physical spaces of the Treehouse, which is in contradiction to the conventional high-rise structure on the neighboring site, a structure that just goes up and down, lacking transitional and communal spaces and the ability to inspire innovation.

The site itself can be considered an ‘in-between’ space or third space, a habitable space which exists between rigid institutional structures.

They are transitional spaces of hybridity, which allow the opportunity for unexpected meetings. These spaces are evident all over the city; therefore, the concept of the Jungle Gym can be extended beyond the site boundaries.

Timber as a material is also in direct contradiction to the notion of the ‘concrete jungle’ that cities have become. As a result of the lightweight property of timber and its direct connection with nature, the material can be used to express these ‘in between’ spaces of hybridity and essentially alter the very nature of the urban fabric of Durban’s City.

Movement through the building happens on multiple levels and along multiple routes. The spaces within the building are also a reflection of the concept, defined only by timber panels that are easily installed or removed.

This highlights the idea of affordable living and collaboration as it enables a blurring of boundaries between public and private spaces, which are both flexible and adaptable.

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NKOSI MARKET Category 1 - First Place (tied) Glen Stellmacher, Coby Vardy, Sarah Wondrasek, William Watson, Cormac Deavy - Seattle, USA Significant building in the urban context must act to strengthen and sustain the ecology of urban life. The provision of significant public space is essential to the health of urban communities. When the processes of urban life act to synthesize with the ecologies of nature, rich and inspiring places emerge. These create sound relationships between material, design, environmental and social responsibility.

Nkosi Marketâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s use of 6,000 cubic meters of wood sequesters an estimated 1,500 tonnes of carbon dioxide from the atmosphere.

In addition, the project realizes a design approach that holistically addresses the potentials of forestry, materiality, and architectural space beyond metrics of measurement.

South Africaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s exotic pine plantations offer the widest potential for structural timber, including their ease of gluing and light weight. Current crop-cycle rotations between 22 and 28 years produce wastage in the form of pulp. However, analysis has found that when rotations are

lengthened, greater sequestration of carbon occurs within the forest.

Longer rotations also require less fossil fuels to manage.

Good forestry and extensive afforestation of pine species throughout Limpopo, Mpumalanga and KwaZulu-Natal will require thinning on a selective or regimented basis. These thinnings, typically slender and with diameters not normally large enough for sawing are either chipped for pulp or used in chipboard combined with eucalyptus. Nkosi Market proposes to make these thinnings a dedicated architectural product with architectural value.

Capitalizing on their inherent malleability, the market roof uses 344 cubic meters (1600 poles) of forestry thinnings to form a unique architectural space. This space uses environmental imperatives as inspiration for the architectural response. These are rooted in facilitating better forest management for higher yield harvests, healthier forest ecologies, and greater long-term sequestration of carbon.

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54 TECHNOLOGY

LIVE-IN-FILTER Category 1 - Honorable Mention Adrianna Colon, Isaias Rubert - San Juan, Puerto Rico The problems of deforestation and housing for the worldâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s growing population result in a high-density amount of big concrete buildings, creating an unpleasant experience for the pedestrian who passes through. From this, the idea of creating a forest in between the sea of buildings emerged, wanting to evoke a sense of calmness in between it all. The first step taken in regard to this problem was to design a building attached to the borders of its site in order to eliminate the sidewalk given in the corner of its intersection and provide a safer, more pleasant, way to pass through to the other side.

The Live-In Filter also intends to retaliate deforestation by creating a statement and incorporating not only wood in its structural design, but also integrating a small-scale forest in its interior. To emphasize this idea, the building itself serves as a filter between the city and the greenery, being an exemplar of connectivity of these two different worlds.

While the project intends to engage with the general public and intends to create a harmonious relationship with its context, it must do likewise with its residents. As such, residents of the housing complex will be able to experience a direct relationship with the trees up closely passing through a series of bridges that lead them towards their individual apartments.

Each apartment must be entered from a terrace above that serves as a perfect transition from public to private for the residents, providing as well more squared footage of terraces rather than inside space. The building aims to define itself as an agglomeration of different entities serving a same purpose, therefore interconnected by light structures to emphasize the architectural promenade.

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THE SKYâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;S THE LIMIT Category 1 - Honorable Mention Javier Mosquera Gonzalez - Madrid, Spain A new wooden tower raises itself from the trees on the ground. It is composed of free elevations, that function as a brise-soleil to protect the interior of the building from the incoming sun. As a new inhabitant of the 21st century, its construction is also a response to its time - an experimental modular housing tower, built completely with wooden structural elements.

The swastika layout at every level allows a variation of the housing units and other parts of the building. By doing this, a free composition of plans, sections and elevations is possible. It is then a typological model with infinite combinations that serves aesthetic purposes and also highly functional.

The building is divided into three parts. The plinth, with the retail areas with a free height of 5m, are placed around a green public space, slightly

sunk into the ground and separated from the traffic and the pace of life of the city of Durban. The intermediate volume is composed of a combination of housing units around the central core, with the stairs and elevators. By subtracting some elements of those housing units, new open air spaces are created, as private gardens for the owners. At the top of the building is where the common areas are placed, such as the nursery, the swimming pool and the gym.

Wood stands out as the unique and singular constructive material both on the exterior and interior of the building. The central core is made of CLT panels whilst the perimeter is reinforced with a gluelam beam. Between these two elements, and joining them together, CLT panels are placed.

The interior vertical structure is also made of CLT panels, which adapt themselves to the several layouts of the plans and housing units.

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56 TECHNOLOGY

THE SOCIAL NET WOOD Category 1 - Student Award Tatiana Chatziioannou, Soufiane Chibani - Grenoble, France and Munich, Germany The Social Net Wood project is a high-rise wooden engineered building, which transcribes new relationships of the inhabitants in their urban habitat. The 9,000 square meter multi-functional building is developed on three distinguished volumes that make up its identity, containing 64 apartments. Rising up to 14 floors, the building draws its roots from the surrounding architectural context and aims to develop a new constructive approach of wood as a major structural element. The objectives through this proposal are to achieve a high level of sustainable development and to drastically reduce the carbon footprint of the building.

A HOME FOR STUDENTS AND REFUGEES Category 2 - Honorable Mention Marc Benjamin Drewes, Giulia Capello, Carolina Radaelli - Berlin, Germany The team behind this project aimed to create a home for students and refugees. Both groups of people need affordable housing for a limited period of time. The refugees are not sidelined from the rest of society and the students can learn from other cultures and perspectives on life. The design of the house therefore enables a flexibility of the common space and the possibility to retreat to privacy. Sliding and folding walls can open up and shut out the common space depending on what is wanted at the moment. There are units for couples or families as well as double rooms, which are organized in small groups with a shared kitchen. The carefully and openly subdivided shared space in the center of the house as well as additional multi-functional rooms between the units guarantee that the daily routine of living together can be organized without unnecessary conflicts.

The warm feel of wood provides a welcoming atmosphere. Prefabricated wooden houses can become a crucial contribution to a sustainable development of the building and construction industry. The advantages are obvious if you look into the entire life cycle from cradle to the grave.

In fact wooden constructions have the chance to be a cradle to cradle product. Wood is a renewable resource that can be turned into components for the building sector without using a lot of energy. Compared to other construction methods the amount of grey energy needed in the process is very low. www.timberdesignandtechnology.com

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58 TECHNOLOGY

(HOUSE)TREE(WORK) Category 2 - First place Studioata - Shosholoza Onlus, Alessandro Cimenti, Paolo Scoglio, Sara Gambino, Amir Faridkhou, Chiara Rigotti Turin, Italy This project aims to develop a simple building that is able to give an answer to the main request of the population - shelter, water, light, and the possibility to work and live together - under a symbolic and practical tree. As such, the team has developed a home studio based on a modular wooden industrial prefab structure. This will provide the internal core of the system, which will be completed and finished with local materials.

The building is composed of two different blocks: the first, toward the street is the one where people will work; the second, behind the little courtyard with the tree is the simple modular home. Each block is covered by a roof equipped with solar panels and designed to collect rain water, which is then stored in industrial water tanks located between the roof and the ceiling. This position enables the residents to use the force of gravity for water use removing the need for a more complex, expensive and delicate pumping system.

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October 2015

TECHNOLOGY 59

TEMPORARY DORMITORIES FOR MAE TAO CLINIC Category 2 - Second place A.gor.a architects - Albert Company Olmo, Jan Glasmeier - Mae Sot, Thailand The armed conflict, which has persisted for decades in Myanmar, results in a daily flow of refugees and immigrants to neighboring Thailand. In the Thai town of Mae Sot, a few kilometers from the border, numerous schools and orphanages offer accommodation and education for refugees and immigrants.

The lack of space, and in many cases, the need for immediate accommodation for new students has forced the Mae Tao Clinic to present a new model of temporary low-cost dormitories that is easy to assemble and can be built by using as much recycled material as possible. With a space capacity of 25 students, the building meets the modus vivendi by fitting into the local environment in which it is located.

The interior layout ensures an open and airy space that offers semi-privacy and includes storage space for the students. The building materials used are locally available and well known to their users, thus allowing for easy maintenance and resulting in low maintenance costs. The main cost of the building is the structure made from recycled timber, which represents 70 percent of the total construction cost of the building, and can be resold in the future for 80 percent of its price.

Bamboo and thatch are also used for walls, floors, and roofs. Although these materials are not intended to last over two years without any preliminary treatment, they are easily available every season and the cost is affordable. The recycled timber used for the dormitories comes from old buildings in town that are carefully stripped and put aside by the demolition crew. The timber is polished, denailed, and cut down to size.

Recycling timber means that the cost can be kept down. Using timber as the main building material also helps to preserve the traditional construction skills of the local people who are already very familiar with this material. Recycled timber as a construction product is important in both raising industry and local community awareness towards deforestation and promoting more environmentally friendly practices.

October 2015

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60 TECHNOLOGY

NATURAL WOOD SKIN Category 2 - Student Award Monika Wozniak - PoznaĹ&#x201E; University of technology - Poznan, Poland The project is based in Hong Kong and is an example of a possible way of using modular building extension. The solution is universally applicable in different climate conditions, building structures and sizes. More importantly, different species of wood can be used for this project. Owing to the flexible method of assembly, and easy access to proposed materials, the system can be used not only to extend existing buildings but also to design freestanding constructions. The modular wood system will perfectly work in the renovation of prefabricated blocks from the communist era, as well as in creating new constructions.

Additional space, obtained from the building extension, is designed to create living room areas in the apartments, the existing part being devoted to storage, sleeping space, kitchen and bathrooms. This new apartment arrangement will improve living standards of the inhabitants. Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ll give back normal structure of apartment by adding extra space for resting, family/friends meeting and other house activities. Finally, inhabitants will be able to spend more of their time in a nice space instead of overwhelmed cluttered, tiny multi-functional room.

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October 2015

TECHNOLOGY

61

MANGROVE HOUSING: HEALING THE ESTUARY Category 2 - Honorable Mention Nguyen Manh Hung, Dong Minh Anh - Hanoi, Vietnam The Saloum River estuary in Senegal is surrounded by mangrove forest. Between 1972 and 2015, a coastal mangrove barrier sank into the sea, followed by a dying process of a large area of the forest. This proposal is an attempt to establish a mangrove housing community where local people live, work with nature and regenerate the mangrove barrier.

The dome structure of the mangrove house is inspired by the mangrove root system. This structural form helps the house against the strong winds and storm. Meanwhile, in the larger scale, the trunks and roots of the surrounding mangroves and the pile footings of mangrove houses protect each other from storm surge and weaken the strong water currents.

The mangrove house is prefabricated and can be assembled by local inhabitants including carpenters, craftsmen, adults and even children, in order to allow the participation of the entire community in the building process, and eventually strengthen the relationship between people and their mangrove house. The materials are mainly timber from dead mangroves and from two new mangrove forests, which are well managed by the community.

October 2015

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62 WOOD WORKS

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October 2015

WOOD WORKS 63

Computer technology, craft skills, and design meet in the furniture created by Matthias Pliessnig.

Working predominantly with steam-bent wood, Pliessnig constructs sinuous and kinetic forms that clearly express the design language we have come to recognize as computer-based, a language commonly associated with more fashionable materials such as carbon fiber or plastics.

“Influence for my work comes from an array of sources including the movements of hydro/ aerodynamic paths, the human body, and the ambition to visualize energy and fluidity as a kind of modernity,” says Pliessnig.

Drawn to the associations

of permanence and integrity suggested by wood while embracing the natural laws of the material, he aims to challenge the perceptions of his audiences. He currently works out of his studio in Brooklyn, NY collaborating with architects on large-scale installations as well as private-based commission work.

“When I stay in one place my senses get dull, time passes by quickly and aimlessly. I have never spent more than three years anywhere. As a child I was moved from city to city. This was a blessing and a pattern that has continued into adulthood. When I am engulfed in a new environment my senses perk up and I see more, absorb more, finding new influences

everywhere,” says Pliessnig.

“To be completely engaged is a way to cheat time, to slow it down. My work ethic and art making approach are rooted in this philosophy of concentrated engagement. Thus my work never rests in one mode of thought yet strives to reach a high level of refinement. It is always evolving into the next piece and branching into different routes of exploration, sustaining a level of enthusiasm and energy to work feverishly into the next challenging piece,” adds Pliessnig.

His works have been exhibited at the Museum of Art and Design in NY, Wexler Gallery in Philadelphia, International Art & Design Fair in

October 2015

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Image © Matthias Pliessnig

Matthias Pliessnig pushes the boundaries of wood

64 WOOD WORKS am aware of how the human body has a physical conversation with the work. The human interaction is the activating element to the experience and to the finished work itself. Many of the pieces are formed to create a cradle for an invisible presence. The work is supported by tension of opposing forces, movement and stillness.

Each piece I make provokes a feeling of speed although it is a static form. Through straddling these two desires I am making work with its own sense of time.

A moment where time can move incredibly fast, sweeping by, and yet be still and contemplative,” concludes Pliessnig.

Image © Matthias Pliessnig

I use initial cross-sections which provide a starting point. As the planes in space become connected with strips of wood, the form becomes prevalent and I can abandon the initial mold and allow the work to grow organically. This method of working allows me to have both elements of structure and improvisation. The strips of wood act as mark making in space.

The lines travel through space making the form visible defining its weight and mass. The movements of hydrodynamic/aerodynamic paths, organic growth, and various structure systems influence my forms,” says Pliessnig.

“When I am building a piece I

Image © Matthias Pliessnig

what wood is capable of. Through embracing the natural laws of the material I have freed myself from former misconceptions. The material I once thought to be rigid, flat, and unforgiving can actually be fluid and elastic,” says Pliessnig.

In 2005, Pliessnig built a boat which required processes that he was previously unfamiliar with. The boat was constructed using crosssection planes of the hull geometry, which acted as guides for steam bent strips of wood. Once the strips of wood completed the boat form, the planes were removed. This process taught Pliessnig a new way of building forms.

“When I begin to build a piece,

Image © Matthias Pliessnig

NY, and the American Smithsonian Museum of Art in Washington DC. Permanent collections include: The Museum of Art and Design in NY, The Smithsonian American Museum of Art in DC, James A. Michener Art Museum in PA, and ASU Art Museum in AZ. “Early in my art education I was attracted to wood for its natural beauty. Completing a piece was satisfying because the work had permanence and presence due to the integrity of the material.

However, I was restricted by the rules and traditions of woodworking. I felt that wood was rigid and unforgiving. I had to learn to push the boundaries of

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October 2015

66 SHOWTIME

Top Industry Exhibitions Coming Up This Season TIMBER EXPO

Image © Timber Expo

biggest trade platform for the wood and furniture industries in Turkey, the organizers expect over 900 exhibitors, company representatives from over 30 countries, and over 65,000 trade visitors from more than 100 countries.

The two fairs will showcase a great variety of sustainable, worldclass wood products to a wide base of trade visitors including furniture manufacturers, forestry products, construction, machine and chemistry industrialists, architects, interior designers, industrial designers, purchasing agents and other related professionals. In essence, the fairs display the full potential of the industry while providing a point of entry to the market, making Istanbul the hub of industry and trade for the wood industry.

Timber Expo is the most important event on the UK construction calendar dedicated exclusively to timber. It is three days brimming with the latest products, innovations and developments across the timber sector - not just from the UK but from an increasingly exciting and diverse international market.

Held from October 6 - 8, 2015 at the NEC in Birmingham, Timber Expo, as part of UK Construction Week, will provide the most powerful opportunity available for suppliers and contractors to connect face-to-face, under one roof in just three days. Over 200 exhibitors occupying 2,000 sqm of exhibition space will be joined by an estimated 11,000 industry professionals.

October 6 - 8 The NEC | Birmingham, United Kingdom www.timber-expo.co.uk INTERMOB ISTANBUL

October 10 - 14 Tuyap Fair Convention and Congress Center | Istanbul, Turkey www.intermobistanbul.com SICAM SICAM, the International Exhibition of Components and Accessories for the Furniture Industry, is scheduled to take place from October 13 - 16, 2015 in Pordenone. Strategically located at the heart of the furniture industry in Pordenone, where 40 percent of 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, equipment, 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 semi-finished 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.

October 13 - 16 Pordenone Exhibition Center (Fiera di Pordenone) | Pordenone, Italy www.exposicam.it/english/index.asp

PROWOOD The 28th International Wood Processing Machines, Cutting Tools and Hand Tools Fair and the 18th International Furniture Components, Accessories, Forestry Products and Wood Technologies Fair (INTERMOB) will host the wood products, machinery and technologies industries at the Tüyap Fair and Convention Center, Büyükçekmece from October 10 - 14, 2015. As the www.timberdesignandtechnology.com

October 2015

Prowood in Ghent is a trade fair for the wood processing industry in Belgium. It is a platform for exhibitors to meet a wide audience and showcase their new products and services. The international meeting point for the woodworking industry and related sectors in Belgium, visitors will

SHOWTIME 67 have access to in-depth and comprehensive information about the latest developments, trends, products and services. Taking place over the course of five days from October 18 - 22, 2015, the show will also feature a series of seminars and workshops in addition to the ‘Meet and Greet’ networking event, which allows exhibitors to interact with each other outside of the fair.

HOUT & HABITAT (EVERYTHING ABOUT WOOD) The fifth edition of Hout & Habitat is slated to take place from November 19 - 22, 2015 at the Antwerp Expo with a view to showcase the beauty and various qualities of wood, especially given that wood is the material of the future as it is sustainable and ecological, warm and comfortable and healthy.

The exhibition will aim to showcase various applications of wood including for construction, outdoor and indoor uses, and in furniture and joinery.

The show attracted over 14,000 visitors in 2014 and with 35 percent of last year’s exhibitors confirming their participation for the next edition, the organizers are confident of breaking records this year. A key attraction at the fair is a display of projects that incorporate wood by some of the most famous Flemish interior designers and landscape artists. Central to the theme of the exhibition is the versatility and beauty of wood.

October 18 - 22 Flanders Expo | Ghent, Belgium Image © Hout & Habitat

www.prowood-fair.be/en BELGRADE FURNITURE FAIR

November 19 - 22 Antwerp Expo | Antwerp, Belgium www.houtenhabitat.be BIG 5 DUBAI

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 current furniture design trends.

Products on display includes everything for the furniture industry from primary wood processing to the final product. All types of furniture are on display including 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, roundtables and workshops, 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.

November 10 - 15 International Exhibition Center | Belgrade, Serbia

The Big 5 Dubai is the largest construction exhibition in the Middle East, serving as a networking platform for construction product suppliers and buyers since 1979. The 2014 edition of the show attracted 2,801 exhibitors from 61 countries and 81,401 trade visitors. With 64 free certified educational workshops planned for this year, the organizers believe this year’s event will be the largest and best attended in its illustrious history.

As the largest event for the building and construction industry in the Middle East, the organizers have launched The Big 5 Focus in 2015. New features with the Big 5 Focus include Technology in Construction; Project October 2015

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68 SHOWTIME Management; and CPD Certificate Collection Point. The 2015 show will have a total of 8 dedicated product zones - General construction; Coatings, adhesives and sealants; HVAC; Steel; Building Interiors; Water technology; Windows, doors & cladding; and Kitchens & bathrooms.

For more than 30 years The Big 5 has provided a business and networking platform for the construction industry. It is an opportunity for buyers and sellers of construction products and services from around the world to source an astounding array of the very latest technologies, innovations and techniques.

More than an exhibition, the event provides attendees with unrivalled access to information, intelligence, contacts and hands on experience.

Experts from around the world engage in the industry’s most topical discussions, finding solutions, facing challenges and seizing opportunities.

As the gateway to the Middle East and North Africa (MENA), the show provides both exhibitors and visitors with the opportunity to conduct serious business with like-minded professionals.

Running alongside The Big 5, two co-located events, PMV Live and Middle East Concrete (MEC), offer a 360-degree platform to the building and construction industry, with the three shows providing the largest international building construction, concrete and heavy machinery gathering place in the region.

November 23 - 26 Dubai International Convention & Exhibition Center | Dubai, UAE www.thebig5.ae INTERNATIONAL TRADE FAIR FOR WOODWORKING

The International Trade Fair for Woodworking Machinery and Tools (Woodworking. Machinery. Technology. Tools 2015) will take from November 26 - 28, 2015 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. Visitors will also be able to attend ‘Tech Industry 2015’, the international mechanical engineering, metalworking, automation, electronics, electrical, tools and new technologies exhibition, which is running concurrently with the show.

The show provides an important platform for the timber industry, especially since it is one of the largest manufacturing sectors in Latvia with www.timberdesignandtechnology.com

October 2015

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.

November 26 - 28 Ķīpsala International Exhibition Center | Riga, Latvia www.bt1.lv/kokapstrade/?lang=eng&menu=1 WOOD FAIR The Korea Wood Industry Fair (Wood Fair 2015) 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 & tools; and wooden housing.

December 3 - 6 Coex Hall C | Seoul, South Korea http://woodfair.or.kr

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70 SHOWTIME CALENDAR

Timber Expo

Belgrade Furniture Fair

October 6 - 8 The NEC Birmingham, United Kingdom www.timber-expo.co.uk

November 10 - 15 International Exhibition Center Belgrade, Serbia ....................................................................................................

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Holzhaus Drema

November 19 - 22 VDNH, Pavilion 75 Moscow, Russia www.holzhaus.ru/en-GB

October 6 - 9 Poznan International Fair Poznan, Poland www.drema.pl/en

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Hout & Habitat (Everything About Wood) Furnica

November 19 - 22 Antwerp Expo Antwerp, Belgium www.houtenhabitat.be

October 6 - 9 Poznan International Fair Poznan, Poland www.furnica.pl/en

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Big 5 Dubai SoFab

November 23 - 26 Dubai International Convention & Exhibition Center Dubai, UAE www.thebig5.ae

October 6 - 9 Poznan International Fair Poznan, Poland www.sofab.pl/en

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Mebel Intermob Istanbul October 10 - 14 Tuyap Fair Convention and Congress Center Istanbul, Turkey www.intermobistanbul.com

November 23 - 27 ExpoCenter Moscow, Russia www.meb-expo.ru/en ....................................................................................................

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WOODEX Russia SICAM October 13 - 16 Pordenone Exhibition Center (Fiera di Pordenone) Pordenone, Italy www.exposicam.it/english/index.asp

November 24 - 27 Crocus Expo Moscow, Russia www.woodexpo.ru/en-GB ....................................................................................................

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Prowood

International Trade Fair for Woodworking Machinery and Tools

October 18 - 22 Flanders Expo Ghent, Belgium www.prowood-fair.be/en

November 26 - 28 sala nternational ibition enter Riga, Latvia www.bt1.lv/kokapstrade/?lang=eng&menu=1

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Wood-Tec

Wood Fair

October 20 - 23 Brno Exhibition Center Brno, Czech Republic www.bvv.cz/en/wood-tec

December 3 - 6 Coex Hall C Seoul, South Korea http://woodfair.or.kr

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October 2015

Image © Lester Ali Image © Lester Ali

Image © Lester Ali

Middle East Design. American Hardwood.

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

Architects and designers all over the world have embraced American hardwoods for the range of colours, grains and textures they offer, as well as for their consistency in grade, quality and supply and their sustainable credentials.

For more information visit www.americanhardwood.org Follow us on fti