Building & Investment (Nov - Dec 2015) (Nov - Dec 2015) | Page 32

Special Feature

MTC International Conference
Wood Architecture - Art and Function

International experts from around the world share their insights into building with timber.
ASK ANY DISCERNING architect, or better
still, the Malaysian Timber Council, and you
would be informed that “despite being one
of the oldest building material known to
Man, the role of timber in construction has
taken a backseat, at least in Malaysia, since
the advent of concrete and steel.” To date, the
housing and construction sector accounts for
more than half the domestic consumption of
timber, estimated at RM13 billion, primarily
in the form of sawn timber, plywood, door
and window frames, panels and as formwork
and interior components. However, as
structural members (i.e., load-bearing
columns, beams, struts, trusses, etc) in
building construction, reservations abound
- with misgivings, if not misconceptions,
about the strength and durability of timber,
its susceptibility to weather/pest attacks, fire
28 Building & Investment | www.b-i.biz

resistance and design flexibility. But all that
is, as they say, old hat.
Latterly, with resurgent thinking, and
technology, there is a whole new perspective
for timber in the construction sector,
debunking many myths about its viability as
a building material/structural component.
Innovation and availability of engineered
timber, such as glulam, has and continues
to broaden the scope for architects and
designers to create anew and to build beyond
boundaries. In driving home this universal
message, the Malaysian Timber Council
(MTC) and Pertubuhan Arkitek Malaysia
(PAM) recently co-organised a day-long
international conference, themed “Wood
Architecture – Art & Function” where, una
voce, five renowned experts presented the
case for building with timber.

In Timber We Trust
Sharing their insights and experiences with a
wide cross-section of the industry, students
included, the assembly of top timber experts
comprised:
s Andrew Lawrence, leading timber
specialist at ARUP UK, on “Timber
Structures Around the World”, a glossary of
iconic buildings using timber, designed
by world renowned architects. Noted for
building the highly acclaimed Endless
Stairs (London), Centre PompidouMetz (France), award-winning Timber
Wave (London), Canary Wharf Crossrail Roof and Serpentine Pavilion
(London), other engineering marvels
cited were the TREET and Metropol
Parasol (Spain). A member of the
Timber Eurocode Committee, Lawrence