Kebony
D
eveloped in Norway,
the patented Kebony
technology is an
environmentally
friendly process, which
modifies sustainably
sourced softwoods by heating
the wood with furfuryl alcohol
- an agricultural by-product.
By polymerising the wood’s
cell wall, the softwoods
permanently take on the
attributes of tropical hardwood
including high durability,
hardness and dimensional
stability, without the need for
tropical deforestation.
For Kebony, this waterside
urban landscaping project
follows another recent project
at Fjord City, Oslo, a publically
accessible park and bathing
complex.
Here there was a similar effort
to capitalise on Kebony’s strong
eco-credentials and durability
to transform a post-industrial
waterfront into a recreational
space of this nature. In both
cases, Kebony’s versatility
as a material has rendered it
invaluable for the construction
of everything from street
furniture to public boardwalk.
The silver-grey patina that
the wood develops over its
elongated life-span has also
singled it out as a popular
material for architects in marine
settings like these, where its
matured colour is frequently
a perfect complement to the
setting.
Martin Arfalk of Mandaworks
commented “We wanted the
park to be a lasting space for
public recreation and Kebony’s
wood is suitably durable that
it will stand up to wearing
and weathering. Its attractive
natural aesthetic also perfectly
complements the park’s
character.”
Per Thyberg, Country Manager
of Kebony Sweden, commented
“It is gratifying to see Kebony
once again selected for the
development of a recreational
public space like this where
its durability and beautiful
aesthetics will contribute to
the public’s enjoyment of the
Slussplan Urban Park.”
Visit www.kebony.com and
www.mandaworks.com for
further information.
10 Landscape & Urban Design Issue 21