WOOD FOR THOUGHT
SA in a catch 22
South Africa has some way to go before the timber industry shows any semblance of what is happening in countries like the US , Canada , Australia , New Zealand , and parts of Europe . Scandinavian countries have embraced the timber culture and it is absolutely astounding to think what can be done when the skills , knowledge and will exist to use timber as a primary building material .
In some countries , timber structures become works of art . Timber ’ s versatility is once again reflected in this month ’ s international project – the Central Library Oodi in Finland – where timber is used in tandem with traditional building materials like steel , concrete and brick , to produce an extremely unique look and feel . the industry . It is a catch 22 situation . What do you do first ? South Africa has more than enough raw material to develop and maintain a sustainable timber industry , but as things stand , there is almost zero demand for mass timber products . By showcasing interesting and unique projects , like the Japanese teahouse by GASS architects , we hope to contribute to the demand creation narrative and entice more South Africans to take the timber route . Although not a mass timber project , we hope to show South Africans that timber is so much more than a ‘ Wendy house ’ and that when combined with skill , finesse and creativity , it can become a dream space to live in .
Unfortunately , many South Africans still regard timber as an alternative building material and associate the use of timber in construction solely for roof trusses and door or window frames . Moreover , perceptions that timber as a primary building material can only be used in small timber structures or ‘ Wendy houses ’ persists .
To have any sort of impact on these preconceived ideas about timber will take a concerted effort by everybody involved in the timber industry – from government to academia to the private sector and the media . The Department of Trade Industry and Competition ’ s ( dtic ) efforts of bringing all these interests together , is laudable , and should be supported , as does all the Tertiary Institutions ’ initiatives , and private companies like York Timbers , who has the interest of all players at heart .
The main challenge in South Africa remains the creation of demand for timber products like Cross Laminated Timber ( CLT ) and Laminated Veneer Lumber ( LVL ), but at the same time developing
Leon
Leon Louw Editor
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2 APRIL / MAY 2021 // www . timberiq . co . za