WOOD FOR THOUGHT
We don ’ t need another brick in the wall !
Covid-19 has amplified the challenges of our time . Way
before the coronavirus inserted its probing tentacles into the fibre of human society , there were cracks in its foundations .
The cement and plaster that bound and covered seemingly flawed systems , beliefs , and ideologies , are peeling off in layers like a rotting onion . This voracious onslaught , targeting the bricks and mortar of traditional beliefs , is orchestrated by a new world order . Problems like inequality , poverty , rapid urbanisation , and climate change have given rise to alternative ways of thinking and problem solving .
Leading the transformation into a more responsible world , where humans become part of the natural cycle and do not preside over nature , are the millennials and Generation Zs - those ubiquitous groups of increasingly influential moulders , builders , and carpenters .
Millennials are changing trade patterns , buying behaviour , political and economic systems , and the way we live , work , and spend our free time . Generation Zs will soon be breaking down brick walls . Climate change and social justice are spurring their mobilisation . These are the battlegrounds which define the younger generations , and the outcome will be how history judges them , and the generations before them .
Therefore , the Department of Trade of Industry and Competition ’ s ( dtic ) efforts to promote the use of timber as a construction material should be lauded . It is extremely difficult to change the culture and the way people think and act , and it will take an immense effort by a dedicated few to bring about the necessary change .
South Africa , unfortunately , is a brick-and-mortar country , notwithstanding the fact that we have more than enough wood to sustain a vibrant timber sector . It is , however , inspiring that there are a growing group of people in South Africa ( including the dtic ), who are passionate about forestry , wood , and timber , and are using this versatile material to design amazing buildings and build basic houses .
This group of outstanding individuals include , amongst others , engineers , academics , architects , carpenters , designers , and developers . Timber iQ is proud to be a member of this growing movement and to announce that it will collaborate with them and the dtic , in promoting the use of timber as a viable , and sustainable , building material in South Africa . In this effort , we cannot ignore the voices of the younger generations , so if you read Timber iQ and regard yourself as a millennial or as a representative of Generation Z , please make your voice heard and contact us .
The timber and construction sectors are key in these battles and in the transition to a new way of living . Building with timber reduces the carbon footprint and ensures a healthier lifestyle . Living in a timber building is an all-round , better experience than being stuck in a stark , solid , brick-and-concrete building . In Europe , America and other parts of the world that are regarded as developed , timber has , for many years , been the construction material of choice for houses and even for multi-storey buildings .
In Scandinavian countries , forests and wood enjoy cultural significance and form an important link in the bioecology of a region . South Africans lags behind in using timber as a construction material , and in acknowledging the importance of nature . Moreover , South Africa is not giving voice to our millennials , nor embracing their ideas and hopes for a better future , even though they constitute the majority of the population . In a country that has a clear deficit in terms of low-cost housing , and where there is a desperate need to build better quality houses at a reduced cost and as quickly as possible , timber is the obvious answer .
Leon
Leon Louw Editor
2 DECEMBER 2020 / JANUARY 2021 // www . timberiq . co . za