WOOD FOR THOUGHT
Timber on the global stage at COP26
COP26 matters because in the context of the coronavirus and recovery from global recession , climate change continues to impact , and climate risks are increasing around the world .
A host of in-person and virtual events during COP26 in November and December last year showcased the important role that timber construction can play in the fight against climate change . Architects , engineers , specifiers , social housing providers , housebuilders and construction professionals joined leaders and policymakers from around the world to learn about the impact of the built environment on global warming and how building materials such as timber can help to mitigate the risk .
In addition , commitments made by countries will help to implement the Glasgow Leaders ’ Declaration on Forests and Land Use which is now endorsed by 134 countries covering 91 % of the world ’ s forests . The Declaration aims to halt and reverse forest loss and land degradation by 2030 . See page 30 for more on COP26 in our Talking Timber article , ‘ Build Better Now ’.
Our featured local project in this issue is Ikhaya Modular ( also featured on the cover ), with their offering of diverse structural ability . The company is committed to the manufacture of small- to mediumsized modular spaces out of local timber with quick turnaround time and are nationally certified structures . We look at the great value in these beautifully simple , highly feasible urban applications .
Our international project on page 15 looks at merging custom architectural millwork and furniture , whereby Kastella , a Montrealbased manufacturer and distributor of premium hardwood furniture , collaborated with the architectural firm Atelier Paul Thibault on the Lake Brome Residence . The Lake Brome Residence was an inspiring and demanding project that took over a year to plan and complete .
The timber industry is at the forefront of driving low-energy manufacturing , producing high-performance low-carbon goods , and helping achieve global carbon reduction targets . In the UK alone right now , there is existing capacity to double timber frame manufacturing output to reach 100 000 per annum , with timber providing a cost-free solution to carbon capture . It goes without saying that Timber products offer solutions for modern sustainable construction .
South Africans are in agreement . According to researchers at Stellenbosch University ( SU ) who studied the potential for a timber housing solution , South Africa has enough log resource options available to build close to 95 000 houses a year . Excluding imports and current pulp , board and other log resources , there could be 6.23 million cubic metres of log resources available for wood house components in the future , according to Philip Crafford from SU ’ s Department of Forest and Wood Science .
Regarding the environmental impact , Crafford says numerous studies have shown that timber is not only renewable , but is also the best performer across most environmental impact factors when compared to alternative building material such as steel and concrete , with particularly good performance in terms of greenhouse gas emissions . “ Our basic modelling analyses shows that if 20 % of new houses were to be built with wood , the amount of energy / fossil fuels required for production and the global warming potential of the residential building sector could decrease by 4,9 %. If all new constructions were wood based , this could decrease by up to 30 %.” So , South Africa should surely not be copping out of the COP26 principles , but should rather be jumping on the bandwagon .
In our feature , ‘ Green School South Africa ’, we take a look at how infrastructure consulting firm AECOM enabled Green School South Africa in the Drakenstein Valley near Paarl in the Western Cape to be fast-tracked to open on time for the 2021 school year .
And we feature the new Warner Stand at Lord ’ s Cricket Ground . An engineering marvel made of American white oak features in the redevelopment of the Warner Stand at one of the world ’ s most iconic sporting facilities , Lord ’ s Cricket Ground in St John ’ s Wood , London . The choice of American white oak for the glulam beams was driven by its excellent strength properties relative to its weight allowing the beams to be more slender than if they had been made from constructional softwood . It also increased their durability and offered a high-quality architectural finish . Read all about it on page 25 .
Tarren
Tarren Bolton - Editor
2 DECEMBER 2021 / JANUARY 2022 // www . timberiq . co . za