EDITOR ' S NOTE
New year, new chapter
The best thing about the festive season – other than the excuse to indulge in all those things we deny ourselves during the year – is that it ends with a clean slate. All the mistakes and drama of the year before are miraculously washed away when the clock strikes midnight on 31 December.
For South Africa, 2016 was a tumultuous year, marked by violent protests, a volatile rand, and an unstable political environment, with finance ministers coming and going like nobody’ s business. As a result, industry suffered.
But, with the fireworks and popped champagne bottles that heralded in 2017, so a fresh new chapter begins. A chance to start over, to do better. For many people, New Year’ s resolutions start on 1 January and end on 2 January. But this year, I plan to stick with mine. Both professionally and personally. What that means for you, our loyal Timber iQ readers, is better content than ever before. Wellresearched, insightful articles that speak to the real issues facing the timber construction industry; amazing projects both here and overseas; and innovative products to help you improve your business practises. We plan to make the most of 2017, and we hope you will too.
On the project front, we’ ve got three fantastic projects to inspire and enrich you. The Boomslang walkway at the Kirstenbosch Botanical Gardens in Cape Town is a marvel; a winding, sinuous wooden canopy bridge that stretches through the trees. You can read more about it on page 20.
We have two international projects for you, one of which is the largest mass timber building in the United States. T3, as it is known, is a seven-storey, mass timber office building that officially opened its doors in November last year. Read more on page 26.
Our third and final project is the Maggie’ s Centre in Manchester, UK, the winner of multiple Wood Awards in 2016, and the latest in a long line of care facilities that redefine the boundary between architecture and nature. Go to page 34 to find out more about this ground-breaking facility.
We have our usual contingent of features and products, as well as contributed articles on the properties of teak wood and the science behind noise reduction in timber structures respectively.
If you have a product you ' d like to see in Timber iQ, or an idea for a feature, let us know. This publication, after all, would be nothing without the industry it serves.
Happy 2017. May it be spectacular!
Kelly-Ann Prinsloo Staff writer kellyann @ interactmedia. co. za
// FEB / MARCH 2017 1