AILA and WoodSolutions have teamed up to co-host a 5-part webinar series focussing specifically on landscape architects and their use and specification of wood products. Featuring industry expert speakers, we cover a range of key topics including timber as a resource and its positive carbon benefits in a zero-emissions future world. We also explore timber durability, timber preservation and external finishes, the use of wood in bushfire prone areas, as well as case studies of some of AILA member’s flagship landscape architectural projects.
Episode 1: Overview + Forests, Plantations, Wood Products & Australia’s Carbon Balance
In this first webinar, Dr Alastair Woodard from WoodSolutions, will kick-off things off with a synopsis of the webinar series and what you can expect each week with a summary of the key issues for using timber in the external environment, and an overview of the relevant WoodSolutions resources that assist building professionals in the proper specification of timber products.
To set the scene regarding our forests, the wood products available today, and their collective benefit as globally we strive for a zero-carbon future, we are very fortunate to have present, Dr Fabiano Ximenes, Senior Research Scientist with the NSW Dept of Primary Industries, and a world-renowned expert on wood and carbon. This presentation will discuss both plantation and native forestry, wood and its carbon cycle and how this can assist with climate mitigation, the carbon impact of fire, the carbon footprint and carbon storage benefits of wood products, and what happens to this carbon at end-of-life. The life cycle impact of different products is today, a major design criterion for voluntary green-building schemes and may soon become a regulatory requirement. Building professionals today need to understand and appreciate the opportunities of biogenic materials such as wood.
Episode 2: AILA Case Studies – Showcasing the Innovative Use of Timber
What would landscape architecture be without plants, trees and wood and timber products? The landscape architecture fraternity continues to amaze and astound with their creative and inspirational design, and their use of forest and wood products. In this special case study focussed webinar, two AILA members showcase and discuss some of their favourite projects.
Jerry de Gryse, a Director at Inspiring Place, will talk about the firm’s unique blend of skills across landscape architecture, tourism, recreation, environmental management and community engagement, and their philosophy behind the selection of the timber within their projects. A range of projects will be discussed including the design and timber specification for the award-winning Lily Pads, a feature of the Royal Tasmanian Botanical Gardens.
Designed and inspired by nature, and as a tangential extension of the natural coastline, was the inspiration for the award-winning Terrigal Boardwalk and Rockpool . Arup’s multidisciplinary team developed the design which provides a multitude of social, health, environmental and economic benefits for the local community. Senior Architect and Discipline Lead NSW/ACT at ARUP, Luke Smith, will discuss the project’s methodology and approach, and specifically to Arup’s philosophy to timber use and how this is embedded within Arup’s approach to sustainable projects.
Episode 3: Timber Durability and Specification
Timber is commonly used in a wide range of external applications: structures (pavilions, gazebos, pergolas), cladding, decking, screening, stairs, boardwalks, jetties, fencing, retaining walls, and outdoor furniture (seats, benches, tables), among others. Designing for long term durability is a key issue for maximising performance and minimising ongoing risks for timber products.
Timber specifiers can achieve timber product performance that meet or exceed their clients’ needs and expectations, by carefully considering key factors that affect durability, including moisture management, termite control, and using either durable heartwood timbers or preservative treated timber where moisture exclusion is not possible. This presentation by international preeminent authority, Prof Jeff Morrell, the head of Australia’s National Centre for Timber Durability & Design Life, will discuss these important external timber durability issues – timber structure, natural durability, weathering, fungal and insect attack, mould, tannin leaching, etc - particularly with reference to the key sections of the WoodSolutions Technical Design Guide No#5 Timber Service Life Design; one of the most popular and regularly downloaded WS tech guides.
Episode 4: Timber Preservation and External Finishes
Not all wood is ‘naturally durable’, and ‘naturally wood weathers’. To preserve and protect our wood, and/or wood product look externally, it often requires some type of treatment or finish.
A number of wood treatment processes have been used since before the time of the Egyptians and new modern, environmentally responsible treatment products are constantly being developed. Timber protection specialist, Jack Norton, will explain this important topic, discussing the different hazard (H) treatment levels, the preservation products currently available, and the key points around design, specification, and maintenance.
Keeping wood looking good is the professional speciality of Gareth Connell, the National Specification Manager with Cabot’s Premium Woodcare Brands. Gareth will give you the ‘good-oil’ (pardon the pun), with his ‘External Timber-Coatings-101’ overview on the different timber finishing systems available for external wood products, the best finishing product to specify for different applications, and how to care and maintain them for optimal performance.
If making sure timber continues to perform and look good in external landscape architectural applications is your professional aim, then this webinar is a must see.
Episode 5: Wood in Bushfire Prone Areas
In Australia, bushfires are simply a way of life in regional and peri-urban areas. Recent major bushfires have seen fire regulations expanded dramatically with more and more areas now designated as bushfire-prone areas or upgraded in their rating. For landscape architects, correctly designing and specifying for bushfire is fundamental – it means choosing the right vegetation, plants and trees, and also the right timber products in structures, cladding, decking, boardwalks, external furniture, retaining walls and fencing and screens. Boris Iskra, FWPA’s National Standards & Codes Manager is the forest and wood product industry’s representative in relation to bushfire standards and specifications. Boris will explain the Bushfire Attack Level (BAL) Assessment and application to design, the WoodSolutions BAL Calculator, and the key design considerations for timber structures and appearance and landscaping products in bushfire-prone areas. He will also briefly describe the full-scale fire tests that have been undertaken, and are currently underway, in support of the use of timber products in bushfire-prone areas. Choosing the right plants and correct locations also helps to reduce bushfire risks within a garden. Some plants have intrinsic characteristics that reduce the likelihood of ignition, and all plants have different flammability ratings. Daniel Idczak, the Vegetation Management Team Leader at the Country Fire Authority will discuss the key plant selection criteria and the importance of regular and ongoing garden maintenance.