Blog

The growing interest in both engineered timber construction systems and prefabrication is evidenced by this apartment complex. Combing a range of engineered timber products the result set new benchmarks and elicited interested from throughout Europe and beyond.

Any way you peel or slice them, timber veneers are attractive, versatile finishes that provide the finishing touches to some of Australia's highest profile projects. Here's your opportunity to be inspired by some experts in the field, chat over drinks and nibbles and build you knowledge of veneer and its many applications.

WoodSolutions Technical Design Guides are prepared by experts to provide designers, engineers and other building professionals with relevant, accurate information about designing and building with wood.

DARCH is the Australian Institute of Architects NSW Chapter Emerging Architects and Graduates Committee. It was established in 2005 to enable and encourage our demographic to contribute to the profession. We provide opportunities at a state and national level, and in particular for local initiatives. DARCH is represented at a national level by EmAGN: the Emerging Architects and Graduates Network.

Australia's most prestigious timber design competition, the Australian Timber Design Awards are now in their thirteenth year.

The UTAS School of Architecture and Design is continuing its long tradition of learning-by-making with two exciting workshops this summer in Launceston, Tasmania. Run by the School's Centre for Sustainable Architecture with Wood (CSAW), the summer workshops are designed to provide students, building professionals, and timber industry professionals with an opportunity to learn about the cutting edge use of timber in design and construction in a practical and hands-on setting.

Popular opinion would have us believe that trees grow from the ground, that's what roots are for right? Wrong. Most of the substance of trees comes from the sky in the form of carbon dioxide and water. And what have jiggling atoms got to do with it?

The UTAS School of Architecture and Design is continuing its long tradition of learning-by-making with two exciting events this summer in Launceston, Tasmania. Events are hosted with the UTAS Centre for Sustainable Architecture with Wood and sponsored by WoodSolutions.

Only three and a half years ago Lend Lease were first discussing CLT, now they have the world's tallest modern timber multi-residential building. What technology might we be talking out in the next three or five years? This fairly dry (i.e. no exciting pictures) but nonetheless interesting report ranks some of the options.

With the softening global price for wood chips, people are looking for other uses for plantation grown eucalypts, unsuitable for traditional sawn timber production. Hardlam is one solution to this problem - and it has the added advantage of being a great looking, environmentally advantaged product!

There's a sense of momentum behind CLT that will hopefully flow through to other engineered wood building systems and composite possibilities. The UK's Economist is prestigious magazine with a broad global readership of senior managers and decision makers.

Sometimes good ideas originate while you’re actually aiming to do something else – as was the case with Architecture of Necessity. The idea originated as Sweden’s Virserum Art Museum developed their WOOD 2010 exhibition. If you think it’s worth supporting, click through the link at the end of the article.

There's nothing quite as inspiring as seeing great design and execution - and when it's in wood it's even more inspirational! The Australian Timber Design Awards (ATDA) showcase the best of the best - and winners go on to contest international awards too. If you can make it to Sydney for the Awards dinner it's sure to be a great night.

It's unusual to have the wood and wood products industry in the public eye with a good news storey, but this items from ABC Melbourne's weekend news is one more communication to lift the awareness of wood in construction.

With spring around the corner it's time to think about summer plans - why not treat yourself to an enjoyable, informative and inspirational experience in Launceston at the Centre for Sustainable Architecture with Wood? Details of the two courses are below.

Bluewater is a 'shopping destination' in Kent in the UK. Visited by some 500,000 people a week, it's more like a town than a shopping centre. As part of a strategy to increase the duration of vistors' stays, a hotel with leading edge environmental credentials was commissioned by developers Lendlease.

Just when designers and engineers are coming to grips with the exciting potential of cross laminated timber (CLT) along comes another flavor of the material, interlocking CLT or ICLT, that plans to use no fasteners or adhesives.

Designed to be used only during the London Olympics, this McDonalds store at Olympic Park is not only their largest store, but also the shortest lived.

Now in their 13th year, the Australian Timber Design Awards have been honouring excellence in timber design for thirteen years. Entry is open to architects, builders, designers, engineers, interior designers and landscape architects. Categories cover all major applications, small budget projects, sustainability, a People's Choice Award and a Rising Star Award. This year's entries will automatically be considered for the 2013 International Timber Design Awards.

American hardwoods offer a wide range of species, primarily used for interior applications. This is an opportunity to familiarise yourself with what's available and aks an expert any questions you may have.

Inspirational design seems to have an affinity with structures performing a religious role and Bigelow Chapel in Minnesota is no exception.

As the world transitions to a lower carbon economy, materials, practices and processes in commercial design and construction will reflect changing values and priorities. What these will be is an interesting and potentially vital question. Described as 'Australia's only eco event for the complete commercial construction industry' Future Build provides glimpses of what may unfold.

Focused on residential design, the Houses Awards are presented by Architectural Media, publishers of a wide range of titles relating to architecture and design. WoodSolutions sponsored the Outdoor Category.

WoodSolutions were proud to be a sponsor of the annual BDAV 2012 Building Design Awards. The standard of the entries was high - and a flick through the online ebook at their website is highly recommended.