Among the features at the inaugural UKCW is ‘The Twist ‘. The UK timber authority TRADA has teamed up with the Architectural Association’s (AA) School of Architecture to create this wooden pavilion for 2015’s Timber Expo.
It explores the bending and twisting capacity of timber by integrating structural and spatial performance into one elegant architectural solution. Built from 6mm and 4mm birch plywood supplied by TRADA member Hanson Plywood, the pavilion will be on display throughout Timber Expo, before going on to be displayed in Bedford Square, London in January 2016, as part of the Architectural Association’s Public Programme Exhibitions series.
The students completed a residential week at Hooke Park, a 350-acre working forest owned by the AA, during which they worked on prototyping and designing the project, as well as using CNC routing technology to bring the sculpture to life.
Continuing the wood theme, the design potential of glulam timber will be showcased in a site-specific VIP lounge, created by Polish firm EcoCurves, also for Timber Expo.
“The idea is to create modern glulam arches, which are manufactured from European coniferous timber and can be cut into thin layers,” explains EcoCurves’ Pawel Cygulski. These timber layers are then laminated in a hydraulic press to form the final shape. “We are able to produce structural arches with a span of up to 26 metres, “ Cygulski adds.
The manufacturing process also ticks many green boxes, with nearly all waste material reused. The flexibility of the glulam timber – curves can be formed from up to 10,000 pieces – means the material has several applications for architects and designers.
These range from bridges and walkways through to swimming pool covers, terraced roofs and bike sheds. EcoCurves, which is also exhibiting at the event and is part of the Jagram Group, will team up with tensile fabric specialists Base Structures to create the 48sq m structure, which will form a dramatic centrepiece to the event.
Among the exhibitors at the Surface and Materials Show are Bedrock Tiles, which provides sustainable tiles for floors and walls; Magscapes, a producer of magnetic wallpaper for breakout areas and boardrooms; and Maxzara, which manufactures and distributes wooden flooring. Another design-led exhibitor is the Reclaimed Flooring Company.
As its name suggests, this Clerkenwell-based business offers specifiers a range of authentic reclaimed wood products, as well as replica reclaimed and brand new timber. “We can showcase the beauty of wood and the show also represents an opportunity for a discussion about the potential of reclaimed timber,” explains Reclaimed Flooring Company’s owner Robert Henry. There will also be a Surface & Materials hub, held in partnership with the SCIN Gallery.
Over at Smart Buildings, archi-tects and designers will be able to indulge their tech-savvy side. It will provide a CPD hub, offering the architecture and design community the chance to further their professional knowledge in this area. The show aims to bridge the gap between what’s available in terms of technology within the building sector and how the various stakeholders can apply it successfully in projects they are working on.
Topics pertinent for architects at the show include lighting design and control and smart building technology. Other topics within the wider tech sector include the role of Big Data and challenges within wireless networking. As well as the CPD Hub providing a range of seminars and workshops, there will be the chance for the A&D sector to get down to the practical, nitty gritty side of things in the Installer Zone.
The inaugural UK Construction Week takes places this autumn, bringing together nine shows under one roof. Taking place at the Birmingham NEC, these include the Surface and Materials Show, Timber Expo, Smart Buildings 2015, as well as Grand Designs Live and Kitchens & Bathroom Live. The event will unite 1,000 exhibitors with an expected audience of 55,000 visitors