Oodi: At the heart of Finnish culture
The Central Library Oodi opened to the public on the 6th of December 2020, on the eve of the Finnish Independence Day. Besides its function as a library, Oodi, which is located in Töölönlahti, is [...]
SA Pine wood forms excellent bonds when using PUR adhesive
By Qiniso Mbhamali, Zahra Naghizadeh, Brand Wessels Department of Forest and Wood Science, Stellenbosch University With the increasing movement towards environmentally-friendly and sustainable building materials in the construction industry, engineered wood products have become a [...]
ITC-SA a major player in solving the housing crisis
According to Erik Soderlund, general manager at the Institute for Timber Construction South Africa (ITC-SA), the ITC-SA is a significant player in the process of resolving the housing crisis. […]
Restoring our forests provides a path to recovery and well-being
By Maria Helena Semedo, Deputy Director-General of the Food and Agriculture Organisation of the United Nations Never before has there been greater reason to focus our attention on these precious natural resources that cover a [...]
Seven reasons to build with timber
There are many reasons why South Africans should build with timber. Following are seven of the most quoted reasons: […]
Are mass timber buildings viable?
A recent study by Stephanus van der Westhuizen, structural engineer at Zutari, looked at the economic viability of a multi-storey mass timber building for South Africa through a development cost comparison. […]
Commonwealth bolsters action on sustainable land use management
Commonwealth secretary-general, Patricia Scotland, has urged member countries to integrate sustainable land use management into their national climate action plans, with a focus on nature-based solutions, on the road to the UN Climate Change Conference [...]
SA in a catch 22
South Africa has some way to go before the timber industry shows any semblance of what is happening in countries like the US, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, and parts of Europe. Scandinavian countries have embraced [...]
SA space gets Japanese feel
By Chris Bakker & Leoné Wierenga from GASS Architecture Studio; edited by Leon Louw GASS Architecture Studio’s unique design in Hermanus, South Africa, takes the vision of the client and inspiration from the Japanese teahouse, [...]
York Timber and UP sign agreement for sustainable wood-based bio economy
By the University of Pretoria Forestry company York Timbers, the largest solid wood processor in South Africa, has signed a funding agreement with the University of Pretoria (UP) to establish a Chair in data-driven wood [...]