Watch the AT webinar, in partnership with MEDITE SMARTPLY, which explores low carbon timber construction.

How can we unlock timber’s potential to deliver buildings that are efficient in construction and use? What are the possibilities of using timber to ensure buildings meet and go beyond carbon targets? And how can we develop our understanding of timber so we can make the most of its low carbon potential now and in the future?

These questions and more were explored in this AT webinar, supported by MEDITE SMARTPLY. Chaired by AT Editor Isabel Allen, the speakers comprised Professor Robert Hairstans, Head of the Centre for Offsite Construction + Innovative Structures (COCIS) at Edinburgh Napier University; David Murray, Head of Technical Affairs at MEDITE SMARTPLY; Paul Roberts, Director at Buro Happold, Seb Laan Lomas, Associate and Passivhaus designer at Architype; and Sioned Holland, Architect and Passivhaus designer, also at Architype.

Speakers (from left to right) David Murray, Sioned Holland, Seb Laan Lomas, Robert Hairstans, and Paul Roberts

Robert Hairstans began by providing an overview of the vast array of timber technologies and products on the market, with a particular focus on Design for Manufacture and Assembly (DfMA) and Modern Methods of Construction (MMC). Hairstans introduced courses that have been developed to equip industry professionals with the skills and competencies required to take full advantage of the available technologies, and emphasised the key role of digitisation in tracking materials and hence facilitating disassembly, reassembly and reutilisation.

Diagram summarising the environmental outputs linked to a timber-based DfMA structure

David Murray presented Project Net Zero Home, a new-build house that has been specifically designed to showcase the potential for MMC, low carbon materials, and engineered wood solutions, as well as demonstrate the importance of intelligent design, quality products and good workmanship. Murray showed how as-built animations and an interactive 3D model provide a step-by-step guide to the project, including its construction and detailing, along with product declarations and independently verified sustainability criteria for its constituent parts.

MEDITE SMARTPLY video showing the construction sequence of the net zero carbon house, from insulated foundation through to completed timber frame stage. An energy-efficient building fabric constructed with timber and other low-carbon materials is critical to achieving net zero whole life carbon.

Sioned Holland presented a case study of Archiytpe’s Hackbridge Primary School, London, which is located adjacent to the BedZED Eco Village, and is UK’s first Passhivhaus Plus school. Her colleague Seb Laan Lomas provided insights on overcoming some of the challenges involved with working in timber, with a specific focus on the practice’s approach to building performance evaluation and its research into issues relating to fire safety in timber buildings. He finished with a plea for funding bodies and philanthropic organisations to focus on accelerating research into this this vitally important issue.

Designed to the Passivhaus Plus standard by Architype, Hackbridge Primary School in London is clad with Sweet chestnut  timber battens (ph: Architype/Jack Hobhouse)

The final speaker, Paul Roberts, gave a presentation on the design, construction and ongoing performance of the John Hope Gateway Biodiversity Centre at the Royal Botanic Gardens in Edinburgh. This hybrid timber structure was designed 15 years ago and is intended by the client to be outstanding example of green construction and sustainability. Roberts argued that its success in this respect was dependent on the close collaborative relationship between the consultant team, which was led by Cullinan Studio, and included Buro Happold, service engineer Max Fordham, landscape architect Gross Max and timber and steel Contractor Donaldson & McConnell.

Designed by Edward Cullinan Architects, in collaboration with Buro Happold, the John Hope Gateway Biodiversity Centre at the Royal Botanic Gardens in Edinburgh combines glulam beams and cross-laminated solid-timber floor slabs with slim steel columns to produce an intricate yet organic-looking design.

The overarching message from the event was that there is an urgent need to move towards truly collaborative working, while also harnessing the potential of digitisation – both to track materials and share data, knowledge and expertise – if the industry is to capitalise on the full potential of low carbon timber construction.