Safety and sustainability: the keywords of 2023?

This year will see many of the Building Safety Act’s reforms come into play. At the same time, the whole construction industry is increasingly aware of the part it must play in addressing  climate change.

So it’s fitting that our first Designing Timber of 2023 addresses both of these key themes. On p.55, you can read insights from engineer Kelly Harrison (Whitby Wood) and architect Dave Lomax (Waugh Thistleton) about timber and the combustibles ban. “But I thought timber had been banned!” is a phrase you may have heard uttered by some clients, and it’s a
misconception they address head on in their article. They suggest some ingenious practical solutions.

This issue is also jam-packed with examples of sustainable design. Read our member profile about Architype on p.30 – they’re a practice that’s been steeped in sustainability since their beginnings. And our in-depth article on the most recent Wood Awards winners (p.22) showcases several stunning examples of timber use. They minimise embodied carbon, they might allow a building to be demountable, or they might retain more of an existing structure… I could give example after example.

Enjoy this issue, and remember – Designing Timber wants to inform and promote you, our members. So do get in touch with us at editorial@timberdevelopment.uk. If you have any buildings, projects, products, works in progress or opinions you’d like to be featured in the magazine, we’d love to hear from you.