Timber as a renewable material
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The use of timber in construction is becoming increasingly popular because of its environmental merits. It is one of the only inherently renewable building materials and has the additional advantage that both the growing tree and the manufactured wood product act as carbon sinks, locking in the carbon until the wood is broken down through decay or burning. If suggested UK housing targets of 200,000 homes per year were being met, it is estimated that up to 4 million tonnes of carbon could be sequestered in housing stock every year.
Timber is an increasingly popular construction product because of its environmental merits.
Sustainable forest management is essential to avoid deforestation.
Management by continuous cover maintains the wellbeing of the forest ecosystem.
Clear felling is common practice for traditional plantation forestry with a commercial focus, but it can be detrimental to the environment.
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The Exbury Egg is a giant timber pod floating on the estuary of the Beaulieu river, Hampshire, and moving up and down with the tide.
Pocket House is an award-winning family house, distinguished by its character, the quality of its detailing – much of it in timber
– and by the skill with which the architect has made use of a dauntingly restricted site.