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More Timber for Architecture

The Green Oak Carpentry Company build and renovate timber-framed structures, from great halls to elegant bridges, from vast grid-shells to simple summerhouses, combining tried and tested traditional techniques with an innovative approach to new design and timber use. 

Jonathan Rau )Hants Woodland Officer), Andrew Holloway (GOCC) & David Saunders (East Sussex Woodland Officer) at the GOCC workshop near Petersfield, Hants

An architect recently approached The Green Oak Carpentry Company with a request for oak cladding to hide a proposed steel frame for Great Fosters Hotel in Surrey.  Green Oak Carpentry Company Director, Andrew Holloway, convinced his client that the entire structure could be redesigned and built in oak at no extra cost. Impressively, Green Oak Carpentry Company completed the works on time and on budget. The client has a structure requiring significantly lower levels of fossil fuel in its construction, with higher fire resistance compared to materials like steel, ‘which can buckle and collapse at temperatures little higher than the ignition point for timber’ (Source: www.woodforgood.com).  The story of Great Fosters Hotel clearly illustrates the need for more understanding within the architectural community of timber as a versatile construction material with considerable aesthetic and environmental benefits. 

Andrew Holloway has built up his business and his extensive knowledge of local timber supply and construction industry requirements over the last ten years. He recognises an untapped potential for English sawyers to supply the timber framing and construction industry - if they are willing to take an innovative approach. He suggests that more communication between sawyers, architects, engineers and builders could create a better understanding of the issues involved and help bring more locally produced timber components into construction. 

Andrew is bringing his expertise to various projects that will encourage more use of local timber in construction. He is a major contributor to a workbook for timber construction being devised by the TimberBuild Network Southeast, providing architects, engineers and designers with detailed information on locally sourced timber components for construction to be published summer 2004.  There is potential for foresters and sawyers to use this workbook to assess potential markets.

Andrew is also involved in the TimberBuild Network’s design for a workshop structure that will be fast to construct, will utilise low-grade local timbers and be easily replicable. The prototype will provide workshop space at the Woodland Enterprise Centre, near Flimwell. Both of these projects will pave the way for more local timbers to reach the construction market, but only if growers and sawyers can adapt to the requirements of this developing market.

Andrew Holloway, The Green Oak Carpentry Company, Tel: 01730 892049,
Email: enquiries@greenoakcarpentry.co.uk, www.greenoakcarpentry.co.uk

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