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The Conference was preceded by a study visit to Stourhead Forest followed by the President’s Reception at the magnificent Roman Baths and dinner in the Pump Rooms attended by 60 delegates. A Fellowship was presented by the Institute to Prof Richard Harris. Speaking as President, Geoff Taylor called for more companies to commit their staff to the Institute’s education and training resources, in order to see both the company and the individual develop to their maximum potential.

Opening the conference, the President thanked sponsors for their support.  Chairman for the morning, Charles Trevor then introduced a varied programme in a new format including a session designed to encourage new speakers to make short presentations that can be used in wood events elsewhere. 

“Development of Rational Guidelines for Traditional Joints in Oak Frame Construction” presented by Dr Jon Shanks of Buro Happold set the scene for a conference aimed at today’s construction market. Based on his recent work in UK and Japan, he discussed traditional framing techniques in term of prefabrication, craft skills, timber knowledge and understanding, explaining some advantages for modern use such as compatibility of materials, fire protection, costs and energy issues. The need for better engineering understanding of timber connections often relates to the need for stiffness when for example glazing is involved. Details demonstration of testing results very well illustrated.  Models for frame strength and stiffness have been developed as a result of Shanks’ research while undertaking a PhD at Bath. A lively Q&A session followed covering such issues as the 18% MC recommended for pegs so they do not shatter when too dry or bend when too wet.

Joao Custợdio from the National Laboratory of Civil Engineering (LNEC) in Lisbon provided an international element to the conference with his account of the “Repair of heritage timber structures in Lisbon”, still standing but built before the major earthquake of 1755. The objective is to adopt low invasive techniques rather than traditional methods.  Many adapted buildings had been preserved by modern intervention over time that relied on the original timber structures.
He covered structural rehabilitation either by new materials or reconstruction of timbers and reinforcement using bonded metallic or composite plates, as well as the addition of new elements; and repairs of cracks and fissures in deteriorated timber components, some of which come under European standard CEN TC193 SC1 WG1.  He concluded with illustrations of work on the Portuguese Parliament and a major concert hall in Lisbon.

“CNC CAD-CAM in 15 minutes” was John Lloyd’s contribution on behalf of Oakwrights – a Wales based company of 50 people producing handmade individual timber frame housing components for the self-build sector at the top end of the market. Houses average 800 cu ft, but can run up to 6,000 cu ft, with costs averaging £120 per sq ft and are being built at a rate of one per week.  With a furniture and machinery background, John came recently to this pioneer team in CAD design - making bespoke housing available to individual client’s demanding requirements.  Highly focused on complex structures, Oakwrights were set up in 2001, with turnover now running at £5million per year.  “Weapons of mass production” was an amusing catchphrase John used for some of the CAD systems in this sector, which he claimed as inappropriate!   Oakwrights now use a three-head Hundegger machine which is capable of using rough sawn as well as dimensioned timber with a capacity of 1 m3 an hour of finished components.  The result is erection of an average sized house finished in 4 days.

Deputising for Glenn Howells of The Saville Building fame Matt McGrory, project architect of this former Gold Award winning building (2006 Wood Awards), talked as a working architect in what he called a collaborative practice to create a new visitor’s centre – “with nature at its heart”. Working with The Green Oak Company and Buro Happold, Glenn Howells’ practice took on the task of building a timber lattice gridshell lifted off the ground, rather than tied into the ground as in all previous large gridshell buildings. Using 4 layers of locally winter-felled FSC certified larch, the 90m x 25m structure utilised used heartwood only.  

A series of six “fast” five-minute presentations chaired by Dr Martin Ansell, intended to hone the skills of timber presenters on a range of timber topics, included:

• Andrew Thomson of the University of Bath established advantages and future work on non-metallic timber connections
• Barny Freke of BRE Timber discussed maximizing the potential of Scots pine falling boards
• Chris Holland of BRE covered Douglas fir glulam in the Southwest
• David Simpson presented in-situ structural repair of Kerto S floor joists
• Tim Reynolds of BRE discussed the potential for timber piling in the UK
• Peter Walker presented his and Richard Harris’s work on this topping timber concrete composites

This new element to the conference drew considerable applause from delegates.

Under the afternoon chairmanship of Ed Suttie from BRE, three further topics concluded the event.  The first was given by Helmut Holl, graduate of Rosenheim, now MD Baufritz in Bavaria, a 112 year old, environmentally focused, wood-processing company producing 200 prefabricated timber homes per year. With accurate timber design and engineering, family sized houses are erected on site in no more than one or two days.  Delegates were shown the future of German prefabricated housing with care and attention and a high level of innovation and environmental friendliness. 

Tiffany Wood, owner of a Baufritz house close by in Bath, explained how she and her family had liked the Baufritz ecological ethic and its high level of design cooperation with prospective clients.  Kevin Mc Cloud was apparently blown away by his visit to the factory.  “I have waited 20 years for this moment in building – building heaven”, he was quoting as saying. Timber framed housing built in a factory is the way forward.  The entire house can be craned in, and over a few days all up is wind and water-tight.  Timber is essential to this house, she proposed and the “senses of wood” transform a building more than any other.  “Timber is the responsible way forward!”

Nick Milestone of B & K Timber Structures discussed hybrid timber construction using wood in combination with steel.  The rising price of steel is making wood glulam a highly attractive proposition. Environmentally acceptable, it is easy to use, has good performance - charring in fire, and gives freedom of shape and space.  CAD to CNC direct data transfer, drawn from steel technology, is now used for wood.  Examples included Tesco’s Cheetham Hill eco store, Whitings School using glulam spruce in the London Borough of Barnet, Sainsbury’s Dartmouth store also using larch glulam and finally the Asda eco store in Bootle. Reference was made to the “Good Book of Wood” and Milestone suggested that all this will lead to a resurgence of glulam in the UK.

Final speaker in this multinational programme was American Dr Robert Ben Brungraber, who described many projects using heavy timber structures and traditional joinery in the USA. His long experience and style in pandering to the unusual designs of North American clients provided some amusing moments.