Jubilee Conference 2005

Carpenters Hall, London

3rd November 2005

“Wood - a Modern Material for a Modern World”

 

The Institute of Wood Science (IWSc) celebrated its 50th year with a dinner and cabaret at the new Haberdashers’ Hall in the City of London followed by a Conference at the Carpenters’ Hall attended by 126 delegates.

 

Speaking at the dinner Dr Vic Kearley, President of the Institute, said that the last fifty years had seen many predictions about timber come to fruition. He welcomed eight Past Presidents and guests from all over the world.  Replying on behalf of the guests Mike Jeffree, Editor of Timber Trades Journal, outlined the importance of science and training in timber – quoting from several successful young people embarking on careers with the benefit of IWSc qualifications.  Toasting the health of the Institute he said that “your industry needs you!”    

Past Presidents of IWSc attending Jubilee Dinner

The Conference was opened by Dr Vic Kearley who said that if wood was invented today it would make national news in the morning papers.  He outlined, with the help of three Past Presidents the work of the Institute over the last fifty years.  The mooring session was then chaired by Richard Harris of Buro Happold.  Under the theme “Wood - a Modern Material for a Modern World” the Conference heard from Amanda Baillieu, Editor of RIBA Journal, on modern architecture and from Luke Hughes on modern design.  Both were upbeat about the future of wood but Ms Baillieu mapped the recent progress of wood in attracting architects to its full potential in growing number of buildings. “Architecture is now about much more inventive use of material and, according to the RIBA Journal barometer, timber will be very much part of this mix” she predicted.  Luke Hughes, furniture designer and maker, agreed on the future of wood from a different perspective - based on the idea that the conjunction of craft, industrial and computerised production opens up opportunities for small businesses to service the needs of architects.  But, he warned, “there is a communications gap between the timber industry and furniture makers, in terms of the availability of information that exists but is not easily enough available”. Professor Arturo Dell’Acqua Bellavitis from Milan then gave an architectural Professors view of the future of wood.

The afternoon session commenced with a an explanation of “Why the Wood Awards Winners won” by Giles Downes Chairman of the award’s judges, who went on to chair the afternoon session.  Three case studies were presented by architects from Foster’s “Sage Gateshead”, Whitbybird’s “Faculty of Education” in Cambridge and Capita Percy Thomas’s “Wales Millennium Centre” in Cardiff. All three projects use wood extensively and following the presentations Giles Downes led a debate on the “Challenges of Architecture to Wood” which stimulated a lively discussion and more calls for better dissemination of technical information on wood.

 

Case study: Foster’s Sage Gateshead in FSC American Ash

The “Future of Wood” was a fitting close for this forward-looking conference on wood as a modern material, tackled by Dr Peter Bonfield, MD of BRE Construction and a Fellow of the IWSc. He discussed in detail the efforts being made by competing materials, such as concrete and steel, to present their environmental credentials and their performance capabilities.  He suggested that in the race for acceptance by the Government in its affordable housing programme, wood had not yet put its best foot forward and he warned “Don’t get left behind!"

The Jubilee Conference gave delegates an opportunity to review products and services exhibited by the many sponsors including “wood. for good.”, Canada Wood and the American Hardwood Export Council.