The Trust UK C16 campaign brought together a group of architects yesterday for a RIBA-led round table discussion exploring perceptions of UK-grown structural timber and the barriers that may be limiting its specification in UK construction projects.
The session provided an opportunity to hear directly from architects about what influences material choices, their understanding of UK C16 timber and what could make it easier for practices to specify more home-grown material.
A key theme to emerge was a strong interest in the relationship between forestry design and provenance — understanding where timber comes from, how our forests are managed and how greater consideration of material origin at the design stage could support increased use of UK-grown timber. Traceability and provenance were particularly important areas of discussion, with architects interested in being able to understand and communicate the journey of timber from the forest through to its use within a building.
The discussion also highlighted a potential awareness gap around UK C16. Several participants commented that the session had given them a greater understanding of the capabilities and availability of locally grown structural timber and prompted them to think differently about their influence on the specification process and where it could be incorporated into future projects. Importantly, architects expressed an interest in exploring opportunities to specify more UK-grown timber where it is appropriate for the application.
The round table was led by RIBA, with contributions from Rob MacKenna of James Jones & Sons, Mark Kirk of Paramount Structures and Peter Smith of Roderick James Architects.
The event forms part of the wider Trust UK C16 campaign, which is working across the construction sector to increase understanding of C16 timber and encourage greater consideration of UK-grown material at the earliest stages of design and specification.
Insights gathered from the discussion will now help inform the next phase of the campaign, particularly around provenance, traceability and strengthening the connection between our forests, the materials we specify and the buildings we create.