AHEC celebrates red oak success

Timber Expo major sponsor American Hardwood Export Council (AHEC) was riding on the crest of a wave at the show – the Timber Wave latticework spiral arch made from sections of laminated American red oak that dominates the entrance to the Victoria & Albert Museum for the duration of the London Design Festival.

The response to the structure and the subsequent media coverage has been immense, said AHEC’s European director, David Venables. “We’ve been asked about the legacy aspect of this project and whether it can be reinstalled in its entirety elsewhere,” he said. “But its real legacy is in the learning curve [for its designers and manufacturers] and in challenging the boundaries of hardwood in construction.

“It shows what can be done – and with less well known materials. You can’t call American red oak the poor relation when you can do this with it.”

Mr Venables said he was impressed by the quality of the stands and the number of “big players” exhibiting.

“It’s a very professional looking show,” he said. “There are some top drawer architects speaking at the In Touch with Timber conference [which ran in tandem with the show] and I think the Wood Awards probably benefited from being held in conjunction with Timber Expo. There were a lot of people there who wouldn’t necessarily have attended before and now recognise it as a good event, which showcases excellent projects.”