Pasquill’s Extreme Timber structure at Ecobuild formed a dramatic entrance to the main wood-focused section of the show .
Designed by architects James F Stephen and built by engineer Core Structures, the sweeping double curves of the glulam pavilion formed a “hyperbolic paraboloid”
Pasquill managing director Stuart McKill said the aim of the exercise was to demonstrate both the stuctural and environmental performance of engineered wood products (all the material was PEFC or FSC certified) and their aesthetic appeal. In particular, the idea was to demonstrate glulam’s tensile characteristics and suitability for highly specified, long-span, load-bearing stuctural elements.
“We’ve also deliberately left all the connections visible, so that visitors can see how the material works,” he said. “And we’re using it through the show for a series of briefing session for builders.”
The pavilion, he added, was also made possible by the contributions of some of Pasquill’s key suppliers, including Moelven, Södra and Setra.
“And the plinth the building stands on is made of Norbord products,” he said.
Inside the main body of the pavilion there was also a western red cedar screen, supplied by Pasquill’s sister Saint-Gobain Group business International Timber.
In total, the stucture comprised 20m³ or 10 tonnes of timber. It was designed over a four-month period and constructed at the show in about three days.
Pasquill hopes to use the pavilion, or elements of it, on its stand at the Timber Expo exhibition in Coventry in September.
“Ultimately, we may present it as a permanent structure to a charity,” said Mr McKill. “The timber would just need to be treated for exterior use and we may be able to put some form of roof over it, possibly in a plastic or glass product from another Saint-Gobain Group business.”
