It’s been 18 months in gestation and three in labour, but TTJ’s new title for the timber construction market is now about to emerge, no doubt kicking and screaming if it’s like other magazine launches, into the daylight.
The new TTJ-offshoot, Timber Building, has the subtitle, wood in construction and the built environment. It targets architects and other specifiers, engineers, builders, local authorities and housing associations, plus the timber supply chain.
The aim of the magazine is to report on the use of timber and wood products in construction in the widest sense. The first edition includes an article on a ground-breaking 90m-long ‘gridshell’ structure which will form a new visitors’ centre in Windsor Great Park.
We also look at the RuralZED project to create quick-build, but durable and affordable housing for rural communities, and, on a bigger scale, timber frame specialist Stewart Milne‘s work with Bellway Homes in the Thames Gateway.
We report too on Canadian timber home specialist Normerica’s UK plans and on the use of timber frame in care homes.
Self-build is another focus, with an article written by a self-builder in mid-construction of a home making extensive use of engineered wood.
Timber Building has a strong technical and general timber information content, with articles from TRADA Technology, whose support has been invaluable, and a regular slot on using lesser-known species.
It also sets timber construction in the context of sustainable development and will have regular updates on certification and environmental impacts of wood building.
The aim of Timber Building is to provide objective coverage of the market and not propaganda for the timber sector. But if the message about the potential of timber building becomes more widely appreciated and a broader audience sees some of the inspirational projects under way around the UK, the magazine may make some small contribution to the health of the industry.
The first edition of Timber Building will be distributed to TTJ readers. We hope you like it.