EJOT offers the complete fastening connection for MMC

With 100 years of fastening systems expertise behind it spanning both the construction and industrial engineering sectors, EJOT is ideally placed to help manufacturers and contractors in the offsite and MMC sectors deliver superior quality buildings.

Here in the UK, EJOT’s continuous focus on excellence and elevating expectations helps customers meet the numerous fastening challenges, particularly the goal to ‘build lighter, build stronger’. Its fastening systems are continuously adapting to the changing needs of the sectors it serves, including automotive, construction and the external envelope.

For the external envelope, EJOT’s build-ready innovation has put the brand at the forefront of fastening systems for roofing, cladding and façade systems for nearly 40 years. This has helped facilitate the development of many new types of building systems and construction methodology, and its range of solutions for ETICS (External Thermal Insulation Composite Systems), along with attachment systems for photovoltaic solar panels and green roofs, have long been supporting net-zero building goals.

EJOT’s secure attachments solutions for concrete and other hard base materials complete the package for volumetric building providers. A next generation range of self-tapping screws and anchors for cracked and non-cracked concrete means safe, secure and reliable attachment is easy with the assurance of ETA-approval.

EJOT’s strong track record of supplying engineering screws and innovative fastening systems to fast-moving, highly automated manufacturing plants of all kinds demonstrates how it can help customers maintain quality consistency in jointing at all stages of offsite manufacturing.

www.ejot-volumetric.co.uk

 

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The value of specialist knowledge

Two recent projects – one in Canterbury and one in Watford – demonstrated how partnerships within the supply chain could drive new efficient ways of working. We report.

Pressures facing the construction industry in 2022 require new approaches to supply chain management and new ways of addressing challenges. And as the cost-of-living crisis continues to bite, and energy bills put further pressures on household budgets, the role energy-efficient buildings play in mitigating those challenges are coming under greater scrutiny.
In two recent projects involving companies that manufacture windows using profile from Deceuninck, new approaches to project management realised new efficiencies that cut the time on site (despite Covid restrictions) cut costs, and introduced more energy efficient products.

According to John Duckworth, Head of Commercial Sales at Deceuninck (pictured above), having an open mind about the integration of a project’s separate elements is vital to avoiding significant pitfalls, such as project delays and installation errors.
“Today, it is more evident than ever before that the technical expertise and knowledge required to complete sometimes very challenging jobs are coming from the specialist suppliers,” John says. “As result, we are seeing greater collaboration earlier on in the life of a project to iron out issues and maximise opportunities.”

New frontiers for offsite construction
Deceuninck fabricator Dempsey Dyer was involved in the construction of new student accommodation at The Riverside at Canterbury. The company delivered 666 Deceuninck 2500 Heritage Chamfered windows over a two-year period as part of a £115 million mixed-use development, and was involved in every stage of the project – design, build and delivery.
In a bid to drive efficiency and quality, and to overcome obstacles, Dempsey Dyer pioneered new ways of working including shipping products and expertise between continents.
Main contractor Bouygues UK wanted to drive a new approach to modular building, and enlisted the help of Dempsey Dyer as its fenestration partner. To ensure the windows fitted the modular build efficiently, Dempsey Dyer worked closely with Deceuninck, which was also involved in the architect’s drawings and submission.
Bouygues UK moved the construction of the student accommodation pods to Rabat in Morocco. Once constructed, these were shipped back to the UK where they were assembled on site. This took place over a 12-week period.
To ensure the safe transit of the windows to Morocco, Dempsey Dyer designed a crate to suit the window sizes, and the windows slotted down inside the crate. These were then loaded into shipping containers, which were transported by lorry to the port at Dover, before being shipped to Casablanca in Morocco. From there they were transported by lorry to Rabat, where the factory was located.
Dempsey Dyer’s Project Manager Anna Cusworth and Installation Manager Steve Burton spent two weeks in Rabat in Morocco to teach the construction workers at the modular construction factory how to install windows correctly.

“The workmanship in the factory in Morocco during our time there far exceeded the standard we see in UK construction,” Anna says. “Modular build enables a level of quality that is much harder to produce in the UK due to the nature of a construction site and all that affects it – weather, access, tolerances of all trades.”

As the pods were constructed and returned to the UK, they were assembled on site in Canterbury, where Dempsey Dyer installed bespoke cills for each window.
The main challenge facing all parties on the project was the restriction on movement following the Covid outbreak. This meant that during the design phase, Dempsey Dyer worked alongside the design teams from other organisations via Teams.

“In theory this was considered a negative, but in practice it worked exceptionally well, and it was a big positive for the project because most problems were ironed out thanks to swift collaboration,” Anna says.

Reduced cost, improved performance
Cortland Cassiobury on Ascot Road in Watford, is a 485-home build-to-let scheme, developed by American-based Cortland. The first phase of the project involved the construction of five multi-storey blocks, the largest of which has 23 floors.
Having passed the planning process with aluminium windows, the client later sought to cost-engineer the project. FastFrame was approached for an opinion after architects saw completed FastFrame projects using Linktrusion profile from Deceuninck. The architects liked the fact that Linktrusion products could replicate the look and size of aluminium windows, but at a reduced cost.
After winning the tender process, FastFrame took on full design responsibility for the building’s interfaces, allowing the fabricator to ensure the building envelope was fully weathertight, fit for purpose, and had no inherent defects for the completed build.
FastFrame worked with Deceuninck to prove that the windows and patio doors were fit for purpose on the higher floors – one block was 23 storeys high. This included demonstrating that the products would cope with the higher wind pressure at the greater height, and that they would be weathertight. This was completed via testing and simulation programmes.
FastFrame supplied products for 1,872 apertures across all five blocks. These include: Deceuninck 5000 tilt and turn windows – Decoroc-coated in Umbra Grey; Balcony doors manufactured using a fibre-glass reinforced profile (Linktrusion) from Deceuninck, which allowed them to go up to 1,100mm wide and 2,400mm high, and can’t be achieved in PVCU; Decalu Patio Doors from Deceuninck, which were colour-matched with the PVCU products; and all the aluminium cills.
FastFrame is the only UK fabricator to manufacture Deceuninck’s full PVCU range, including Linktrusion which is reinforced using fibre glass. This allows windows and doors to go to larger sizes where PVCU wouldn’t typically be considered. Linktrusion also comes in at about 60% of the cost of aluminium. FastFrame is also the only company outside Belgium to apply Deceuninck’s unique Decoroc coating to products, which matches aluminium powder coating for looks and performance.
Due to complications on site and the restrictions brought about by the Coronavirus pandemic, windows were not required on site until six months later than originally planned. Rather than pushing back the end date, FastFrame helped to bring the completion date forward, so a two-year project was completed in a year and a quarter.
FastFrame worked closely with the installation team – APW Installations – so that product was delivered on time. Part of the strategy to bring forward the completion date was that the five blocks were built concurrently rather than consecutively, which required careful negotiation between the different parties on site.

 

For more information about Deceuninck’s product and service offer

please call 01249 816 969

CLICK HERE to email Deceuninck

CLICK HERE to visit the Deceuninck website

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New RIBA-approved CPD for specifying render for MMC solutions

 

Architects and specifiers can access a new CPD on selecting the correct render system for MMC solutions.

 

The CPD, titled Modern Render Systems for Framed Construction and Other MMC Solutions, has been created by Saint-Gobain Weber to help specifiers understand what they should be looking for from a technical perspective to ensure the render systems they choose deliver the required performance.

As well as covering fire safety and sustainability performance, the CPD provides an overview of common MMC options and the aesthetic considerations of these types of projects. It also details the practicalities of installing the render system as well as maintenance.

Kelvin Green, Senior Product Marketing Manager, said:

“Render is a popular finish and it’s important to understand the different options depending on the type of construction. With MMC being less carbon intensive, this CPD also explains how render makes a genuine contribution to sustainability goals as well as the health and well-being of the occupants of the building.”

 

Weber’s commitment to training is widely recognised in the construction industry. This new CPD joins a growing library of resources available to help understand the benefits of the type of systems and solutions that Weber’s technical teams can deliver to specifiers.

CLICK HERE for more information or HERE to book the CPD

 

 

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ROCKWOOL® launches the UK’s most thermally efficient stone wool for cavity walls

NyRock® Cavity Slab 032 combines the UK’s lowest lambda rating for stone wool with acoustic and fire performance, plus space saving capabilities

ROCKWOOL has launched NyRock® Cavity Slab 032 providing specifiers with a low lambda, non-combustible stone wool slab for full and partial fill masonry cavities that enables a thinner wall construction.

NyRock Cavity Slab 032 has been developed using NyRock technology, the manufacturer’s patented production process that creates a more efficient fibre structure than traditional stone wool products. With its 0.032 W/mK thermal conductivity value, users can achieve a U-value of 0.18 W/m²K with a thickness of 150mm, depending on construction type, which is 25mm thinner than standard stone wool cavity products within the same wall build up.

As with all ROCKWOOL stone wool insulation, NyRock Cavity Slab 032 can withstand temperatures in excess of 1000°C, achieving the highest Euroclass A1 non-combustible reaction to fire classification. It also benefits from a high density semi rigid composition meaning it will not slump in the cavity and retains the same thermal and fire resistance properties more than 55 years after installation according to independent research.[1]

NyRock Cavity Slab 032 comes in 455mm widths to suit standard vertical wall tie spaces and achieves a closely knitted joint with adjacent slabs, without the need for taping of the joints. This helps eliminate gaps allowing for continuity of insulation across the cavity.

 

“Energy efficiency is a very real and immediate challenge for the construction sector,” said Paul Barrett, Head of Product Management at ROCKWOOL UK. “Alongside the need to improve the thermal effectiveness of existing buildings against a backdrop of rising energy bills, our eyes must also be on the more onerous requirements of the Future Homes Standard and the UK’s wider 2050 net zero carbon target too.

“NyRock Cavity Slab 032 gives specifiers a new level of thermal performance for stone wool alongside spacing saving capabilities, and acoustic and fire performance that are equally critical when providing occupants with comfortable and safe spaces. These performance benefits are also backed by a strong commercial offer including a competitive price point and installation efficiencies such as ease of cutting and fitting on-site.”

 

Having undergone an extensive testing programme, NyRock Cavity Slab 032 is suitable for new build, renovations and extensions and has British Board of Agrément (BBA) certification[2] for full and partial fill applications.

All ROCKWOOL stone wool insulation comprising NyRock technology have water repellent properties and can be recycled indefinitely. Stone wool insulation is manufactured from naturally occurring volcanic rock that is abundant in supply as it is continually replenished by the earth’s crust.

 

CLICK HERE For more details on NyRock Cavity Slab 032 and the wider NyRock range

 

[1] FIW (German test and research institute), Durability Project Mineral Wool, 2016

[2] BBA Certification 22/6252

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M-AR strengthens its board of directors with double appointment

Mark Fox, Operations Director and Paul Cunniffe 

 

Offsite modular manufacturer, M-AR, has strengthened its leadership team by promoting Paul Cunniffe and Mark Fox to sit on the board as directors, signalling the company’s intention to continue its successful journey as part of an ambitious five-year growth plan.

Paul and Mark have both built their experience in a variety of roles at M-AR over the last few years, during which time the company has grown and evolved and a rapid pace. Together with the other board members, Paul and Mark will help to shape the future of M-AR as it continues its projected growth over the next five years with a focus on serving the residential, education and commercial sectors.

Paul Cunniffe, M-AR’s new preconstruction director, is responsible for overseeing all projects prior to works starting on site, seeing them successfully through the tender process and on to site. He will act as custodian of this process, smoothing the way and making sure clients are kept informed throughout while continuing to build the foundations to support M-AR’s future growth trajectory.

In his previous role of preconstruction manager at M-AR, he steered the department as it grew, taking on several dedicated bid teams. This, together with his extensive experience in the traditional contracting sector, puts Paul in an excellent position to lead the preconstruction team as M-AR continues to grow and develop. His focus will be on creating robust new roadmaps for M-AR to make sure it can continue to deliver the same great service as it scales up operations, without losing sight of what makes M-AR unique.

Mark Fox, having recently been appointed to the role of operations director, is responsible for all operations both in the factory and on site with a major focus on quality and safety – a vital role for M-AR which describes itself as a contractor with a factory. Mark is well-versed in the particular issues affecting the MMC sector and his attention to detail will be invaluable as he keeps projects running to schedule and budget while making sure that any challenges are dealt with swiftly.

In the two and a half years Mark has been at M-AR, where he was head of operations and most recently manufacturing director, he has overseen the move to its new larger factory to meet increased demand. He’s also implemented new procedures which ensure that the factory is always operating at maximum efficiency, manufacturing high quality modules and therefore minimising snagging on site post completion.

 

Ryan Geldard, director at M-AR said: “We pride ourselves on being a forward-looking, innovative and dynamic company. The fact that our board of directors all share the same passion for the fantastic work we do for our clients helps us to constantly look at different ways of working to get the best possible outcome for our clients. I’m proud to have Paul and Mark on the board – they’re both key assets and great people.”

 

For more information call 01482 635 08, email buildingrelationships@m-ar.co.uk or visit www.m-ar.co.uk

 

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Guidance on drainage system best practice for public sector RMI projects

Polypipe Building Services launches guidance on drainage system best practice for public sector RMI projects

With the launch of the Better Social Housing Review in June bringing an increased focus on the importance of refurbishing ageing public housing stock, Polypipe Building Services has announced the launch of a white paper offering guidance on one of the most complex and time-consuming RMI challenges – drainage system replacement.

Following government debate regarding the condition of some social housing in the UK, the independent Better Social Housing Review has been established to make practical recommendations to social housing providers to tackle problems from damp issues to communication with tenants. This has placed a renewed focus on how RMI projects can deliver best value and minimise disruption for residents.

Given the nature of the work involved, drainage system replacement can often represent a large portion of such projects. As Graham Hicks, Project Development Manager at Polypipe Building Services explains, this means specialist focus is needed:

 

“Replacing the drainage stack in a large residential building is a significant piece of remedial work, and inevitably means a period of time where residents are unable to use sinks, toilets and other facilities. Furthermore, given the nature of older buildings there has usually been a degree of renovation or reconfiguration work already undertaken which means planning exactly what needs to be replaced and how can be extremely complicated.”

“Getting drainage replacement right can often be make or break as to whether an RMI project overruns or causes unexpected disruption to residents. That’s why we have launched our latest white paper that gives specialist advice on what should be considered for this type of work.”

 

Based on case studies from recent public sector RMI projects, the white paper outlines key considerations for building owners and contractors so they can ensure drainage system replacements are carried out as efficiently as possible – helping to support the drive to improve the condition of the UK’s social housing stock.

CLICK HERE to download the The white paper from the Polypipe website here:

 

 

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BREATHE CLEANER AIR WITH ELECTRICALDIRECT’S EXTENDED RANGE OF AIR PURIFIERS

ElectricalDirect has added more products to its air purification range to help education specifiers and facilities managers protect indoor spaces against harmful germs and unpleasant odours.

 

Suitable for public and commercial spaces, ElectricalDirect has added the Vent-Axia PureAir Room Air Purifier to its range. This advanced multistage air cleaning system is able to remove 99.9% of airborne particles including COVID-19, viruses and bacteria.

The Vent-Axia PureAir Room Purifier also features a six-stage filtration system: a washable pre-filter, an H13 HEPA filter, an activated carbon filter, a cold catalyst filter, ultraviolet light, and an ionizer. With a capacity of up to 30m2 and a maximum noise level of 45d(B)A, the user will not be disturbed by loud background noise.

This portable and lightweight product also benefits from an auto mode that sets airflow based on the indoor air pollution, air quality display and a timer to allow you to set the unit to run for periods up to eight hours. Additionally, it features three speeds which can be manually or automatically controlled, meaning it can be easily adjusted for the level of usage required.

For increased functionality, ElectricalDirect also stocks the Vent Axia PureAir Room Air Purifier with Smart App Control which can be operated by its SmartLife app. This feature gives the ability to link multiple air purifiers to one app and remotely control each unit, speeding up the process of maintaining larger properties.

ElectricalDirect’s line up also includes the super slim air purifiers from AirX Pro, which is a medical grade air purifying system that removes 99.9% allergens and 93.3% of odours, from airborne viruses and dust mites to organic fumes, tobacco smoke, traffic pollution and more.

Carrie Earl, Category Manager at ElectricalDirect, said: “As part of our promise to offer a huge range of products, we are pleased to have increased our portfolio of air purifiers to meet the growing demand for improved air quality. These are excellent solutions to providing healthier indoor environments, especially as we approach winter and consider the health implications related to poor air quality.”

Specialist online retailer, ElectricalDirect has over 12,000 products in stock including everything from sockets, switches and cable management, to hand dryers and panel heaters. Education specifiers and facilities managers can choose from a range of flexible delivery options to meet the needs of their busy schedules, including free next day delivery on orders over £45 ex VAT, same day delivery to postcodes in selected areas of London and the East of England, as well as click and collect from 6,500 pick up points across the UK.

 

To find out more about ElectricalDirect, CLICK HERE

 

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FLOATING MODULAR HOMES

Danish Maritime Architecture Studio MAST has developed the “Land on Water” project, a system that provides an adaptable solution to building almost anything on the water: floating homes, campsites, even small parks, and community centers. The project represents a response to the acknowledgment of raising sea levels and increased risks of urban flooding, which has led to a growing interest in adapting architecture to be built on water. The “Land on Water” proposes a flexible and sustainable solution, a departure point from previous solutions, which are proven to be difficult to adapt, transport and are often using unsustainable materials such as polystyrene-filled concrete foundations or plastic pontoons. The project is developed with the support of Hubert Rhomberg & venture studio FRAGILE.

The system is based on flat-pack floating foundations, easy to transport and assemble in various configurations. The system takes inspiration from gabion constructions, a technology that utilizes mesh cages filled with rubble to create low-cost foundations or walls. In this case, the flat-pack cages, made from reinforced, recycled plastic, are filled with locally sourced, upcycled floatation materials that can support the weight of the structure on top. This has the added advantage that the floatation material can be adapted or adjusted at any time to the weight of the building on top.

 

 

The Land on Water promises to create a sustainable solution for both above and below water. The floating foundations can provide a good habitat for fish and crustaceans, while also giving an anchor point for Mollusca and seaweed, thus contributing to enriching the biodiversity of the local ecosystem. The system also avoids using toxic materials such as the anti-fouling paints often used to treat steel and concrete foundations.

The modular and adaptable character of the systems can also encourage communities to grow and develop in a dynamic and organic matter. The architects see this as an alternative to the large master-planned floating cities which often create rigid structures and are thus liable to repeat the mistakes of planners in the mid-20th century.

 

 

In a similar effort to take advantage of the potential of floating stuctures, Netherlands-based architecture, urban planning, and research firm Waterstudio.NL have revealed the designs of a first-of-its-kind “island city” developed along a functional grid across a 200-hectare lagoon on the Indian Ocean, the Maldives Floating City. The city of Amsterdam’, collaborating with Dutch architecture practice Space&Matter, is also implementing Schoonschip, an innovative circular neighborhood, a community-driven project set to become a prototype for floating urban developments.

 

Source: Arch Daily

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GUIDE: Climate Change Resilience in the Build Environment

World Green Building Council launches a guide to ‘Climate Change Resilience in the Built Environment’ to support a global transition towards infrastructure solutions which focus on people

The World Green Building Council (WorldGBC) has launched today (26 October 2022) a new industry guide on ‘Climate Change Resilience in the Built Environment’, collating effective and practical steps that can be taken on a building, community and city scale in order to adapt and build resilience to the changing climate.

Under the inevitable impacts of climate change, which are affecting at least 85% of the world’s population, bringing acute hazards such as droughts, rising sea levels, heat waves and floods increasing frequency and severity, resilience action is essential to build community capacity to survive and thrive in our built environments.

That’s why WorldGBC’s flagship Health and Wellbeing global programme Better Places for People (BPFP) has partnered with the UN High-Level Climate Champions and C40 Cities to deliver this timely resource for enabling adaptation at different urban scales and inspiring decisive action to deliver on the needs of communities around the world.

On 10 November 2022, during the Youth & Future Generations Day at the UN Climate Change Conference, COP27, and in line with ‘Resilience’ being the UN High-Level Climate Champions’ focus of the day, the guide will be showcased at a high-level event in the Buildings Pavilion of the Blue Zone. This will continue to elevate awareness on the critical role of the built environment for securing a resilient future.

What is the aim of the guide?

The ‘Climate Change Resilience in the Built Environment’ guide presents principles of built environment management for changes to weather related climate change impacts such as: storms, high winds, droughts, floods, severe temperature change, and wildfires. These principles are focused on measures of mitigation and damage protection from continual or gradual climate impacts and in some cases, extreme weather events.

The impacts of climate change and damage from extreme and gradual weather events will occur at building, community and city scale across all corners of the globe. Therefore, measures to mitigate damage and ensure recoverability must be implemented at a systemic level. To incorporate climate resilience strategies across a series of complex systems, all built environment stakeholders and decision makers will have to engage and take responsibility. Leadership from local and national government is essential to activate meaningful adaptation and resilience solutions.

WorldGBC encourages the broad range of built environment stakeholders set out in the guide to engage with their role, to exert their influence and implement change. Under the inevitable impacts of climate change, resilience action is essential if we are to build the community capacity to survive and thrive within our built environments.

We need to listen and learn from the voices of those communities most impacted by climate impacts – to respond adequately in the delivery of resiliency solutions.

WorldGBC is grateful for the support from the BPFP Steering Committee and Sponsors, including Buro Happold, Multiplex, Saint-Gobain, and Shaw Contract.

The full guide can be downloaded here.

COMMENTS:

Cristina Gamboa, CEO, WorldGBC:

 “In response to the ongoing impacts of our changing climate, the UN High-Level Climate Champion, C40 cities, and WorldGBC are proud to share this practical guide for Climate Change Resilience in the Built Environment in the lead up to COP27. This principle-based resource will support the much-needed transition towards people-centric infrastructure solutions considering different urban scales.

 It’s time to scale low carbon, highly resilient and equitable built environment solutions for everyone, everywhere. And it’s time for impactful policy responses from local and regional leaders, to enable this much needed transformation.

 Join us and take ambitious climate action today!”

 

Nigel Topping, UN High-Level Climate Action Champion for UK COP26, and
Dr. Mahmoud Mohieldin, UN’s High-Level Climate Action Champion for Egypt COP27:

“The built environment sector has the opportunity to lead the resilience agenda, placing adaptation on par with mitigation through how we design, manage and occupy buildings and infrastructure for the worlds’ people. Regardless of where you live or where you do business, we all need to build resilience to climate change.”

 

Sachin Bhoite, Director of Climate Resilience, Climate Solutions and Networks, C40 Cities:

“The dangerous consequences of climate change are already posing an existential threat worldwide. This is felt acutely in our largest cities. Cities are important in this regard, not only because it is where a majority of people live, but also where the most impactful solutions could be implemented. Applying adaptation solutions to our cities will ensure that the built environment continues to protect, provide for and connect urban citizens, despite a changing climate.”

 

Pascal Eveillard, Director, Sustainable Business Development, Saint-Gobain:

“It is fundamental to consider now the resilience and adaptation of our built environment to climate change. Buildings are and will be increasingly exposed to higher climate stresses and more frequent climate shocks and extreme weather conditions, disrupting our lives and damaging our natural environment. This guide provides key insights to develop efficient strategies at all levels to better protect humans and nature.”

 

María Fernández Cachafeiro, Head of Sustainability, Multiplex:

“The impacts of climate change are a present-day reality felt by everyone, globally. We need to put people first to deliver strategies and solutions for a resilient and adaptable built environment.”

 

 Kellie Ballew, Vice President of Global Sustainability, Shaw Contract:

“The resilience of our built environment – the spaces where we live, work, learn, heal, and come together – is more important than ever and requires a focus on people AND the planet.”

 

Viviana Valdivieso, CEO, Colombia Green Building Council (CCCS):

“We are committed to promoting a built environment that positively impacts all life on our planet. Therefore, sustainable and resilient practices should not be an option, they are the way to achieve fundamental human right level design!”

 

Jorge Chapa, Head of Market Transformation, Green Building Council Australia (GBCA):

“In Australia, many of the communities who fought bushfires in 2019 are today inundated with floods. The climate is changing, here and now. It’s time for the built environment to respond.”

 

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Eco Conscious Construction for Maritime Museum

Sleek, sustainable and striking, the recent development by Haslob Kruse + Partners fuses past and present with an expansive wooden exterior made with sustainable leader, Kebony wood, which was selected to house over 60,000 precious maritime artefacts at Germany’s National Maritime Museum in Bremerhaven.

Clad entirely in sustainably sourced Kebony Character wood and containing 2,300 square metres of depot space, the German Maritime Museum houses an extensive collection of archival materials and museum objects: preserving Germany’s maritime heritage with a forward-thinking and eco-conscious approach to architecture.

Designed with a focus on modernity and eco-conscious construction, the German Maritime Museum has harnessed the latest developments in warehousing, air conditioning, and technology, whilst simultaneously making use of sustainable materials in the construction process. The result is a museum depot which is vast in size, but grounded in environmentally-sound practice, which also offers a solution to concerns about limitations in space to contain this precious historical collection.

Created to enable future generations to better understand the relationship between man and the sea, the depot contains an extensive collection of 380,000 archival materials and 60,000 museum objects. This unique maritime vision is realised by the joint pattern of Kebony wood, which resembles the hull of a wooden ship, creating a unique sense of place which is both striking and recognisable.

Kebony’s modified timber is dimensionally stable, long-lasting, and preserves its natural aesthetic for many years. The durability of the material means it will require as little maintenance as possible and withstand the high stresses on the building from wind, weather, and salt water.

A global leader in the production of environmentally friendly wood, Kebony’s pioneering wood-processing technology sees sustainably sourced softwoods heated with furfuryl alcohol, an agricultural by-product, modifying it to maintain the same durable properties of industrial hardwoods without the need for extensive deforestation. Kebony wood is both cost-effective and visually attractive, retaining a natural aesthetic in keeping with the maritime theme of the museum.

 

Jens Kruse, Architect at Haslob Kruse + Partner Architekten BDA, commented: “We discussed for a long-time which material would be suitable here on the water with the salty air and the strong wind. In the end, together with the client, we opted for Kebony wood because it is a very durable and easy-care wood and is also produced sustainably.”

 

Nina Landbø, International Sales Manager at Kebony, commented: “The German Maritime Museum in Bremerhaven is the perfect setting for preserving the rich maritime history of the area. We are pleased to have been involved in such an exciting and important project, which has a long-life guarantee for future generations to enjoy.”

 

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