THE AMERICAN HARDWOOD EXPORT COUNCIL PRESENTS ‘THE SMILE’ BY ARCHITECT ALISON BROOKS AND ARUP FOR THE LONDON DESIGN FESTIVAL www.thetulipwoodsmile.info#thesmileTheAmericanHardwoodExportCouncil(AHEC)hascollaboratedwithAlisonBrooksArchitects,ArupandtheLondonDesignFestivaltopresentacross-laminatedtulipwoodstructure,‘TheSmile’attheChelseaCollegeofArtRootsteinHopkinsParadeGroundfrom17Septemberuntil12October.TheSmileisoneoftheFestival’sLandmarkProjects,whichcanbeinhabitedandexploredbythepublic.Thespectacular,curved,tubulartimberstructuremeasures3.5mhigh,4.5mwideand34mlongandiseffectivelyabeamcurvingupatbothends.Showcasingthestructuralandspatialpotentialofcross-laminatedAmericantulipwood,AlisonBrooks'conceptisthefirstever‘mega-tube’madewithconstruction-sizedpanelsofhardwoodCLT.

ABOUT CROSS LAMINATED TULIPWOOD Cross-laminatedtimber(CLT)isanengineeredtimberthatcanbeusedtomakethewallsandfloorsofentirebuildings.Ithasalayeredconstructionwiththewoodfibresturnedatrightanglesineachsuccessivelayer,creatingapanelwithequalstrengthinbothdirections,justlikeplywood.Weightforweight,CLTisstrongerthanconcreteanditcanalsobemachinedtoincrediblyhightolerances.Thismakesitidealforprefabricationandrapidassembly,reducingconstructiontimesbyupto30%.CLTisusuallymadeofasoftwoodcalledspruce,betterknownastheChristmastree.TogetherwithArup,AHEChasstartedaprocessofexperimentingwithCLTmadefromfast-grownNorthAmericantulipwood.Testinghasshownthatthetulipwoodisconsiderablystrongerthanspruce;italsohasasuperiorappearance.TheSmileisthefirstprojectintheworldtouselargehardwoodCLTpanels,infacttheentirestructureismadefromjust12hugetulipwoodpanels,eachupto14mlongand4.5mwide.FabricatingthesepanelsinarealCLTproductionplanthasbeenanimportantstepforward,showcasinghowthematerialcanbeusedforcommercialprojects.

Q&A WITH ALISON BROOKS, ALISON BROOKS ARCHITECTS Q:WhataretheaestheticqualitiesoftulipwoodCLT?A:It’saveryinterestingwood–ithaswonderfulgrainandcolourvariation.Tulipwoodalsohasakindofsheen,sothegrainistightandsmooth.Tulipwoodcanbeselectedtobeclearandknot-free,offeringareallyclean-lookingalternativetosoftwoods.Ilovethewaythestripsofwoodincross-laminatedtimberhaveadirectionthatexpresseshowthestructureisworking. Q:HowdidthestructuralpropertiesoftulipwoodCLTinformyourdesignforTheSmile? A:.IwantedtocreatesomethingthatusestulipwoodCLTinitslargestformatpossible,whichis4.5mx20mplates,andtoexpresstheadditionalstrengthCLTcanofferwhenit’smadeofhardwood.Thebestwayto

expressthisstrengthwastocombinetheseplatesintoafour-sidedCLThollowtube.Thisisabeamprofilethatworksverywellintensionandcompressiontoachievelongspans.BymakingthisCLT‘tube’intotheshapeofanarcatahugescale,theplatesformadynamic,sensoryspacetoinhabit.Theresultisabuildingthatcantileversfromasinglepointinthecentre.OneofthemostamazingqualitiesoftheSmileisthethin-nessofthemajorityofitswallandfloorpanels–only100mmthick.It’sanautonomousandself-supportingpieceofarchitecturethattouchesthegroundlightly. Q:HowdidyoumakeTheSmileengagingandinteractive?A:TheSmile’sformimpliesthatitwillrock.Sotheformitselfisaninvitationtotestwhetherthepavilionmoves,andhowitfeelstowalkinonacurvedfloor.Asingledoorandrampfromthesquareinvitesvisitorstoenter–somethinglikeourarchetypalimageofNoah’sArk.Insidethedoorlightspillingfromtheendsofthearcwillinviteyoutowalkuptheslopeofthecurvetobalconiesateitherend,ratherlikelookingoutfromtherailofaship.

Thepavilion’swallsareperforatedwithovalholes,measuringbetween12cmand20cm.Theseallowdaylighttofilterinandtrackacrosstheinteriorspacethroughouttheday.TheholesareplacedinthepartsoftheCLTwallsundertheleastamountofstrain,akindofstructurallyexpressiveornament.AfterdarkTheSmilewillemitbeamsoflightfromeachend,elongatingthestructure.Ithasaplayfulquality–betweenalandscapestructureandabuilding–anditcreatesshelteredspacesunderitscantileveredarms.

Q&A WITH DAVID VENABLES, EUROPEAN DIRECTOR OF AHECQ:SoftwoodCLTissuchasuccessfulproduct,andonewithagrowingmarket.Whyareyousokeentoproposeanalternative?A:Thebulkofthemarketisdecidedoncost,sousingEuropeansoftwoodmakessenseforstructuralframing.Butinpublicbuildings,orinhousing,forinstance,therearerequirementsformorespecialised,higher-qualityproducts.ThegreaterstrengthorimprovedappearanceofhardwoodCLTwillmakeitthematerialofchoice,andquitepossiblytheonlysolution.Q:WhycommissionaninstallationattheLondonDesignFestival?A:TheSmileisnotaninstallationatall,butsomethingfarmoreimportant–it’seffectivelythelateststageina10-yearprojectthatchallengesthewayhardwoodcanbe

usedstructurally.Ratherthandoingourexperimentationinalaboratory,wedoitinpublic.Itisrisky,buttherewardsaregreat.ThreeyearsagoweworkedwitharchitectsdRMM(deRijkeMarshMorgan)andengineersatAruptodesignTheEndlessStair,theveryfirsttulipwoodCLTprototype,fortheLondonDesignFestival.Asaresult,debateabouthardwoodCLTspreadacrossEuropeandwelearntsomuchfromtheEndlessStairthatwewereabletotakeittoindustrialproduction.TheSmilewillcreate furtherdiscussionanddebatethatwidensopportunities.YouwillseehowexcitingandbeautifulabuildingusingCLTcanbe,andpossiblyconsideritforapublicspaceinLondon. Q:HowdidyoudecideonyourteamforTheSmile?A:Theteamhasbeenbrilliant.Theseareseriouscompaniesgivinguptheirtimetofollowthroughanideabecausetheybelieveinit.We’vehadarelationshipwithAlisonforover10years.WefirstmetdoinglecturesforarchitectsinGermany,whereshewastalkingaboutherpioneeringuseoftimberforaffordablehousing.There’sacleversimplicitytoherarchitecture,andagoodbitofhumility.Veryquietly,sheinfluencesandchangesthinking.She’sastrongadvocatefortimberinconstruction.WecouldneverhavedonethisprojectwithoutArup;theideatooriginallytestthestructuralpotentialoftulipwoodCLT(withtheEndlessStairin2013)camefromourongoingrelationshipwithArup.ItisonlyinpartnershipthatwewereabletopersuadeZÜBLINTimbertotrialthelargeindustrialpanelsoftulipwoodCLTusedinTheSmile.TheirvastexperienceandexpertiseintheareaoftimberconstructionandparticularlyCLThasmadeitpossibletomeettheengineeringchallengeofTheSmile,whichmaylooksimpleinitsformbutishighlycomplexintermsofitstimberengineering.

ZÜBLINTimber,themanufactureroftheCLTforTheSmile,hasareputationforspecialistone-offprojects,andthewaythattheymaketheirCLTisdifferentfromtheapproachofothermanufacturers.Theyuseavacuumpresstocreatethemulti-layermaterialratherthanthepressurisedplateapproachthatismostcommon.Thisallowsthemtocreatecurvedelementsandtoworkwithsmallerquantities–bothessentialforTheSmile. Q:HowsustainableistulipwoodCLT?A:It’sgoodbothfortheAmericanhardwoodproducersandfortheenvironment.Inordertousetimberinthemostenvironmentallyfriendlyway,itisvitaltouseasmuchaspossibleofwhatisgrownandharvestedandtothrowawayaslittleaspossible.ThereisadoublewinfortulipwoodCLT.Firstthetimberisabundant,naturallyrepresentingalargeproportionofhardwoodforests.Andsecondly,CLTusesthelowestgradesofthetimber–gradesthatarenolongerexportedforfurnitureproductionandsowouldotherwisehaveaveryrestrictedmarket.

Q&A WITH ANDREW LAWRENCE, GLOBAL TIMBER SPCEIALIST ARUP Q:Whyareweseeingmoreandmoretimberbeingusedforbuildings?Timberhasmanyadvantages,butIthinkthebiggestisspeed.Timberislightweightandwithcomputerfabricationitcannowbemachinedtoincrediblytighttolerances.Thismakesitidealforprefabricationandrapidassembly.Assemblingatimberbuildingislikeassemblingagiantpieceofflatpackfurniture.ThedevelopmentofCLThasbeenakeypartofthetimberrevolutionasitgivesusawaytocreatelargetimberpanelswhichcanbeusedforthewallsandfloorsofentirebuildings,withouttheneedforanywetconcretetrades.Q:WhatmakesTheSmilesuchanimportantstructurefortimber?A:TheSmileisthemostcomplexCLTstructurethathaseverbeenbuilt.Notonlydoesithaveadoublecantilever,buttheentrancedoorisplaced

rightatthecentrewherethestressesarehighest.You’reeffectivelylookingattwo15mcantilevers.Ifyouturnedthestructureverticallyandaddedtheweightof60visitorsatoneend,it’sequivalenttothecorestabilisingafive-storeybuilding.Nobodyhaseverbuiltacorethatslenderintimber.Q:WhatmakestulipwoodsosuitableforCLT?Comparedtootherwoods,tulipwoodissurprisinglystrongforitsweight.It’ssignificantlystrongerthanspruce,butstilllowenoughdensitytobeeasytokilndry,easytomachine,easytotransportandeasytoscrewinto.Whereimprovedstrengthandappearanceareneeded,IcanseegreatpotentialfortulipwoodCLT.

Q:Whatwerethebiggestengineeringchallengesoftheproject?Thestructureisdesignedtoresistabout10tonnesofwindloadingthattendstowanttodistorttherectangularcrosssectionofthetubeintoalozengeshape.Theobvioussolutionwouldhavebeentoinstallinternalcross-bracingalongthelengthofTheSmilebutthiswouldhaveruinedAlison’sconceptforacleaninterior,soinsteadwe’vehiddentimberbeamsabovetheroofenablingustorigidlyconnectthewallstotherooftopreventthelozengingaction.We’vealsoscrewedTheSmiledowntoalargewoodenbox,hiddenunderthegroundandfilledwith20tonnesofsteelweights.ThisiswhatstopsTheSmiletippingundertheweightofpeopleatoneend,oroverturningunderastrongwind.Theneedfor20tonnesofweightsandforthe6,000longscrewsthatholdtheCLTpanelstogether,reallygivesafeelforthehugeforceswhichTheSmilehastoresist.ENDS. ABOUT AHEC Forover20yearstheAmericanHardwoodExportCouncil(AHEC)hasbeenattheforefrontofwoodpromotioninEurope,successfullybuildingadistinctiveandcreativebrandforU.S.hardwoods.AHEC’ssupportforcreativedesignprojectssuchasTheWishList,EndlessStair,andnowTheSmile,fortheLondonDesignFestivaldemonstratetheperformancepotentialofthesesustainablematerialsandprovidevaluableinspiration.AHECpioneeredtheenvironmentalimpactassessment(EIA),anapproachthathassincebeenadoptedbyotherindustries.Thismeasuresanumberofimpacts:primaryenergydemand(fromrenewableandnon-renewableresources);globalwarmingpotential;acidificationpotential;eutrophicationpotential;and,photochemicalozonecreationpotential.www.americanhardwood.org@ahec_europeABOUT ALISON BROOKS ARCHITECTS Foundedin1996,AlisonBrooksArchitectshasdevelopedaninternationalreputationfordesignexcellenceinprojectsrangingfromurbanregenerationandpublicbuildingsforthearts,tohighereducationandhousing.ABA’sarchitectureisinformedbytheirintensiveresearchintothecultural,socialandenvironmentalcontextsofeachproject.Thisapproachenablesthepracticetodevelopauthentic,responsivesolutionsfortheirbuildingsandurbanschemes,eachwithadistinctidentity.Knownfortheirsculpturalapproachtoformandextraordinaryattentiontodetail,AlisonBrooksArchitectsistheonlyUKpracticetohavewontheRIBA’sthreemostprestigiousawardsforarchitecture–theStirlingPrize,ManserMedalandStephenLawrencePrize.ABA’snumerousnationalandinternationalawardsincludethe2012ArchitectoftheYearandHousingArchitectoftheYear.ABAisdesigningmajorprojectsacrosstheUKincludingthenewCohenQuadrangleatOxfordUniversity,duetoopeninOctober2016.ABAhasrecentlyreceivedaRIBAAwardfortheirworkintheSouthKilburnEstate,ElyCourt.Thepracticewillbeexhibitingtheirresearchexamining20thcenturysocialhousingandcontemporaryurbanstewardshipatthe2016VeniceBiennale.www.alisonbrooksarchitects.com@AlisonBrooksArc

ABOUT ARUP With13,000engineers,designersandplannersin90offices,Arupisthecreativeforcebehindmanyoftheworld’smostprominentprojectsinthebuiltenvironment.Thecompanyhasamulti-disciplinaryteamworkingwithwood,includingstructural,fire,vibration,acoustic,buildingphysicsandfaçadeengineersaswellasmaterialscientiststhatareleadingexpertsintheirfields.ThishasenabledAruptodevelopmanyaward-winningandinnovativetimberstructures,helpingtopushtheboundariesofthematerial.www.arup.com@ArupGroup ABOUT ZÜBLIN TIMBER ZÜBLINTimberstandsforambitiousandpioneeredsolutionsinthefieldoftimberconstruction.Weareyoursingle-sourceproviderforthedevelopment,production,delivery,andexecutionofhigh-qualityconstructionsystems,fromtimberconstructionprojectstotimberengineeringtoturnkeyprojectexecution.We,thetimberconstructionteamofZüblin,MERKandStephan,workhandinhandwithourclientstodevelopefficientsolutionsandasustainablequalityoflife.www.zueblin-timber.comABOUT THE LONDON DESIGN FESTIVAL TheLondonDesignFestivalisakeyconstituentofLondon’sautumncreativeseason,alongsideLondonFashionWeek,FriezeArtFairandtheLondonFilmFestival.Establishedin2003itsroleistocelebrateandpromoteLondonastheworld’sdesigncapitalandgatewaytotheinternationaldesigncommunityandithasnowestablishedareputationasoneofthelargestandmostexcitingdesigneventsintheworld.ThisyeartheFestivalwillrunfrom17-25Septemberandover400eventsandinstallationswillbeonofferacrossthecapital,fromanexcitingprogrammeattheV&Atoplusover300partnerswhowillparticipateinthenine-dayFestival.www.londondesignfestival.com@L_D_FABOUT UNIVERSITY OF THE ARTS LONDON UniversityoftheArtsLondon(UAL)isEurope'slargestuniversityforart,design,fashion,communicationandtheperformingarts.Itisafederationofsixinternationallyrenownedcolleges:CamberwellCollegeofArts,CentralSaintMartins,ChelseaCollegeofArts,LondonCollegeofCommunication,LondonCollegeofFashionandWimbledonCollegeofArts.UALwasrecentlyrankedoneoftheworld'stop5universitiesforartanddesign2016/17inQSWorldUniversityRankings.ChelseaCollegeofArts,UAL,isoneoftheworld’sleadingartanddesigninstitutionsspecialisinginFineArt,GraphicDesignandInteriorandTextileDesign.AlumniincludeTurnerPrizewinningartistsAnishKapoorandChrisOfili,OscarwinnerSteveMcQueenandactorAlanRickman.ChelseaisoneofthesixCollegesofUniversityoftheArtsLondon(UAL).www.arts.ac.uk/about-ualInstagram:@unioftheartslondonTwitter:@UniArtsLondonFacebook:UniversityoftheArtsLondon

For further press information about AHEC and The Smile please contact: BelindaFisher/ChristineSamuelian,Friends&CoBelinda@friendsandco.co.uk+44(0)7808721308Christine@friendsandco.co.uk+44(0)7957203037For further information about Alison Brooks Architects please contact: DianeHutchinson/MiriamMandel,CaroCommunicationsDiane@carocommunications.com/Miriam@carocommunications.com+44(0)2077139388