Architects play a leading role in sustainable construction

14 December 2020 Sustainable construction

Building with certified wood is brilliant for our planet, for our health, and for our economy. Join our Construction webinar this Wednesday as three experts explain why, and find out how architects can make a difference.

One of the three experts is Mark Thomson, architect and Director of Eco-Effective Solutions, who will introduce some of the many benefits of certified timber construction, using his personal experience of building his own timber house (which also netted him three architectural awards).

Mark believes that certified sustainable materials are essential for the healthy future of our planet. In a case study featured in “The Environmental Brief – Pathways to Green Design”, he extolled the benefits of engineered wood products and prefabrication.

So why build with wood?

Wood is THE renewable building material. Compared to concrete, steel, cement and glass, wood requires less energy in production and rather than emitting carbon, it stores it. The makes it vital for climate change mitigation and the move to zero net carbon emissions.  

Wood has a positive influence on the well-being and health of the people living and working in the building, through its effect on the indoor climate. What's more, wood is an excellent heat and humidity regulator. Walls made of wood breathe; they control the humidity of the surroundings.

Wood is strong, flexible and attractive, and easy to work, process and finish, making it ideally suited to creative and innovative designs. Every piece of wood has its own particular characteristics, because it is unique in terms of its grain, colour and lines.

A home made of wood is lighter than one made of conventional materials, so you can have smaller and simpler foundations, which means they are easier to build. Numerous elements manufactured in workshops simply need to be put together on the building site.

PEFC Webinar: Building a better future with certified timber

Mark Thomson will be joined by Mark Wayne Probert from Binderholz and Paul Jarquin, President and founder of REI Habitat, to discuss how timber construction supports climate mitigation and other global sustainability targets.

Mark has developed a reputation as an expert in sustainable construction. In addition to his work as an architect and a board member of Responsible Wood, Mark has consulted for major environmental organizations, managed hundreds of projects and lectured at more than 10 universities.

He is also a board member of the Griffith University EcoCentre, a faculty member of the Green Building Council of Australia and a Judge of the Australian Banksia Awards, the world’s longest running Sustainability Awards program. He has been awarded honours for several projects in the design, business, property and development sectors.

More recently, Mark has been jury member for the World Architecture Festival, judging the many architects’ projects who entered the Best use of Certified Timber prize, supported by PEFC.

Spaces are limited – register for free now!

Photo credit: Jack Hobhouse