On a roll with the “Timber Wave”

By: David Venables in Events, Species focus

We really seem to be on a roll when it comes to exciting collaborations with seriously good architects.

It all started in 2008 with David Adjaye’s “Sclera” pavilion, followed by Established & Sons “Benchpress”, the red oak “Wooden Beacons” with Matteo Thun, the tulipwood “Cloud Bar” by Sou Fujimoto and now it’s the turn of Amanda Levete’s “Timber Wave”.  This one should top them all and it looks certain to be a main attraction for this year’s London Design Festival from 17 – 25 September.  Not just for the fact that Amanda’s design is very challenging but because it will be located at the front entrance of the V&A on Cromwell Road and seen by hundreds of thousands of passersby every day, for the month it will be on show.  We have Ben Evans, who runs the LDF, to thank for making this happen.

The “Timber Wave” will be built in American red oak by Cowley Timberwork and the structural engineers for the project are Arup so we are in very good hands. We (AHEC) carried out structural tests on red oak some years ago so this data has been invaluable in helping to achieve the most efficient design.  Now all we have to do is wait for the container of lumber, which has been generously donated by AHEC companies, to arrive from the States and the fun begins!

To download our structural publication click here