Mixed-Deciduous Beam

Project Info

Embracing the natural form and strength of ‘as-grown’ wood, this speculative structural beam has been designed to address the low use of locally grown hardwoods in UK construction.

By utilising multiple species of hardwood in a single building product, the Mixed-Deciduous Beam is designed to maximise potential of the UK’s varied hardwood resource, promote regenerative forestry practices and ensure long-term carbon storage by diverting these valuable woods away from firewood or biomass.

Despite broadleaves accounting for half of all trees in the UK, very little UK-grown hardwood is used in construction. Instead, 85% of harvested hardwood is burnt, releasing decades of sequestered carbon dioxide back into the atmosphere.

Made as part of the V&A and Sylva Foundation’s Field Notes Summer School, the beam uses minimal processing steps to ensure that it is low cost to produce.