reSAWN TIMBER co. chose Western Hemlock for interior applications due to its impeccably straight uniform grain structure, fine texture and its creamy white to light gold color, which lends itself to a modern clean aesthetic.
Western Hemlock is typically found on the Pacific North West coast of North America and is one of the most valuable sources of lumber in the northern hemisphere and is the largest of the hemlock species. Specimens range from 90 to 150 feet tall and 3 to 4.5 feet wide, though some specimens have been known to grow to heights of 250 feet and diameters approaching 9 feet. The wood is usually odorless when dry and free of resin.
reSAWN’s Western Hemlock offering includes three CHARRED shou sugi ban designs — KITSAP, YAKIMA and KITTITAS — and six designs that are non-CHARRED — MASON, GRAYS HARBOR, LEWIS, SNOHOMISH, OKANOGAN, and WHITMAN. All nine products are available for sampling and specification.
“Summer afternoon—summer afternoon; to me those have always been the two most beautiful words in the English language.”
― Henry James
The first day of Summer isn’t quite here yet, but as of late, we’ve been day-dreaming about sun-drenched afternoons, relaxing by the pool with a good book, reconnecting with friends and family, and last but certainly not least, packing our bags and making a carefree escape to a summer house destination.
Whether it’s a home with pristine beachfront views or stunning a lakeside retreat, we’ve rounded up 8 architecturally pleasing abodes that satisfy our lust to wander. These picturesque homes will get your design pulses racing.
New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio plans to introduce a bill banning new construction of glass skyscrapers as part of his efforts to reduce citywide greenhouse emissions by 30 percent.
In announcing his Green New Deal on Monday, the democratic mayor says all-glass facade skyscrapers are “incredibly inefficient” because so much energy escapes through the glass. He says buildings are the No. 1 cause of greenhouse emissions in New York.
While we prefer to steer clear of the politics of this announcement, it does raise an interesting question of what the future of New York will look like as new building materials are continually being explored.
reSAWN has the pleasure of working with SHoP architects on a conceptual structure using reSAWN’s shou sugi ban charring technique on mass timbers.
Called 475 West 18th, this was a unique research & development project exploring the use of mass-timber construction on a proposed 10-story building in New York City. Ultimately the project did not go through, but the invaluable lessons learned by SHoP and reSAWN are being applied to other innovative wood projects.
Mass-timber also acts to actively sequester carbon (approximately one ton per cubic meter), offering an exciting new path for designers everywhere who seek to meet ambitious sustainability goals.
Here are 3 other hi-rise wood projects in development or built – from leading architects around the US and Canada:
FRAMEWORK :: LEVER ARCHITECTURE :: Portland, OR
Framework is the first wood high-rise design in the US to receive approval for construction. The project seeks to be a catalyst that connects sustainable urban development to rural economic growth regionally and nationally. Framework is supported by a 1.5 million dollar award from the US Tall Wood Building Prize Competition to offset the costs of testing and peer review necessary to pursue a performance-based project beyond what is permitted in current building codes.
Framework Model from LEVER architectureFramework Rendering from LEVER architecture
T3 MINNEAPOLIS :: MGA architecture :: Minneapolis, MN
T3, our new LEED Gold Certified mass timber office building in Minneapolis, is a game changer for the commercial building industry and a milestone for mass timber construction in the United States. It is the first modern timber building to be built in the United States in more than 100 years, and at the time of completion (Sept 2016) the largest in North America.
BROCK COMMONS :: ACTON OSTRY Architects :: Vancouver, BC
Completed in 2017, Brock Commons Tallwood House is an 18 storey, LEED Gold target, 404-bed student residence building located at the University of British Columbia in Vancouver, BC. Extraordinary for its height, making it the world’s tallest mass wood tower at the time of its completion, Tallwood House is also extraordinary for the speed the timber structure and prefabricated facade went up in only 66 days.
On April 4 and 5, Facades+ is hosting their premiere conference on high-performance building enclosures in New York, NY. Bringing together some of the world’s most productive building professionals, Facades+ includes a full day of in-depth workshops designed to teach crucial skills and tools to help architects advance their practice. Facades+ workshops feature an intimate class size and hands-on learning to create an environment conductive to innovation and creative problem-solving.
reSAWN TIMBER co. is partnering with Accoya to present a workshop on Sustainable Building with Modified Wood.
In an article published in The Washingtonian, an office space located in Washington DC was featured, highlighting the use of reSAWN’s MONOGATARI shou sugi ban charred cypress. Located in Southeastern Washington DC, this newly built structure serves as an office for DC-based architecture firm, bld.us. bld.us chose reSAWN’s MONOGATARI shou sugi ban charred cypress for the exterior cladding.
In 1991, David Milarch, an arborist from Michigan had a near-death experience that inspired a personal quest. When Milarch came back to life, he launched an ambitious project to clone and replant the world’s largest trees. He co-founded the Archangel Ancient Tree Archive (AATA) to continue working towards his vision of replanting the earth with the genetics of the world’s remaining ancient redwood forests.
Located in Seaview, Fire Island, this 4 bedroom seasonal home was designed to celebrate the cherished indoor/outdoor experience of Fire Island. Designed by Paul Coughlin of Brooklyn-based PAUL architecture studio, this project utilizes UNAGI and TAKEI shou sugi ban charred Accoya exterior siding and LONGPORT black walnut flooring and ceiling cladding.
In an article published in The New York Times Style Magazine, a pool house located on Shelter Island was featured, highlighting the use of reSAWN’s MONOGATARI shou sugi ban charred cypress. Designed by Brooklyn-based firm General Assembly, the Shelter Island pool house was designed as a retreat and relaxation space for a busy mother and daughter duo. Lead designer, Sarah Zames, chose reSAWN’s MONOGATARI shou sugi ban charred cypress for the exterior cladding.
NIGIRI shou sugi ban charred Accoya in Wayzata, MN
According to TRADA (The Timber Research and Development Association), in recent years, timber in construction has undergone something of a renaissance, led by the desire to use more environmentally-friendly materials. While timber is at risk to biological decay, a combination of appropriate design and material selection will mitigate this risk.
In an article published in The New York Times, a newly-built residence in Montauk was featured, highlighting the use of reSAWN’s IRUKA shou sugi ban charred cypress. Designed by Manhattan-based firm Desai Chia Architecture, the Montauk Residence is situated just a block from the beach. Katherine Chia, FAIA, who led the design on this project, chose reSAWN’s IRUKA shou sugi ban charred cypress for the exterior and interior cladding.
