Hyne Timber enjoys a wonderful creative partnership with Kirk – an architecture firm based in Australia and Asia.
Architect Richard Kirk has philosophies we relate to. These were illustrated recently in a project our Glulam business worked on with his team - the now-complete Mon Repos Turtle Centre - for which we designed and supplied Hyne Beam 21 using spotted gum sourced locally.
While the demands of hatchling turtles and their interaction with visitors drove the design, Richard was keen to create a building that suited its unique space in the dune system. His philosophy also incorporated use of locally-sourced materials, such as our beams designed and manufactured in Maryborough using sustainably-sourced timber. The result is simply stunning.
Project builder, Murchie Constructions, and Kirk Studio shared a time lapse construction video with us. It is wonderful to see the clever diagrid design come to life in a few minutes. And, of course, we love to see our product and connectors working so well and quickly together in the exact manner in which we designed them.
The video illustrates some key concepts that we are very keen to help our Glulam and XLAM customers derive benefit from.
# 1 Design For Manufacture and Assembly (DFMA).
You’ll see the speed at which our glulam beams and engineered connectors go together on site. This is because the beams are light in weight and precision pre-fabricated to connect and be assembled on site; with only a few people and a crane required. Much of the work is done before the materials arrive on site in a controlled factory environment that’s not subject to weather delays and external influences. There’s less work required on site, less waste, less traffic management, less emissions and fewer trades required.
# 2 Early collaboration works.
By working together as early as possible in the design and phases, we were able to exchange ideas and refine techniques to generate creative solutions and construction-phase efficiencies. Makes sense.
# 3 Engineered Timber’s amazing strength-to-weight ratio.
Engineered wood is a very strong building material with a strength-to-weight ratio 20% stronger than steel. A comparison with steel and concrete shows that Radiata Pine (Vic Ash is stronger) structural timber has a strength for weight ratio 20 per cent higher than structural steel and four to five times better than unreinforced concrete in compression.\* Vic Ash, the timber used to build the Mon Repos diagrid, is significantly stronger than the radiata pine mentioned here. \*Forest and Wood Products Research and Development Corporation 2005 1
# 4 Engineered timber: ideal in corrosive environments.
Glulam beams are corrosion resistant in seaside and poolside environments. Airborne salt, chlorine and moisture will not corrode or rust engineered timber beams.
If you want to start a discussion on the suitability of engineered timber for your next project, contact our Glulam Team on 0407 646 416 or info@hyne.com.au.
