The crown agency of the provincial government of British Columbia, Canadian Wood officially known as Forestry Innovation Consulting India Pvt. Ltd., successfully organised a webinar on October 3, 2022. The webinar was hosted to commemorate World Architecture Day. Therefore, the topic of discussion was “Role of Wood in Architecture”. This webinar is an effort by Canadian Wood to raise awareness about the benefits of using sustainably manufactured wood in construction. Also, it is their duty to promote sustainable Canadian forest products. Furthermore, they aim to educate the woodworking industry about the advantages of using certified and sustainably manufactured wood.
Expressing his passion for using wood in construction and design, Ar. Pravir Sethi, the Principal Architect of studio HINGE, said–
“In order to maximize the biophilic properties of wood, I make every effort to include references from nature in my designs. Making multipurpose uses out of repurposed wood is another fun way I like to be creative with wood. I am also a firm believer in the 3Rs, reducing waste, reusing, and recycling resources and I try to incorporate the same beliefs into my work.”
Enlightening the audience about using wood as the best alternative to other construction materials on World Architecture Day, Ar. Sanjiv De, the Director of Designs & Projects of RSP Design Consultants, said–
“Concrete is the second most utilized material in the world after water. The global energy consumption by the construction sector is 37%, and the sector is also responsible for 24% of global carbon emissions. We must switch to using wood instead of other building materials if we want to lower these figures and leave a better Earth for our future generations. When maintained correctly, wood is renewable in nature and significantly reduces carbon emissions. Wood construction is also significantly quicker to complete both on and off-site.”
Talking about the biophilic qualities of wood on World Architecture Day, Ar. Sanjay Goel, the Principal Architect of Designex Architects and the Chairman of the Indian Institute of Architects, Punjab Chapter, said–
“Growing up in a large city, you remain surrounded by concrete. As a result, mental illnesses like anxiety and depression are more likely to develop. The probability of an increase in the prevalence of such ailments only rises as India’s forest cover and, consequently, its wildlife, continue to disappear. India must continue importing wood from certified and sustainable sources. The adoption of importing sustainable wood products might go much smoother if the government starts to promote sustainable timber and offers subsidies or holds awareness campaigns for it. “
After the information-packed presentation from the esteemed speakers on World Architecture Day, the audience actively interacted with the speakers. The conversation was focused on the contribution of architects in using wood for construction. They also discussed how wood is a renewable natural material that can be used for structural applications. Furthermore, they highlighted how architects are mitigating global warming by adopting sustainable forest products and woodworking practices. Therefore, they are building sustainable and environmentally friendly homes that are not only long-lasting but also conserve energy.
For any further inquiries, contact:
Mr. Arif Moosa: arif.moosa@canadianwood.in
