Spectacular Species
Jatoba/Brazilian Cherry and Cumaru
Jatoba/Brazilian Cherry (Hymenaea courbaril)
The Marco Polo airport in Venice, Italy features jatoba flooring for the departures area, shopping piazza and food hall. The floor was treated with a natural oil to withstand the high traffic areas while adding to the cozy atmosphere, which is rather unique for an airport. Jatoba's popularity as a flooring species is well-deserved; it is open-grained like oak, but more than twice as hard with a Janka rating of 2350. The wood features dark brown or black streaks contrasting with a background that ranges from dark orange to reddish orange.
Photo submitted by Dansu International
Cumaru (Dipteryx odorata)
Earlier this year, the 639,860 square foot campus of the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation was awarded LEED-NC Platinum certification, making it the largest LEED-certified non-profit building on the planet.
The campus incorporates numerous sustainable design strategies. Energy use is reduced with high efficiency lighting and mechanical systems, occupancy and daylight sensors, natural ventilation and glazing. Water chilled overnight is recirculated throughout the day to cool campus buildings. Solar collectors on rooftops provide hot water. Overall energy savings is estimated at 40%, with the upfront investment expected to be recovered within three decades.
Landscape design firm Gustafson Guthrie Nichol (GGN) created water features framed by benches and floating boardwalks made of sustainably harvested FSC-certified cumaru from South America, providing a rich pallet of natural color amid the maples, shrubs, ponds and native grasses that ring the campus. With a color range from golden tan to reddish brown and a Janka rating of 3540, cumaru is excellent for both flooring and decking applications.
Frequently asked questions
Why was jatoba chosen for the flooring at Venice's Marco Polo airport?+
Jatoba was selected for the departures area, shopping piazza and food hall because it withstands high-traffic use while creating a cozy atmosphere unusual for an airport. The floor was treated with a natural oil to enhance durability.
How hard is jatoba compared to oak for flooring applications?+
Jatoba is open-grained like oak but more than twice as hard, with a Janka rating of 2350. Its background color ranges from dark orange to reddish orange with contrasting dark brown or black streaks.
What LEED distinction did the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation campus earn?+
The 639,860 square foot campus was awarded LEED-NC Platinum certification, making it the largest LEED-certified non-profit building in the world.
How did cumaru wood feature in the Gates Foundation landscape design?+
Landscape firm Gustafson Guthrie Nichol used FSC-certified cumaru from South America to build benches and floating boardwalks framing the campus water features. The wood added rich natural color among the maples, shrubs, ponds and native grasses.
What sustainable design strategies reduce energy use at the Gates Foundation campus?+
The campus uses high-efficiency lighting and mechanical systems, occupancy and daylight sensors, natural ventilation, specialized glazing, overnight-chilled recirculated water for cooling, and rooftop solar hot water collectors. Overall energy savings are estimated at 40%, with the upfront investment expected to be recovered within three decades.
What makes cumaru suitable for decking and flooring projects like the Gates campus boardwalks?+
Cumaru offers a color range from golden tan to reddish brown and carries a Janka rating of 3540, making it excellent for both flooring and decking applications.