2014 International Wood Magazine & Buyers Guide

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From the Forest

IWPA President Chris Connelly reflects on 2014's strategic initiatives to build demand for sustainably sourced wood, alongside a reference list of species featured in this edition.

By Chris Connelly

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Under the Boardwalk...Down by the Sea

Tropical "superwoods" like Ipe, Cumaru, Maccaranduba and Ekki have replaced softwoods in Eastern Seaboard boardwalks, piers and marinas thanks to their superior durability in severe environments.

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Superstorm Sandy: Total Chaos and Unprecedented Destruction

After Superstorm Sandy devastated East Coast boardwalks in 2012, over 2 million board feet of tropical hardwood decking—primarily Ipe—was installed to rebuild stronger, more durable oceanfront walkways.

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Ipe vs. Composite Decking

An examination of the Ipe vs. composite decking debate for boardwalk reconstruction, arguing that sustainable tropical hardwood markets help preserve forests and that composite decking has hidden environmental impacts.

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The Case for Tropical Hardwoods on America's Boardwalks

Continuation of an article detailing why naturally durable tropical hardwoods like Ipe are ideal for America's boardwalks, with a full-page Iron Woods ad.

By Brian Lotz

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Each Tree is Like a Fingerprint or a Snowflake

Interwood Forest Products opened a state-of-the-art Architectural Design Studio in Shelbyville, Kentucky, offering designers and architects hands-on access to a vast inventory of rare exotic woods and veneers.

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The Kaleidoscope of Wood: Interwood's Exotic Veneer Portfolio

Interwood Forest Products offers a kaleidoscopic portfolio of exotic veneers — including Etimoe, Makore, Anigre and Santos Rosewood — used on upscale projects like Dubai's Khalifa Tower.

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Interwood Forest Products

Interwood Forest Products offers a showroom, library, and design studio plus a 300-page veneer book covering 200+ species to help architects and designers find inspiration.

By Rick Banas

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Wood is the Ultimate "Green" Construction Material

Malaysian Timber Council Chairman Datuk Aaron Ago Dagang explains why wood is the ultimate green construction material—renewable, carbon-storing, durable, and vastly less energy-intensive than steel, concrete or aluminum.

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Wood R&D Supports a Compelling Case

Advances in engineered wood such as Glulam and Cross Laminated Timber (CLT) enable tall, sustainable, pillar-less buildings — exemplified by London's Stadthaus and Melbourne's 'The Forté'.

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Dream Lodges

Dream Lodges are luxurious furnished tents used at Tomorrowland and TomorrowWorld music festivals, built in Borneo by Wood United PTE using 100% FSC tropical hardwoods including Red Balau and Meranti Batu.

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Dream Lodges: Sustainable Hardwoods for Glamping

Dream Lodges use FSC-certified Red Balau and Meranti Batu for modular, moveable glamping units. Sidebar profiles Italian exotic wood specialist Andrighetti Legnami.

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Thinking Outside the Box with Timber

Wood United's Tomorrowland Dream Village features 400 portable timber lodges that sleep 900 festival-goers, showcasing innovative and sustainable applications for tropical hardwoods.

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The Steinway Crown Jewel Collection

Steinway & Sons' Crown Jewel piano collection features instruments encased in rare, exotic wood veneers like Macassar Ebony, Kewazinga Bubinga and East Indian Rosewood, crafted over seven months by skilled artisans.

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Examples of the exotic wood species used in the Steinway Crown Jewel collection

A showcase of the eight exotic wood species—Mahogany, Kewazinga Bubinga, Santos Rosewood, East Indian Rosewood, Macassar Ebony, Figured Sapele, and African Pommelé—used in Steinway's Crown Jewel piano collection.

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A Feast for All the Senses

A new Cherry Hill, Massachusetts entertainment destination combines Davios Cucina steakhouse with Showcase Cinemas, featuring interiors clad in rich mahogany and rift white oak.

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A Somesthetic Feast of Mahogany and White Oak

Continental Woodcraft's installation of 5,000 board feet of mahogany and massive quartered white oak panels creates a rich sensory environment in a theater lobby, bar, and restaurant designed by Julian Taylor.

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Cherry Hill Center Showcases Davio's Cucina

The Davio's Cucina project at Cherry Hill Center involved coordinated work from architects, restaurant designers, and Continental Woodcraft's millwork team, producing a warm mahogany and rift white oak interior.

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Materials of Substance

Profile of Archispec, a Hartford, Wisconsin wood products shop renowned for its oversized doors and windows, and collaborator Vetter/Denk architects.

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Archispec: Crafting Oversized Doors and Windows

Archispec serves an upper-end niche crafting oversized hardwood doors and windows using European machinery and timber sourced from Paxton Lumber, including African mahogany and Midwestern red and white oak.

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Archispec: Materials of Substance

Feature on Archispec's work with Vetter/Denk architectural firm, highlighting use of exotic hardwoods like Lyptus, Ipe, Garapa, and Sapele in high-end residential projects with sustainably sourced materials.

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A Very Cool Place to Call Home

The Mitchell family's 3,700 sq ft Lake Lanier ranch-style home in Cummings, Georgia features extensive use of exotic and domestic woods including sapele, red grandis, and cypress throughout its interior and exterior.

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Red Grandis Throughout the Home

A feature on a residence using more than 23,000 board feet of red grandis (Eucalyptus grandis) from Uruguay for doors, shutters, moldings, siding, and custom bunk beds.

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A Home Built with Hardwoods from Around the World

Profile of Hal Mitchell's residence showcasing premium hardwoods including Uruguayan red grandis, sapele, western red cedar, and thermally modified sweet gum throughout the home.

By Hal Mitchell

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Henderson Waves Bridge

Singapore's Henderson Waves Bridge, a 274-meter timber-decked pedestrian walkway 36 meters above Henderson Road, connects Mount Faber Park and Telok Blangah Hill Park with a dramatic undulating organic form.

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Henderson Waves Bridge

Singapore's Henderson Waves pedestrian bridge showcases Malaysian Balau hardwood in a sinuous, wave-like architectural form, winning the 2009 President's Design of the Year Award.

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6 Top Tropical Decking Species

An overview of the top tropical decking species, starting with Ipe, Cumaru, and Tigerwood—comparing durability, stability, appearance, and price.

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Tropical Decking Choices

A continued guide to tropical decking species, covering Tigerwood, Massaranduba, Garapa, and Cambara — their appearance, durability, and best-use applications.

By Shannon Rogers

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Lesser-Known Timber Species: Good for Business, Good for Forests

An interview with Amy Smith of the World Wildlife Fund on why sourcing Lesser-Known Species (LKS) benefits both businesses and forest biodiversity, and how WWF's Global Forest & Trade Network promotes their use.

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Lesser-Known Species: Alternatives to Commercially Demanded Woods

WWF's Amy Smith discusses lesser-known FSC-certified species like garapa, tigerwood, and morado as sustainable alternatives to ipe, ebony, and Brazilian rosewood.

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Coco Palm Bodu Hithi

Coco Palm Bodu Hithi, a luxury resort on a private island in the Maldives, showcases Malaysian tropical hardwoods including Kempas, Merbau, and Balau throughout its 100 villas designed to harmonize with nature.

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Coco Palm Bodu Hithi: A Malaysian Timber Showcase in the Maldives

A feature on Coco Palm Bodu Hithi resort in the Maldives, showcasing how Malaysian Kempas, Merbau, Meranti and Balau timbers are used throughout the over-water villas, restaurants, and spa.

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Grounded in the Natural World

Architect John Vetter of Vetter/Denk Architects blends exotic woods with copper, stone and brick in a lakeside Wisconsin home designed for a discerning buyer.

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Ipe: The Perfect Complement

Architect Vetter discusses using Ipe in vertical siding applications alongside copper, granite, brick, and White Oak on a modern prairie-influenced home.

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Wood Floors of the Year

Czar Floors earned its seventh NWFA Wood Floor of the Year award (Best Limited Species) for a 100-foot Karelian birch and maple floor installed on the 187-foot super yacht Lady Linda.

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2014 NWFA Wood Floor of the Year

MP Caroll Hardwood celebrated its 10-year anniversary with an award-winning showroom featuring a Wenge, Walnut and White Oak radius medallion floor that won the 2014 NWFA CNC/Laser Cut category.

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Koa Weds Wenge

Woodcrafter Jim Zink unites chatoyant Hawaiian koa with dark, straight-grained African wenge (rosewood) in a sculpted bench of flowing curves.

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Jim Zink: Crafting Furniture with Exotic Woods

Furniture craftsman Jim Zink discusses his Innu bench project made from Hawaiian koa and wenge veneers, his work with exotic hardwoods, and his new custom furniture shop in Meredith, New Hampshire.

By Jim Zink

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Shwood

Shwood, a Portland, Oregon woodworking shop, hand-crafts wooden eyewear from exotic species like Madrone, Indian Rosewood and African Zebrawood, shipping to over 225 boutiques worldwide.

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Shwood Eyewear: Natural Wooden Frames

Shwood Eyewear uses water-based glue, shellac finish, and sustainably harvested plantation wood to create lightweight, natural wooden eyewear frames with a warm, intimate feel.