In this issue
38 featuresFeatures
From the Forest
IWPA President Caroline McIlvain introduces the 15th edition of International Wood Magazine with the theme 'Wood Inspires' and presents Nature's Palette, a comprehensive list of globally-sourced wood species.
By Caroline McIlvain
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Ten Top Globally-Sourced Species to Know
An introduction to ten top globally-sourced hardwood species, beginning with a spotlight on Cumaru (Brazilian Teak) — its characteristics, durability, and use in decking and flooring.
By Andy Johnson
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Spotlight on Spanish Cedar and Jatoba
Species spotlights on Spanish Cedar (Cedrela odorata) and Jatoba/Brazilian Cherry (Hymenaea courbaril), covering origins, appearance, hardness, and common uses.
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African Mahogany and Sapele
A profile of African Mahogany (Khaya) and Sapele — two West African species that gained prominence after Genuine Mahogany's CITES listing, with notes on appearance, hardness, and end uses.
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Species Spotlight: Keruing and European Beech
Species spotlights on Keruing/Apitong, the top tropical hardwood shipped from Asia to the U.S., and European Beech, the leading temperate hardwood import, detailing their origins, properties, and applications.
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Spotlight On: Ipé
Species spotlight on Ipé: a dense, durable South American hardwood that is a leading choice for decking, with U.S. imports reaching a 10-year high in the first half of 2018.
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Genuine Mahogany and Teak
Species spotlights on Genuine Mahogany (Swietenia macrophylla) and Teak (Tectona grandis), covering origin, appearance, hardness, and typical applications.
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Handcrafted Wooden Canoes Showcase the Beauty of Artisanal Woods
Trent Preszler handcrafts custom wooden canoes from highly figured artisanal woods like Movingui, Zebrawood, Macassar Ebony, and Western Red Cedar, each taking up to a year to build.
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Artistry in Wood: The Canoes of Preszler
A profile of canoe-builder Preszler's artistic creations, detailing vessels crafted from exotic woods including Eastern Red Cedar, Siberian Larch, Zebrawood, and Mexican Ziricote.
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The Art of the Custom Canoe
Conclusion of a feature on Trent Preszler's custom canoe craftsmanship, featuring Black Walnut whale-tail cutouts, hand-carved railings, and Argentinian leather seats — canoes that sell for $100,000 to art and nautical collectors.
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Engineered for its Place in the World
The Kellogg Global Hub at Northwestern University features curving architecture inspired by Lake Michigan's waves, with reddish-brown Ipé soffits warming its cool glass façade.
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Ipé Clads the Kellogg Global Hub
The Kellogg Global Hub uses Ipé cladding with the Iron Woods Vanish Rain Screen and Soffit System, a drained and back-ventilated design that improves durability and energy performance.
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Spotlight On: Ipé
A species spotlight on ipé, detailing its origin, applications, appearance, and extreme hardness, alongside images of the Kellogg Global Hub featuring ipé wood.
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Vanish Rain Screen Cladding and Soffit System
Continuation of a feature on the Vanish Rain Screen cladding and soffit system, highlighting its proprietary clip system that reduces installation costs and improves performance for tropical hardwood species like Ipé and Garapa.
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A Sacred Connection
Opening spread of a feature on an intricate wood-inlay mandala collaboration between Daniel Antes of Distinctive Hardwood Floors and mandala artist Eileen Bradley of Sacred Circle Art.
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Mandalas in Wood
Daniel Antes of Distinctive Hardwood Floors and artist Eileen Bradley of Sacred Circle Art collaborate across states to transform hand-drawn mandala designs into intricate inlaid wood medallions for floors, tabletops, and wall art.
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Wood Medallions: A Craft of Old World Artistry
Master woodworker Antes crafts intricate wood medallions using up to fifteen species per piece, favoring rare figured woods like curly White Oak, spalted Beech, and Hawaiian Koa.
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The Art of Wood Mandalas
A profile of Eileen Antes' intricate wood mandalas crafted from exotic species like Sapele, Wenge, Jatoba, Ceylon Satinwood, and Lacewood, with insight into the spiritual meaning behind the mandala form.
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The Wood is the Star
A full-page architectural photograph looking up at the Teak window walls and concrete towers of the Salk Institute, with a pull-quote from Caroline McIlvain on the restoration project.
By Caroline McIlvain
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Salvaging an Architectural Icon
The Getty Conservation Institute partnered with J. Gibson McIlvain to restore the weathered Teak window walls of Louis Kahn's iconic 1965 Salk Institute, salvaging two-thirds of the original wood and sourcing matching replacement Teak.
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Restoring a Landmark with Teak
Conclusion of J. Gibson McIlvain Company's teak restoration project, paired with a species spotlight on Tectona grandis covering origin, applications, and characteristics.
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Timeless Beauty ~ Wood Products from Malaysia
Malaysia is a leading producer of wood mouldings and builders' joinery and carpentry (BJC) products, crafted from sustainably sourced tropical timbers and used in construction, furniture, and marine applications worldwide.
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Malaysian Timber Mouldings and Doors
A feature on Malaysian timber mouldings and doors, including species spotlights on Meranti and Balau, with details on common applications, exports, and design qualities.
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Hardwood Flooring – For a Firm Footing
Malaysian hardwood flooring combines practicality and beauty, using species like Kempas, Merbau, Rubberwood, Kekatong, and Keranji for durable, hypo-allergenic floors exported worldwide.
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Hardwood Decking – A Classy Choice
Malaysian hardwoods like Balau, Belian, Chengal, and Merbau are prized for decking at luxury resorts worldwide thanks to their durability, distinctive grains, and easy installation versus stone or concrete.
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Picture Frames – Picture Perfect
A spotlight on Merbau timber and a feature on Malaysian wooden picture frames, highlighting species used and global demand for Malaysian frame manufacturers.
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Cutting-Edge Veneer Provides Continuity and Contemporary Flair
Opening spread of a feature on the use of cutting-edge wood veneer in modern courtroom and civic interiors, showcasing continuity of grain and a contemporary aesthetic.
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San Diego Central Courthouse
The new San Diego Central Courthouse used Brookside Veneer's Brookline Reconstituted Cherry composite veneer to clad its corridors and 71 courtrooms, chosen for color consistency and FSC-certified sustainability.
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Let's Talk Teak
An introduction to teak (Tectona grandis), highlighting its durability, natural oils, pest resistance, and wide range of uses from boat building to high-end residential and commercial applications.
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The Enduring Appeal of Teak
Continuation of a feature on Teak wood's versatility — its grain, applications in veneers and engineered wood, and new laser-cut design possibilities — with commentary from Ajay Kataria.
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Spotlight On: Teak
A species spotlight on Teak (Tectona grandis), covering its origin, applications, appearance, hardness and working properties, plus closing remarks on Teak's future in design and 3D printing.
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Sourcing Wood Products
Five leading industry compliance experts share perspectives on sourcing trends, Due Care compliance, certification, and consumer education in the globally-sourced wood products market.
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Celebrating Excellence in Veneer Woodworking
Opening spread of a feature celebrating excellence in veneer woodworking, showcasing Mark Osgood's 'Meep Meep'—a functional rolling art bicycle crafted almost entirely from maple and walnut veneer.
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The Veneer Tech Craftsman's Challenge
The Veneer Tech Craftsman's Challenge, sponsored by Veneer Technologies Inc, rewards excellence in woodworking featuring natural veneer across categories from architectural woodworking to student designs.
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Veneer Design Competition Winners
Continuation of a feature on veneer design competition winners, highlighting Clayton Fehringer's Arc-Iris buckeye/maple burl sunglasses and Andrew Prioli's Inverurie dining table.
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Veneer Tech Craftsman's Challenge Winners
Recap of Veneer Tech Craftsman's Challenge winners, including Craig Thibodeau's 2016 Automaton Table and Paul Mann Custom Boats' 2009 cabinetry win for the Ann Warrick sportfishing yacht interior.
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Setting the Tone for Success
A look at the new lobby at Cristo Rey Jesuit High School in Atlanta, where wood paneling and sophisticated design set the tone of success for this unique college-preparatory school.
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Cristo Rey Atlanta Lobby Showcases White Limba
AHC Hardwood Group donates White Limba for a high-visibility lobby wood installation at Cristo Rey Jesuit High School in Atlanta, showcasing community giving and the beauty of Terminalia superba.