{"id":32170,"date":"2016-09-20T16:37:15","date_gmt":"2016-09-20T14:37:15","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.area-arch.it\/en\/the-smile\/"},"modified":"2016-09-20T18:56:27","modified_gmt":"2016-09-20T16:56:27","slug":"the-smile","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.area-arch.it\/en\/the-smile\/","title":{"rendered":"The Smile"},"content":{"rendered":"

The American Hardwood Export Council (AHEC) has collaborated with Alison Brooks Architects, Arup\u00a0and the London Design Festival to present a cross-laminated tulipwood structure, \u2018The Smile\u2019 at the\u00a0Chelsea College of Art Rootstein Hopkins Parade Ground from 17 September until 12 October.\u00a0The Smile is one of the Festival\u2019s Landmark Projects, which can be inhabited and explored by the\u00a0public. The spectacular, curved, tubular timber structure measures 3.5m high, 4.5m wide and 34m\u00a0long and is effectively a beam curving up at both ends. Showcasing the structural and spatial potential\u00a0of cross-laminated American tulipwood, Alison Brooks’ concept is the first ever \u2018mega-tube\u2019 made\u00a0with construction-sized panels of hardwood CLT.<\/p>\n

\"American_Hardwood_Smile_0670\"<\/a>
photo by Alison Brooks Architects<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Cross-laminated timber (CLT) is an engineered timber that can be used to make the walls and floors of\u00a0entire buildings. It has a layered construction with the wood fibres turned at right angles in each\u00a0successive layer, creating a panel with equal strength in both directions, just like plywood. Weight for\u00a0weight, CLT is stronger than concrete and it can also be machined to incredibly high tolerances. This\u00a0makes it ideal for prefabrication and rapid assembly, reducing construction times by up to 30%.\u00a0CLT is usually made of a softwood called spruce, better known as the Christmas tree.<\/p>\n

\"TheSmile_AHEC_ABA_Arup_Installation_(11)\"<\/a>
TheSmile_AHEC_ABA_Arup_Installation_(11): The end of The Smile protruding above the tops of the heras fencing<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Together with\u00a0Arup, AHEC has started a process of experimenting with CLT made from fast-grown North American\u00a0tulipwood. Testing has shown that the tulipwood is considerably stronger than spruce; it also has a\u00a0superior appearance.\u00a0The Smile is the first project in the world to use large hardwood CLT panels, in fact the entire\u00a0structure is made from just 12 huge tulipwood panels, each up to 14m long and 4.5m wide.\u00a0Fabricating these panels in a real CLT production plant has been an important step forward,\u00a0showcasing how the material can be used for commercial projects.<\/p>\n