Developing alternatives to wood-derived sheet materials like plywood and OSB, design and research studio Material Cultures has taken to the British woodlands for inspiration.
Their research addresses the heavy reliance on coniferous trees in the production of building materials—a practice that promotes monoculture forestry, leaving large areas vulnerable to environmental damage and harming biodiversity. To move away from this unsustainable system, Material Cultures has been exploring overlooked woodland resources, focusing on materials like bark, pine needles, and natural glues that could shape the future of construction.
These investigations led to the creation of a series of unique panels fabricated from sequoia, pine, and birch bark – species that woodland experts Evolving Forests highlighted as being suitable for the project. This bark is layered in alternating strips before being compressed and heated. This process causes the lignin in the bark to activate, forming a natural glue that bonds them together.
Additionally, leftover bark chips and pine needles were used to experiment with composite sheets, combining these ‘waste’ materials with bio-resin to produce durable, sustainable alternatives to conventional building products.
These prototypes are currently on display as The Woodland Goods exhibition at the Make Good installation in the V&A in South Kensington until October 31st this year.
Material Cultures’ innovative work highlights the untapped potential of underused woodland resources and offers a compelling vision for sustainable construction.
A new post by Hanna Simpson, Diary of a Tile Addict, February 2025.