WoodFest
is coming to Reading following the recent success in Newcastle and Sheffield.
The event takes place throughout May, June and July with a focus on the social
impact of housing, custom build, connecting communities, local timber and
healthy building products.

The
programme features a collection of seminars, exhibitions and tours celebrating
the versatility and sustainability of building with wood, organised by the UK
timber industry’s campaign, Wood for Good.

For
the next two weeks until 7 June, the University of Reading School of
Architecture invites visitors to explore its pop-up
structure, the ‘The Urban Room’. This is a second year architecture
student project designed for discussion and debate about architecture in the
built environment.

The
Urban Room
will also host a series of Wednesday and Friday lunchtime ‘encounters’ with
Reading-based artists exploring their own practice in response to the Urban
Room. On 7 June, Reading University will explore ‘hybrid
practices’ through an arts-architecture lens, offering opportunities to
move, discuss, think, experience and explore with guest artists and architects.

WoodFest
Reading continues on 12 June with a tour
of Vastern Timber, one of the largest British hardwood sawmills in the
country. In addition to the tour, the day will include an insightful CPD talk
delivered by managing director Tom Barnes, ‘Selecting Timber Cladding’,
covering timber cladding choices, composites and modified wood. The day will
wrap up with lunch and plenty of opportunity for questions and discussion.

On
the afternoon of Wednesday 3 July KISS
House will host a panel discussion on the topic of ‘Making high quality
housing attainable.’ Chaired by Christiane Lellig, campaign director for Wood
for Good, the event will bring together a broad line-up of panellists from
across the industry to discuss what quality housing is, why it is important and
how to achieve it. Invited panellists include Jonny Anstead, TOWN, Sally
Godber, WARM: Low Energy Buildings Practice, Ian Pritchett, Greencore
Construction and Mike Jacob, KISS House.

The
early evening will see a case study presentation of the RIBA East award-winning
home, The
Deerings. Delivered by the project team and the client, attendees will
learn more about this striking and ambitious Passivhaus building, constructed
from a super-insulated timber frame with recycled paper insulation.

Christiane
Lellig said: “With a focus on housing and local communities, WoodFest Reading
promises to offer a fantastic opportunity to bring all those involved with the
built environment to explore what can be achieved when we work together.”

“Each
event is a chance to learn and share about the use of timber in architecture,
particularly around the social impact of housing and helping to connect local
communities. It provides a platform to discover what’s happening in the region
and to be inspired by timber design.”

Partners
include: KISS; RIBA
South and South East; TRADA;
The University of Reading
School of Architecture; Vastern
Timber.

Book
your place at any of the WoodFest Reading
events here.