Wood In Architecture Issue 1, 2018

FLOORING
By thermally modifying wood, timura
Holzmanufaktur offers wood in the same durability
class as tropical wood, suitable for both interior and
exterior flooring, as well as cladding for façades.
Renowned for their philosophy in design and innovaon as much
as their commitment to preserving the world’s tropical forests,
mura Holzmanufaktur GmbH, a wood manufacturer based in
Südharz, Germany, is dedicated to improving the lives of those around
them in an ecologically sound way.
Certified by both the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) and
the Programme for the Endorsement of Forest Cercaon (PEFC)
schemes, one of mura’s most unique aspects is that they oer
modied wood that is as durable as the endangered and coveted
tropical wood – but made of sustainably sourced German wood.
“The inial idea was to save the tropical rainforests here in
Southeast Asia, which we can do as we have enough resources
in Europe, and especially Germany where our forests have been
sustainable for 300 years and sll growing,” Chrisan Pongratz, senior
sales manager of mura, explained. “We use ash, spruce, pine and
beech for our products. But since American ash has a lower density,
we use German ash.”
THERMO WOOD
Sustainably harvested, mura’s thermally modied ooring, a product
of vacuum press drying, is lighter, holds more moisture than wood not
thermally modied, and oers beer insulaon due to its decreased
thermal conducvity and lower density.
“Mould normally grows on the wood if the moisture is over 25
per cent, but we thermally modify the wood and bring the moisture
down to around eight to nine per cent. Since mould cannot grow on
the wood, the durability is also enhanced,” Pongratz said.
But the wood is not only durable due to its water absorpon and
water-binding properes; it also oers beer dimensional stability.
“Because the wood is pressed and thermally modified, its
expansion and contracon is also greatly reduced, and one benet
is that it will not bend or warp. So there is no need to iron out the
wood every few years.”
UNIQUE
There are many benefits to building with wood, but the many
properes of thermally modied wood means that this versale
product has a large range of uses, from outdoor and exterior decking
as much as it can be used for interior ooring.
“What is special about our products is that seamless outdoor or
exterior decking – without gaps – is possible,” Pongratz expounded.
“The innovaon here is the SenoFix that was specially developed
for our thermo wood. It’s one of the reasons why designers and
architects like our products, along with the fancy shapes and colours
they can come in.”
timura’s products are also suitable
for outdoor decking