Wood In Architecture Issue 2, 2021

MATERIALS AND TECHNOLOGY
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CHOICE OF MATERIAL
The choice of material is contextual
and relevant not only to the harsh,
arid, desert climate but also to the
historical presence of iron in the
region.
On the subject of materials, Ashmore
commented: “More often than not,
the intense desert climate proves to
be a difficult condition to enable the
use of traditional timber in exterior
applications. Durable hardwoods from
South East Asia and South America
often fail after short periods of time, or
they begin to weather fast and require
regular and intense maintenance.
We were looking for suitable natural
wood, dark in tone, with a smooth
finish and consistent grain to contrast
the dense, sober brutalism of the cast
in situ fair-faced concrete that made
up the main structure of the new build
spa building.”
Thermally modified (TM) timber
was a natural and suitable choice
for ANARCHITECT to explore for the
outdoor conditions. TM American ash
offers Class 1 category for durability
with a minimum life expectancy of 25
years, high water resistance without
requiring additional protection, and is
suitable for contact with the ground.
“The TM American ash façade has
close proximity to the saltwater
swimming pool. We required a TM
hardwood species that also had good
structural properties to allow us to
design a bespoke and interlocked
self-supporting wall system that could
incorporate a series of doors and
bi-fold openings that would provide
access to changing rooms and the
pool pantry areas from the exterior
areas,” added Ashmore.
ABOUT THERMAL
MODIFICATION
Thermal modification takes a nondurable
hardwood and makes it
suitable for exterior use and adds
dimensional stability through a
relatively simple, chemical-free
and low environmental impact
process of heating the timber to a
very high temperature in a vacuum
kiln. In American hardwoods, the
process works best in ash, red oak,
soft maple and tulipwood, making
them ideal for decking and cladding
applications, as well as for outdoor
furniture and shade structures.
Roderick Wiles, Regional Director
of the American Hardwood Export
Council, added: “It is great to see
this relatively new material being
specified and used in the Middle
East and, as far as we know, this is
one of only two or three projects
in the Gulf that uses TM American
hardwoods. I have no doubt that we
will be seeing more of it in the near
future, as for American hardwoods,
which already come with guarantees
of legality and sustainability, this
process opens up a whole new
market opportunity and one that
has immense potential in the harsh
climate of the region.”
The Lodge, Spa and Restaurant
buildings are divided by a throughroad
that creates an unusual and
dynamic urbanity to the master
plan of the retreat. The buildings,
together with the historical
petroleum pump, command a
presence in the scarce desert
landscape and will become both a
destination and stop-off for those
who know of and those who discover
this new intervention.
The project is designed to become a
destination that offers relief from the
intensity of the city. Al Faya Lodge
is purposely primordial, allowing
one to simply exist, absorb and
contemplate the surroundings in
one’s own individual way and time.
WIA
WOOD IN ARCHITECTURE • ISSUE 2 – 2021 43