Panels & Furniture Asia July/August 2022

MATERIALS
veins of this species were selected and
incorporated into the project since
the concept design and it remained
a characterising element of the
project, giving it a plus value highly
appreciated by the customer and
above all by the users of the space.”
According to AHEC, American red oak
has a distinctive grain, and the wood
is not always red. Generally, the
sapwood of red oak is light brown,
and the heartwood is often pinkish
to reddish brown. American red oaks
have good overall strength properties
relative to weight, and thus its main
uses are for furniture, flooring,
doors, and certain construction
applications.
1
To manage traffic flow and also
comply with COVID-19 guidelines, the
white Carrera marble floor links the
main entrance to the rear door and
elevators. Adding some contrast, a
few of the structural columns were
rendered in ceramic. In addition, NIU
specified a sustainable carpet made
from recycled plastic bottles, which
adds soundproofing and underfoot
comfort to the seating areas.
The earthy ambience stretches to
the mezzanine and first-floor levels
where windows flood the interior
with daylight. In the 50 square metre
conference or multi-function room,
there are a few chairs that replicate the
slat motif, and as part of the natural
ambience, numerous plants are found.
Finally, the walls are painted in shades
of sky-blue and green, giving the space
a natural and calming ambience.
“For this project, the amount of red
oak that was used equals two full 40-
foot containers, which is around 2,300
cubic feet. This means that 69.5 metric
tonnes of CO2 were kept out of the
atmosphere as part of carbon capture
feature, and with a replacement rate
in the US hardwood forest, through
natural regeneration, of just 68
seconds,” concluded Roderick Wiles,
regional director at AHEC. P
2
3
Legend
1 Solid and
veneered oak
louvres were
used to add
interest and
dimension to the
glass façades
of the closed
meeting rooms
2 Chairs in multifunction
rooms
that replicate the
slat motif
3 American red
oaks have good
overall strength
properties
relative to weight
and can be used
for construction
purposes
Panels & Furniture Asia | July / August 2022 41