Accoya, the world’s leading modified timber, has successfully met the demands of a highly technical architectural project in the Netherlands.
Reconstruction of the Pro Persona medical clinic on the outskirts of rural Stuwwalbos, Nijmegen, was designed in a joint project by BogermanDill in Amsterdam and SBH Architects and Consultants in Arnhem. The impressive plans for a distinctive wooden superstructure required curved boards as long as 4.4 kilometres - the equivalent of 2.7miles - to be created out of sustainable timber.
Accoya wood, manufactured by Accsys Technologies, is one of the most advanced wood products on the market today, using wood modification technology to deliver outstanding levels of performance, stability and durability. It is created by using a proprietary process called acetylation on sustainably sourced woods. This results in a non-toxic, attractive wood which matches or exceeds the properties of tropical hardwood, which is perfect for a variety of uses from windows to doors to external cladding.
It is almost impossible to create the curved shape out of most wood species, but Accoya was able to rise to the challenge, thanks to the technical process and the wood’s flexible and durable makeup, which is modified through to the core. Following the acetylation process, the pieces were curved into specially shaped blades that were steamed and bent by De Jong’s Houtwaren in Drogeham, the Netherlands. Unlike other timber treatments on the market, acetylation does not affect the flexibility of the wood’s cells.
Dating back to the early sixties, the original clinic buildings had failed to meet current quality standards and had to be demolished in order to make way for new buildings. The new clinic building in Nijmegen, with a rough masonry substructure and a distinctive wooden superstructure, forms part of the master project for Pro Persona and the extensive use of Accoya has resulted in a bold and inspirational exterior. The finished wooden cladding, which from a distance gives a copper like appearance, stands in striking contrast to the rough texture of the brick and concrete basement.
BogermanDill Architects commented: “Accoya was chosen for its outstanding durability in outdoor applications, and sustainable credentials which match the natural surroundings of the clinic. It has proved to be the only timber product that would meet the demands of this complex technical design, and the unusual curves created from such long timber pieces help to reduce the typical regimental appearance of a stone building."
Bryan Crennell, Director of Sales and Marketing at Accsys Technologies added: “The Pro Persona clinic building demonstrates Accoya’s real versatility. Thanks to the acetylation process, Accoya has the strength and durability to meet even the most challenging architectural demands; enabling projects to create outstanding looks but also industry leading performance with unrivalled sustainability, which has resulted in an a truly outstanding building”.
Accoya is FSC certified and is a high performance sustainable wood solution which matches and exceeds many of the properties of most unsustainable tropical hardwoods.
