17 December 2015

AHEC (American Hardwood Export Council): the peaceful precision.

The calm and considered approach of joinery specialists, Jones and Sandford was the key to this breathtaking ceiling structure in the Tsi Ming Buddhist Temple, Auckland.

The structure, made from 14 American hard Maple panels, was created offsite and brought to The temple for erection and assembly. “When we received the drawings we realized pretty quickly that it would be better to create the dome with our technology and facility here than onsite” said Roger Jones. “We completely redesigned the ceiling structure and created a model to demonstrate how it would work, and look”.
Architects, Archoffice had specified American hard maple for the dome which was supplied by timber specialists, Timspec. Brendan Rawson from the Auckland based practice said, “The colour and grain were the main draw. We also liked the consistency.
As light would be fired into the dome a light, consistent grain and timber was critical –inconsistencies and variation would be distractingly obvious”. Jones adds, “The timber was particularly good to work with. Very strong and stable but bent well to the shape we needed without exerting too much pressure. We had so many pieces of wood and we couldn’t, afford any expansion and shrinkage which was avoided by using the maple”. “The prefabricated sections were large and quite awkward. As the roof was already on the structure we couldn’t crane them in. We put up scaffolding and moved them one panel at a time”. Whilst bolted to the perimeter of the building, the structure is held in place by the pressure created between each of the 14 panels.
The result is extraordinarily beautiful. Jones and Sandford said that they relished the challenge to design a structure of this size and complexity and their focus, precision and vision certainly paid off.
For more information contact Mrs Rocio Perez-Iñigo, Senior Marketing Manager or visit the web site:

AHEC: American Hardwood Export Council
 20-22 Vestry Street, Unit 20.1.
LONDON N1 7RE United Kingdom
Tel +44 20 76264111
Fax +44 20 76264222
E-mail: rocio@americanhardwood.org