Photos: FII India
If a picture is worth 1,000 words, consider the value of a real-life demonstration over a marketing brochure or web page. This is the thinking behind the more than 180 demonstration projects that have been completed in India using B.C. species since 2014. Each of these projects works towards the end goal of greater adoption of B.C. wood use into structural and related non-structural applications by the design and construction communities.
Spanning residential, commercial, education, hospitality and tourism sectors, the projects use B.C. wood species in a variety of structural, finishing and furniture applications. Many of these projects are led by commercial partners, with FII India providing technical support and assistance in sourcing and using B.C. wood products.
FII India leverages each commercial demonstration project through follow-up promotion and incorporation into educational programs and seminars.
Parallel Hotel
Marketed as a high-end, boutique hotel in Udaipur in north-western India, the architects of the Parallel Hotel needed to design a façade that reflected this premium positioning and could stand up to the harsh climate of Rajasthan (monsoon rains in the wet season and temperatures of 45 degrees Celsius during the dry season). A look that fit with the retro design of the hotel, including Art Deco-themed rooms, was also needed.
The architectural solution was the use of western red cedar on all exterior walls, in the rooftop restaurant and bar, and for ceiling finishings.
Cedar was chosen for its durability, termite resistance, good staining properties and ease of workability. FII India provided the building team with assistance in sourcing the wood, as well as guidance on proper handling, installation, and finishing to ensure that the wood performed well and met the project requirements.
Since opening, the unique look of the building has made it stand out in Udaipur and helped establish a reputation as the best hotel in the city.
Aura International Preschool
Aura runs a network of preschools that emphasizes a safe, respectful and stimulating environment for early childhood education. The company prides itself on paying attention to every detail of the learning experience, from the pedagogy to the quality of instructors to the physical environment of the classroom.
The school administration wanted to introduce greater flexibility to the classroom layout to foster more self-directed learning among young students. This required new study tables that were light enough to be easily moved but sturdy enough to stand up to constant handling.
While designing the tables, Nashik-based manufacturer, G Square Interior, explored various options for table legs. Western hemlock’s quality, flawless finishing, and beautiful grains positioned the species as an ideal, practical solution.
Instill Architecture Interiors, the firm behind the project, drew inspiration for the table design from the shavings of colour pencils. This idea was creatively translated into the table’s design, which features a wooden surface complemented by colourful edges. The design perfectly caters to the end users of primary school students.
The attractiveness and high quality of the furniture has given it a very favourable profile in India’s educational and institutional sector.
Mandara Tree Villa Hotel
At an altitude of 6,000 feet, and facing the Himalayan mountains in Dharamshala, the Mandara Tree Villa Hotel is a luxury boutique villa nestled amongst a forest of pine trees in the village of Akhankhola. The hotel uses yellow cedar for the exterior façade, interior wall panels, ceilings, windows, doors, built-in units, staircases and other finishings. More than 1,000 cubic feet of B.C. wood went into the project.
The cedar used in the project was well received by both the builder—for its ease of use—and developer—for its final look and functionality. The hotel is doing well as a 5-star resort, and the builder looks forward to using more B.C. wood on his next project.
