“Out-of-grade” structural timbers—destined for lower-value products or waste—can be repurposed and given new life as high-grade customisable materials with the help of intelligent design and a construction methodology that uses computational design, structural engineering, behavioural algorithms, and advanced manufacturing. That is according to Dr Ding Wen Bao, Senior Lecturer at RMIT’s School of Architecture, who, with Dan Luo and Dr Joe Gattas (both from the ARC Advance Timber Hub), presented REIMAGINING TIMBER at Melbourne Design Week.
“Timber is a cornerstone of sustainable construction, valued for its renewability, carbon sequestration potential, and low embodied energy,” according to Bao, who nonetheless said that a significant proportion of structural saw timber – predominantly from softwood plantations – is classified as “out of grade” timbers due to variation in stiffness, strength and other material inconsistencies. “As a result, much of this timber remains underutilised or wasted,” he said.
The exhibition – which will also be displayed at the World Conference on Timber Engineering in Brisbane later this month – showcases a series of prototypes that demonstrate the potential of “out of grade” timbers in long-span and large-scale timber structures: “These prototypes highlight efficient fabrication workflows that leverage AR-assisted discrete assembly techniques, enabling precise construction while fostering closer collaboration between architects and structural engineers,” Bao said.
“By challenging traditional classification systems and fabrication constraints, the project envisions a future where timber construction is materially efficient, structurally expressive and technologically integrated.”
Brisbane is gearing up to host the world’s top timber engineers.
Last week, Wood Central spoke to Kelly Rischmiller, executive secretary of the World Conference on Timber Engineering (WCTE 2025), who said more than 900 delegations have already registered for this year’s conference, held for the first time in Australia from June 22 to 26: “The program is now up to date on the WCTE 2025 website,” Rischmiller said. “There are 738 technical presentations, including nine keynote speakers. So far, we have 905 delegates, including 614 speakers.”
Poised to be one of the largest timber conferences on record, the conference will have six key themes: Material Performance and Durability, Sustainability and Timber in the Circular Economy, Timber Engineering and Structural Performance, Timber Architecture and Biophilic Design, Education, Innovation and Challenges, and notably, Exemplars and Construction Case Studies.
