Sanderson Bell - Wood for Good: If Trees Could Talk

The Hearing Architecture podcast, proudly sponsored by Brickworks, presents Again and Again and Again, a mini-series hosted by Hilary Duff.

Each week, we will bring you interviews and conversations as we seek better ways to understand, harness and deploy the expertise and knowledge of professionals currently within the design community, at home and abroad. Our guests are all experts on circularity within the building industry and share the aim to display that waste is not an accident but the consequence of decisions made at the design stage. Here is our opportunity. We, as designers, have an opportunity to do better.

In this episode, I meet with Sandy Bell of Stance Studio, an Australian-trained and registered architect, who has spent the last half-decade living and working in Denmark. At the time of the interview, Sandy was operating a fascinating hybrid practice, Stance Studios, that spanned the roles of the ‘design architect and construction architect often seen separated in Denmark. Similarly Stance’s output ranges in scale, from handcrafted furniture, single residential, and through to commercial and educational projects. Often working with local practice Einrum Arkitekter, the studio has spent the last number of years expanding into, and advancing, the niche of mass timber design and construction.

Astutely aware of the construction sector’s major contribution to human environmental impact on the planet, Sandy advocates for mass timber products as a sustainable alternative to traditional building. 

Among other things, our conversation explores various aspects of mass timber performing as a sustainable alternatives to steel and concrete, and we delve into how construction is undergoing a revolution through integrated building technology, transforming the utilization of timber in the industry. 

I was lucky enough to cycle the city with Sandy and got to follow his classic Danish wagon bike around town. We started in his office where a small typical desk setup was excitedly located beside a timber and off-cut-filled workshop nested in a larger co-working space filled with talented other creatives, working with salvaged materials.

We visited several of his projects, from the intimate – furniture pieces and shop fit-outs to the large and commercial ones such as Copenhagen Distillery, and Gladsaxe (Gleaghds- axe -e) Kindergarten.

We ended our tour at the site of Falleby (Fal-le-boo) project, which we discuss in the interview. Its timber CLT envelope and neat construction process meant it was one of the cleanest and most comfortable construction sites I have ever set foot on. I can imagine it must be quite a joy to work on as a contractor. Which brings us to the atypical role, which Sandy and his CLT-focused counterparts play.

On the construction site, Sandy is just as likely to be found with a hammer in hand as he is with a clipboard or measuring tape of a typical architect. 

It is a small shift in the traditional role of an architect that can hopefully lead to a large and more crucial shift in the industry, towards a craft and materials-focused, low-carbon and cyclical way of building.

This has been Again&Again&Again, a mini-series of Hearing Architecture, proudly sponsored by Brickworks, made possible with the support of the Alastair Swayn Foundation. This episode was recorded during a period of residency with the Danish Arts Association in Copenhagen. Thank you so much for listening, and thank you to our international guest, Sandy Bell of Stance Studio. It was truly delightful to delve into your appreciation for traditional craftsmanship and innovative processes, and speculate about the future landscape of mass timber construction. Let’s watch this space, and we look forward to speaking with you again in the future.

Our sponsor Brickworks, also produces architecture podcasts hosted by Tim Ross. You can find ‘The Art of Living’, ‘Architects Abroad, and ‘The Power of Two’, at brickworks.com.au or your favourite podcast platform.

If you’d like to show your support please rate, review, and subscribe to Hearing Architecture in your favourite podcast app. If you want to know more about what the Australian Institute of Architects is doing to support architects and the community please visit architecture.com.au

This is a production by the   Australian Institute of Architects Emerging Architects and Graduates Network, in collaboration with Open Creative Studio. The miniseries Again&Again&Again is proudly supported by the Alstair Swayne Foundation. The Institute production team was Madelynn Jenkins, and Claudia McCarthy, and the EmAGN production team was Daniel Moore and Hilary Duff. Music by Blue Dot Sessions released under Creative Commons Licencing.

This content is brought to you by the Australian Institute of Architects Emerging Architects and Graduates Network, in collaboration with Open Creative Studio. This content does not take into account specific circumstances and should not be relied on in that way. This content does not constitute legal, financial, insurance, or other types of advice. You should seek independent verification or advice before relying on this content in circumstances where loss or damage may result. The Institute endeavours to publish content that is accurate at the time it is published, but does not accept responsibility for content that may or will become inaccurate over time.