Forests take up about 30% of the earth’s surface and come in many shapes, sizes and types. From chilly boreal forests in the north, to temperate forests, dry forests, mangroves, rainforests and more, each forest has specific needs and nuances, and faces its own ecological challenges.

Around the world, there are communities and teams of people who oversee forests, ensuring they regenerate and survive. Commercial foresters, indigenous tribes and local foresters all care for them in different ways: some are managed through planting; others use low intensity forestry techniques; and others are studying how the careful removal of trees can, in some instances, benefit forests overall.

In this episode, hosts Oli Stratford and Evi Hall speak to Jim Smalls and Mike Williams of the U.S. Forest Service, former forestry consultant at the Architectural Association Jez Ralph, and designer Ash Pales to ask what caring for a forest on a day-to-day basis actually looks like and how design can play a meaningful role in promoting forest health and sustainable management.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Staining wood is a complex and often laborious process that requires careful thought from designers and makers. Considering the complexities involved, and the fact that natural wood is beautiful in and of itself, this Making short explores the benefits wood staining can offer for designers.

When done right, staining beautifully enhances the intricate and unique characteristics of wood. To elaborate further on this, architect, designer and educator, Giles Tettey Nartey, joins this episode to discuss why wood stain is an integral part of the design and narrative behind his pieces Interplay and Communion, as well as the process involved to achieve the desired finish.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

We’re probably all aware that climate change is having, and will have, a big effect on our forests. Increasing levels of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere and rising temperatures give way to adverse consequences such as droughts and fires, causing rapid tree mortality rates. So, how can we plan for the future to ensure these forests, in the face of climate collapse, are around for future generations?

Joined by Leander Anderegg, Assistant Professor at the University of California; Ron Waukau, Forest Manager for Menominee Tribal Enterprises; and Marianne Goebl, Managing Director of Artek, this episode asks how we can manage forests in response to rapid, and longer term, changes precipitated by climate collapse, and explores design’s relationship with climate change, questioning how the decisions designers and architects make can impact forests.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.