A number of architectural practices and public organizations are leading the way when it comes to designing for and using Scottish timber in explicitly ecological buildings. The result is an increasing body of knowledge about Scottish timber combined with experience of sourcing and using homegrown wood. Much of that information is there to be shared.

"Using local timber suppliers directly supports the local economy with indirect benefits across the local community. The Scottish timber industry is greatly undervalued with a significant potential which can be realised by doing this. Supporting the local timber industry in this way helps to increase the viability of local woodlands, which, again indirectly, benefits the local environment and community." Chris Morgan, Gaia Architects

Designed by Gaia Architects, the National Trust for Scotland Visitor Centre at Glencoe opened in May 2002. The Trust wanted the new centre to blend into the natural landscape and be built according to ecological principles - a building with a gentle ecological footprint, which could be used for many purposes, is easy to maintain and repair, made of non polluting materials with low embodied energy. The building had to be energy efficient and 'healthy' - with good ventilation and no internal pollution.

Glencoe has been described as "an informal demonstration project of the potential of the Scottish forest and timber industry."

Timber was sourced from responsibly managed forests as close to the site as practical. The building was made from spruce, Scots pine, European larch, Scottish oak, birch, alder and ash.

Spruce was used for the main structure of timber portal frames, for sarking boards and for the internal secondary structure and battens. Sources: Inveralmond Estate, Perth; BSW in Fort William and Glenalmond Timber

Heartwood of European larch was used for the exterior cladding. Source: Glenalmond Timber

Scottish Oak was used for flooring in areas of heavy traffic: Manufactured by Norbuild, Sourced from the Altyre Estate. It was also used for external joinery - the doors and windows. Laminated by Russwood of Newtonmore and manufactured by Treecraft in Dornoch.

Scots Pine was used for flooring in areas of light traffic. Source: Glenalmond Timber

Birch was used for the internal ceiling linings. Supplied by Bernd Pinamonti of Out of Wood; sourced by Sandy MacDonald in Ardnamurchan

Alder, birch and ash were used for the interior doors.

Designed by Dualchas Building Design, Glasgow & Isle of Skye. Construction will begin shortly and fundraising for the new centre is currently underway.

The new facilities promise to be an example of sustainable architecture, with as much of the building as possible constructed from locally grown Scottish timber, including the frame, exterior cladding and internal joinery. The building will have minimal impact on the landscape and will be heated by water and passive solar heating. No toxic adhesives or paints will be used on the project, and plans include a native tree planting program around the building.

Natural Power built a new 20 person eco-office in 2001 and are about to begin work on an extension that will increase the floor space by 50%. The building was designed by Neil Sutherland, Architect. It is carefully situated and orientated to maximise passive solar gain, with energy stored within the fabric of the building. Heat loss is also minimised by digging the building into an earth bank. It is well insulated with warmcell cellulose fibre, and the glazing is all low-E and argon filled. The roof of the building has a considerable overhang, which helps reduce glare in the office and protects the cladding. It’s one of the few buildings to boast a timber fire escape, which has a 60 minute fire rating and is made of oak. There are no toxic chemicals used on the building.

Virtually the whole building is made from Scottish timber. Posts and trusses were made from large section Douglas fir; and Douglas fir heartwood was also used for vertical cladding, soffits, barge-boards and fascias. Horizontal counterbattens behind the cladding were made from European Larch, with Scottish grown Norway spruce used for secondary purlins, floor joists and framing. The external balcony was built in Scottish green oak, and Scottish sycamore was used with oak for the internal staircase and for the upper floor and finishes. Much of the wood was sourced from the Natural Power estate within a 5 mile radius of the site. The sycamore floor was provided by Norbuild.