Tulipwood makes temporary London landmark

A highlight of the 2008 London Design Festival was a pavilion built of American tulipwood - a material usually reserved for indoor use.

In a bid to boost awareness of a material little used in Europe, the American Hardwood Export Council commissioned architect David Adjaye to create a landmark pavilion as part of the 2008 London Design Festival.

Named 'Sclera', the 8x12m elliptical pillbox structure used 30 tonnes of American tulipwood to create a semi-enclosed space on London's South Bank, outside the Royal Festival Hall.

The pavilion stood from mid-September to mid-October, before being sold at auction.

Tulipwood is said to be one of the most prevalent hardwoods in North America, but little used elsewhere in the world - despite its claimed qualities of flexibility, strength, attractive grain and colour (in a variety of hues from pale yellow to mid-brown).

Wood preservation specialist Osmose provided technical advice on treating the material to cope with the English outdoor climate, and is continuing to work with the American Hardwood Export Council, Ahec, to further research tulipwood's range of potential applications for external joinery and cladding.

The pavilion was fabricated in Germany by Hess Wohnwerk, and transported in four trucks to be erected on site by UK company Mtech.

Adjaye says the name Sclera means a 'space from my viewpoint', although medically it refers to the outer enclosure of the eyeball - in both, it provides a housing for the reception of light.

The open nature of the timber structure emphasises the play of light on the tulipwood surface.

After its South Bank showing, the piece was sold by auction house Phillips de Pury to an 'important collector' for over GBP145,000.

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