Special Guest - Marcus van der Hoven - Pioneering Mass Timber in South Africa & Beyond
Prepare yourselves for an eye-opening conversation with our esteemed guest, Marcus van der Hoven, the inspiring mind behind Mass Timber Technologies in Johannesburg, South Africa. As a pioneer of mass timber construction in a region where it was almost unheard of, Marcus brings a wealth of insights. We take a deep dive into his fascinating journey, from the struggles of establishing a CLT facility to successfully developing an 'Africanized' CLT system that is both cost-effective and less labor-intensive.From sourcing old machines to gathering capital and launching a plant, Marcus pulls back the curtain on the intricacies of building a mass timber plant from scratch. Listen closely as we explore the untapped potential of timber as a sustainable building resource and how Mass Timber Technologies has managed to scale up its output in a significant way. We also delve into the complexities of finding the right material for mass timber structures and the balancing act between form, function, and aesthetics.As we round off our chat with Marcus, we discuss the promising future of mass timber construction and the challenges that come with it. Marcus offers a glimpse of their journey of advocacy for mass timber usage and the importance of strategic partnerships in ensuring project success. Hear about their experiences and lessons learned from handling projects of varying scales, and how these experiences have shaped the evolution of mass Timber Technologies. Join us in this engaging conversation and gain invaluable insights from one of the industry's most innovative pioneers.Production by Deeelicious BeatsMusic "Game Play" by Quality QuestPodcast is a Mass Timber Construction Journal Productionwww.masstimberconstruction.comSupport the show