Anniversary edition - The 15th Wood Conference
The countdown is on: The time is just a few days away. On 24 February, you can look forward to an exceptional programme entitled "Celebrating Timber, Innovation and Expertise - connecting South Africa and the World".
High-calibre speakers from South Africa, Europe and Switzerland will present visionary projects that impressively demonstrate how timber is having a lasting impact on architecture and construction - and how building with timber has developed internationally over the past 15 years.
Structural timber construction has undergone a remarkable development in recent decades and has established itself as a mainstay of modern, sustainable construction. The idea of anchoring wood as a renewable raw material in the South African construction industry in the long term and in a sustainable manner stems from the vision of a group of innovative timber construction specialists.
The starting point for this development was the insight of George Kuratle, who recognised the potential of timber construction in South Africa at an early stage. The Wood Conference was established with the aim of bringing together experts in the sector, promoting the international exchange of knowledge and further developing the South African timber construction industry. At the same time, the aim was to raise awareness of wood as the most sustainable building material.
The Création Holz team at the time, led by Hermann Blumer, also played a key role, pursuing the aim of promoting modern timber construction internationally from the outset and making its constructive and ecological potential visible. Together with George Kuratle, they initiated the first Wood Conference in South Africa under the title "Wood - the Universal Material for Innovative and Sustainable Modern Architecture".
Today, the Wood Conference is one of the leading events in the field of sustainable building in South Africa. As the expertise network behind some of the most innovative timber buildings of the 21st century, Création Holz is supporting this development with pioneering projects in Switzerland and around the world.
In its anniversary year, the programme will once again feature timber construction specialists who have played a key role in shaping modern timber construction and are closely associated with Création Holz. Among others, the Norwegian architects Reinhard Kropf and Gunnar Adolf Aanesland will be presenting current and innovative timber construction projects.
After fifteen years of consistently positive feedback, the success story of the Wood Conference will continue in February 2026. The 15th edition is dedicated to both the conference's own history and the impressive development of timber construction - in South Africa and worldwide. The focus will be on formative milestones and successes from 15 years of the Wood Conference, complemented by renowned guest speakers.
On Tuesday, 24 February 2026, the 15th Wood Conference South Africa invites you to the renowned International Convention Centre in Cape Town. Thanks to the innovative hybrid format, you can participate both on site and virtually. Be inspired first-hand and discover the impressive possibilities that the renewable building material wood offers for the construction of the future.
Visitors on site will then be able to enjoy the after-party, which will provide a special setting for the anniversary edition.