SterlingOSB flies the Scottish flag at Venice Biennale
July 11, 2008 - SterlingOSB flies the Scottish flag at Venice Biennale

The UK’s leading manufacturer of engineered wood-based panels, Norbord, is sponsoring a unique installation at this year’s Venice Architecture Biennale from 11 September – 12 October 2008.

Picture is Gareth Hoskins Architects’ winning proposal for The Lighthouse’s presence at the 2008 Venice Architecture Biennale.

The UK’s leading manufacturer of engineered wood-based panels, Norbord, is sponsoring a unique installation at this year’s Venice Architecture Biennale from 11 September – 12 October 2008.

The company is donating all the SterlingOSB required for the construction of The Gathering Space, a temporary work commissioned by The Lighthouse, Scotland’s National Centre for Architecture, Design and the City.

Created by Glasgow-based Gareth Hoskins Architects, The Gathering Space will provide a venue for visitors to mingle, pause, engage and debate while creating a strong identity and presence for Scotland. Situated directly in front of the railway station, it will be one of the first sites that visitors to the Biennale will see.

Built out of SterlingOSB, and clad in Scotlarch, the heartwood of Scottish-grown, European Larch, The Gathering Space will be the hub for a range of debates, presentations and events.

Mike Buick, Brand Manager, explained why Norbord got involved; “This is a fantastic opportunity for locally-manufactured Scottish products to be displayed in such a unique architectural setting. The structure will be outdoors and fully exposed to the elements so OSB is the ideal construction material as it is both structural and moisture resistant. We are excited to be involved in a project like this and look forward to seeing the Gathering Space in situ.”

As well as promoting Scottish design expertise, The Gathering Space is the embodiment of Scottish building materials’ production. SterlingOSB is made in Inverness from timber grown in FSC-certified forests within a 60 mile radius of the factory and the other materials will all be both sustainable and Scottish.

The Venice Biennale is the world’s most important architectural event, attracting around 350,000 visitors and it will involve the participation of top names such as Rem Koolhaas, Zaha Hadid and Frank Gehry.

The Gathering Space has been supported by a grant from the Scottish Government.

For further information on Norbord, please call 01786 812 921 or visit www.norbord.com.