The high-heat-treated ‘carbonized wood’ exterior cladding produced and supplied by KD Woodtech has been installed on the exterior of the Seongbuk History & Culture Center, which has been completed as a new cultural landmark.
The carbonized wood designed into the exterior wall is finished in two tones and made of solid SYP (Southern Yellow Pine) that is entirely free of knots. It is a product that protects the building's exterior wall, keeping it sturdy and elegant without warping. Its advantages include eco-friendly functions such as thermal insulation and air purification, as well as the ability to create a beautiful appearance.
KD Woodtech Co., Ltd.'s high-heat-treated carbonized wood improves upon the inconveniences of conventional wood, and is characterized by physically and chemically supplementing and improving the chronic shortcomings of conventional timber. Carbonized wood is timber that has been high-heat-treated using high temperatures of 180–212°C and steam pressure; carbonization takes approximately 48–96 hours, with full consideration given to the species, thickness, and initial moisture content. KD carbonized wood is an eco-friendly product to which no chemical substances are added or used during the carbonization process, and is offered in species such as ash (ASH), pine (SYP), and spruce.
In addition, KD carbonized wood possesses high durability under any weather conditions and can withstand far longer than ordinary dried timber, thereby preventing decay and mold growth. KD carbonized wood improves the bending and deformation properties of ordinary timber by more than 90%, and maintains a uniform color, so it has the advantage of not requiring stain-oil treatment to preserve its color. In addition, it offers thermal insulation and sound absorption effects roughly 25% or more greater than those of ordinary timber.
Alongside this, KD Woodtech's paulownia ‘Prime Wood’ was specified for the Pyeongtaek Youth Culture Center, giving rise to a beautiful and refined space. To create a pleasant and upscale space, the Pyeongtaek Youth Culture Center adopted a variety of solid-wood louvers from the Prime Wood line, including △ Channel Louver (Zelkova), △ Channel Louver Overcoat (Gray), and △ Liner Louver (Khaki). It completed an even more pleasant space with the naturalness that only solid-wood louvers can offer, along with a warm, stable texture, noise blocking, humidity control, and the scent of wood. KD Prime Wood is a product made from 100% natural timber, and its natural humidity-regulating effect helps prevent mold growth and aid in the prevention of respiratory diseases. In particular, it is made of paulownia, which has almost no shrinkage or expansion, thereby compensating for the shortcomings of wood, and its insulation performance—twice that of ordinary timber and 20 times that of concrete—can save on heating and cooling costs. It also possesses flame-retardant performance in response to fire and the like, so it can be used safely, and it has the advantage of being impact-resistant.
A KD Woodtech official said, “Even though people favor the many advantages of wood, the biggest factor in it being excluded from actual construction is the perception that wood is difficult to maintain and manage. Accordingly, our company has been discovering a variety of eco-friendly products for beautiful and creative wood interiors while compensating for the existing shortcomings of wood, earning favorable reviews from designers.” 02-3401-5525
▲ The Seongbuk History & Culture Center, featuring carbonized wood on its exterior
▲ The Pyeongtaek Youth Culture Center, featuring Prime Wood