We proudly present the last two shortlisted projects for the World Architecture Festival’s Best Use of Certified Timber Prize supported by PEFC: a hotel that revived a historic mountain village in Italy, and a visitor centre in China, that takes its guests back in time. The Zallinger Chalets are located in theZallinger Chalets WAF midst of a UNESCO world heritage site in the Italian Alps, where they revived the spirit of a historic mountain village. Originally consisting of a chapel and seven barracks, the village has changed significantly over the years. Through the traditional construction style, as well as the use of timber as the main construction material, the architects have brought back the charm of the little alpine village of 1850. Located in Hebei, China, and surrounded by Mulan Weichang WAFMongolian grasslands, the Mulan Weichang Visitor Centre was inspired by the shape of the traditional yurt camps of Mongolian nomads. The aim of the architects was to blend the building seamlessly into the surrounding nature. They achieved this by applying techniques from the local architecture and by using local materials, such as stone, wooden beams and rattan. Click read more below for additional detail.

The Sustainable Forestry Initiative Inc. (SFI) announced today that the Maine SFI Implementation Committee is the winner of the 2017 SFI Implementation Committee Achievement Award. This award, announced at the SFI Annual Conference, recognizes the exceptional work of the grassroots network of 34 SFI Implementation Committees across the U.S. and Canada. Groups ranging from Habitat for Humanity and Boy Scouts to universities and Ducks Unlimited Canada work with SFI Implementation Committees. "Education and outreach have long been a strength of the Maine SFI Implementation Committee. Every year we hold multiple events and workshops that involve hundreds of people and benefit our communities. Having these efforts recognized with an SFI award is hugely gratifying," said Pat Sirois, the Maine SFI Coordinator. "This award really belongs to the network of countless people who care about Maine's forests. We all share the benefits of the healthy, productive forests that are such a significant part of the quality of life in our state." Click Read More below for additional detail.

While Koehler may be a globally active company, it doesn’t focus exclusively on the big stuff. Its immediate surroundings also play an important role for the company. This is equally true when it comes to recruiting employees as it is with preserving the environment. So it came as no surprise when theKoehler Paper Group’s environmental officer, Rolf Peter, actively supported the campaign day “A Half Day for the Environment”. Other Koehler employees also took part. The task of the day was to build bird nesting boxes that would serve as breeding grounds for cavity nesters – such as the great tit, blue tit, nuthatch, starling, redstar, black flycatcher and the two sparrow species – in the ecologically important and scenic orchard meadows of Kugeleck.