On Monday, 14 September 2026, the Timber Frame and Mass Timber Construction Workshop took place at the University of Pretoria. It was organised by TheWoodApp in partnership with Stellenbosch University and the University of Pretoria, and served as a practical curtain-raiser for a broader two-day national timber summit.
The workshop brought together researchers, students, architects, structural engineers, manufacturers, policymakers and industry leaders. Its theme was “From Forest to Future Cities”: the full lifecycle of timber, from responsibly managed, carbon-sequestering plantations to precision off-site prefabrication and modern multi-storey architecture.
Danie, Sales Manager at Sabie Poles, represented the company. He left with a clear impression: “It was particularly encouraging to see how much development has taken place, especially over the last two years, in terms of cross-laminated timber and timber frame homes.”
Changing the perception that timber is inferior to brick
A central aim of the workshop was to address the perception in South Africa that timber construction is inferior to brick and mortar. Timber has been used to build for generations, but modern engineered systems now allow it to be used well beyond traditional single-storey structures.
The enthusiasm in the room was hard to miss. “A highlight was seeing how enthusiastic the architects, structural engineers, FSC representatives and people in the manufacturing industry are about the timber industry. You could really feel it,” Danie said.
Students were part of the conversation too. Namhla Phikwa, a Masters student at the University of Pretoria, presented her research on modular timber components, and on the strengths and applications of CLT, laminated timber and timber frames. “It was inspiring to hear their side as well. The future definitely lies in construction with timber.”
What are timber frame and modular homes?
A timber frame home is a building whose primary structural framework is timber. Instead of relying mainly on masonry walls for support, the timber frame forms the walls, floors and, depending on the design, the roof structure. It is then combined with insulation, exterior cladding and interior wall finishes.
Modular homes take the idea further. Sections of the building are manufactured or partly assembled away from the final site, transported, and assembled into a complete building. The practical advantages include:
– controlled manufacturing conditions
– less construction waste
– faster assembly
– repeatable components built to a consistent standard
For a country with significant housing demand, these methods are attracting growing attention. Timber frame homes are already well established in countries such as Australia. Danie believes South Africa needs to understand the potential of similar methods: “It is very clear that modular housing and timber frame homes are going to play a very big role in South Africa.”
Where mass timber and CLT fit in
Mass timber was another major theme. Cross-laminated timber (CLT) is an engineered wood product made by bonding layers of timber with the grain of successive layers arranged perpendicular to each other. The result is large, strong, dimensionally stable panels for walls, floors and roofs, which extends timber into larger and multi-storey buildings.
CLT is a specialist, factory-produced product and sits at the higher-end, larger-scale part of the timber construction market. Timber frame and modular systems, by contrast, are where much of the near-term volume, particularly in housing, is likely to come from. Both are part of the same shift, and growth in one builds confidence in the other.
Eucalyptus and Pine: research that stood out
Leon Ras, director at DRP Structures, presented research and development on combining Eucalyptus and Pine in CLT panels. This caught Danie’s attention because he knows Eucalyptus well as a timber species, including its tendency to crack under certain conditions.
“It not only prevents the Eucalyptus from cracking, but also makes the panels a lot stronger. It makes the panels almost twice as strong as when only Pine is used.”
For a supplier of poles and timber, this is a useful reminder that local species can perform better when their characteristics are understood and put to the right use.
For instance, while Pine is a softwood, it can be strong and highly durable when CCA-treated. Its ability to withstand varying weather conditions makes it a versatile choice for applications such as mouldings and framing. Eucalyptus is both hardwood and softwood. It is known for its strength, making it suitable for applications where greater load-bearing capacity is required. While being more prone to natural cracking and splitting, it creates a rustic character without compromising its overall strength and durability.
Timber construction and affordable housing
Representatives from SMEC discussed low-cost housing and the role timber could play in meeting South Africa’s housing needs. Danie sees changing perceptions as the key: many people still assume brick and concrete are inherently more reliable or durable than timber, yet modern timber systems are engineered to meet specific structural, performance and durability requirements.
According to The South African News Agency, South Africa has a housing backlog of approximately 2.6 million units, affecting more than 12 million people. “If they can manage to convince communities that timber modules are a solution to the problem in terms of low-cost housing, it could really work.”
The challenge is not only the technology. It is also knowledge and understanding of what modern timber construction can offer.
Prefabrication: faster, cleaner, more local
Werner Slabbert of Green Block Group presented on pre-constructing timber modules before they reach their final destination, where they are then assembled. Danie saw several benefits:
“Transportation would cost less, you can use locals to assemble the modules, you can involve the community with the assembly; it is cleaner and there is no waste. There are simply not enough people with the needed knowledge of construction, so if you only need to assemble, the basic skills will only be needed.”
Where a modular approach is standardised and well planned, multiple units can be produced and assembled efficiently, which matters for large-scale housing.
Real timber projects already built
The workshop went beyond theory.
- Campus Vert, Mossel Bay: Andre van der Walt, CEO of Saint Blaize, shared insights into this net-zero corporate and lifestyle campus, which brings together workspace, recreation and nature. Danie described the structures as very beautiful.
- Die Boomhuis, Centurion: Roelof van der Westhuizen, CEO of EQUATE, presented this mass-timber project. They manufactured components off-site in Cape Town and assembled on site. Its beams, columns and floors are entirely engineered timber. It was also a finalist in the Best New Office Development category at the African Property Investment Awards.
- Halzbau Hess Project: Completed in November 2020, Onduli Lodge is a striking lodge nestled within the rugged landscape of Damaraland in Namibia. The project showcases how bold architectural forms can complement and respond to their natural surroundings. Incorporating approximately 70 m³ of timber across six accommodation units and a central main building.
For Danie, these projects underlined logistics. Large timber components need careful coordination of transport, planning and assembly, so successful projects depend on collaboration across the whole supply chain which includes Sabie Poles as a supplier of the poles and timber.
What this means for builders and manufacturers
Sabie Poles supplies poles and timber products used in timber frame and modular structures. We do not construct buildings or manufacture CLT or engineered wood. Our role is upstream: supplying the graded, treated timber that frame and modular builders rely on.
As timber frame and modular housing grow, the requirements placed on that timber grow with them. For builders, modular manufacturers, developers and specifiers, that means:
- Correct grading: timber suited to the structural demands of the design
- Appropriate treatment: protection matched to the application and exposure
- Reliable supply: consistent quality and volumes for repeat, standardised production
- Supply-chain planning: early conversations so materials arrive when the build programme needs them
“It is especially important for a company like Sabie Poles to have attended this workshop because we supply the timber and poles used for these types of structures,” Danie said.
Interest in timber is also tied to the construction industry’s efforts to cut its environmental impact. Concrete and other conventional materials carry significant energy and emissions footprints. Timber from responsibly managed forests, used appropriately, is a renewable alternative that can form part of lower-impact construction systems.
This growing interest sits at the intersection of housing, construction efficiency, material technology, skills development and sustainability.
South Africa still has a journey ahead
The timber frame housing industry here still has plenty of room to grow. Many people continue to associate timber homes with temporary structures, so education will remain central. What the workshop showed is that architects, engineers, researchers, students and manufacturers are actively developing new solutions and applications for some of South Africa’s biggest construction challenges.
As Danie put it: “The future definitely lies in construction with timber.”
Are you ready to purchase certified poles and timber for your project? Get in touch with Danie. We’re here to help you make the best timber choices for your project. Call/Whatsapp: 072 838 2838 or email: sales@sabietimber.co.za. We are always here to assist. We export to all SADC countries and internationally.
