This is the title of the conference held in October at the Novacella Abbey in Varna, near Bozen, organized by Assolegno, the Italian association of primary processing and wood construction companies.
“Paint it pink”. The meeting aimed at giving voice to women who, though numerically inferior, have no gap of competence or quality; the speakers – all strictly women – proved that the “fair sex” can handle raw material not only in terms of practice and logistics (in building sites, forests and processing techniques), but also pay attention to possible applications at home, with an eye to the esthetics, atmosphere, warmth and brightness that wood can convey.
“The feminine universe – said Paolo Bortolotti, president of Assolegno – is strongly motivated and active in looking for its identity in this context and in this industry:women can discuss with competence and professionalism and offer a useful point of view to solve technical issues and to talk to consumers. It’s marketing where female sensitiveness gives a tangible contribution”.
Moderated by journalist Laura Stradaroli, the meeting offered reports by Francesca Monti Cadamuro, forest manager, Cristina Benedetti, architecture department professor at La Sapienza in Rome, who talked about education and a comparison between master courses in Bozen and Rome, Maria Luisa Bisognin, about sustainable building and eco-villages, Elena Scaratti, ArchinNova President for the sustainability of timber building construction operations, and Milena De Rossi, technical production manager and entrepreneur in the sawmill industry.
The speech by Roberto Snaidero, president of Federlegno-Arredo, closed the agenda by re-asserting the importance of women in business, with their competence and sensitivity, inside the wood industry.
The meeting was also the occasion to present some positive figures for this industry, which has recorded an increase in pro-capita wood consumption from 0.09 cubic meters in 2000 to 0.14 today, witnessing the consumers’ growing attention towards alternatives to brick and mortar, although the key issue remains the limited exploitation of national resources: only 10 percent is cut, as compared to 60 percent of raw material imported from abroad.
Talking about the timber house market, in 2006 331 thousand houses were built, but a slight decrease has been recorded in 2007 with 330 thousand. Another minor reduction is expected in 2008. On the contrary, timber framework constructions, currently representing 0.4 percent of the total (1600 units), 50 percent of which are made in Italy and 50 percent abroad, have a development potential that might drive their market share to 5 percent.
Wood painted in pink
ultima modifica: 2007-10-31T00:00:00+00:00
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