Celebrating the end of a tough, stimulating and enjoyable learning journey.
By Namhla Phikwa
Although I had already spent a significant amount of time researching timber housing for my master’s research, I arrived at the RAW Modular camp confident I understood timber as a construction material and expecting to deepen my knowledge. Yet the experience exceeded every expectation I had.
The camp gave me a much broader appreciation of timber, not only as a construction material but also as a complete housing solution.
The RAW Modular camp experience provides students with problem solving skills
A complete housing solution
One of the highlights for me was witnessing the speed of timber construction in real time. Reading about fast construction in journal articles and listening to presentations are one thing, but physically assembling a structure yourself is a completely different experience. It transformed theoretical knowledge into practical understanding.
Another concept that fascinated me was the ability to assemble and disassemble timber components with relative ease, allowing homes to be extended or adapted as families’ needs evolve. This flexibility challenges many misconceptions about timber housing and demonstrates just how innovative the material truly is.
Read the full story here – https://www.woodbizafrica.co.za/july-2026-issue-61/#july-2026-issue-61/17/