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Discover London’s Exciting New ‘Smile’ Attraction

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‘The Smile’ at the London Design Festival

Presented at this year’s London Design Festival, ‘The Smile’ represents a remarkable collaboration between the American Hardwood Export Council (AHEC), architects Alison Brooks, and Arup engineers. This landmark project is crafted entirely from cross-laminated American tulipwood, showcasing its strength and versatility.

The Smile showcases the structural and spatial potential of cross-laminated American tulipwood.
The Smile showcases the structural and spatial potential of cross-laminated American tulipwood, which is stronger than concrete and can be machined to incredibly high tolerances.
Cross-laminated timber (CLT) is an engineered timber.
Cross-laminated timber (CLT) is an engineered timber that can be used to make the walls and floors of entire buildings. It has a layered construction with wood fibers turned at right angles in each layer, creating a panel with equal strength in both directions.
An interior view of 'The Smile' reveals the attractive versatility of CLT.
An interior view of ‘The Smile’ reveals the attractive versatility of CLT.

About the Design

The curved, tubular timber structure measures 3.5 meters (11.5 feet) high, 4.5 meters (14.8 feet) wide, and spans a length of 34 meters (111.5 feet). This innovative design represents the first-ever ‘mega-tube’ made with construction-sized panels of hardwood CLT.

Alison Brooks' concept of 'The Smile'.
Alison Brooks’ concept is the first-ever ‘mega-tube’ made with construction-sized panels of hardwood CLT.
A close-up view of 'The Smile' structure.
‘The Smile’ is made from just 12 massive tulipwood panels.

Brooks states, “CLT is going to open up a whole new world of possibility. It reveals the potential for buildings to be entirely fabricated in wood.” This statement emphasizes the sustainable and innovative nature of this construction method in contemporary architecture.

Large cross-laminated panels used in 'The Smile'.
The largest panel measures 14 meters (46 feet) long and 4.5 meters (14.8 feet) wide, a size that can compete with precast concrete.


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