Xylotek joins Carpenter Oak Group

Xylotek has become part of the Carpenter Oak Group, the Devon-based timber construction company.

This move combines the experience of Carpenter Oak’s 30-year history in traditional timber construction with Xylotek’s expertise in the design and fabrication of modern engineered timber structures.  Together, the two companies offer a new and unique capability to the UK market to deliver timber construction.

Carpenter Oak was founded in 1987 and pioneered the building of new structures developed from understanding of traditional green oak construction techniques gained through the renovation of historic buildings. Subsequently, the firm has built hundreds of timber-framed buildings and cultural projects, becoming the UK leader in the new emergence of timber construction based on traditional techniques.  

The ambition of Xylotek’s foundation, in 2018, differed in that the aim was to exploit contemporary engineered timber technologies, and digital CADCAM fabrication methods, to enable ambitious new architectural forms in timber.  

The pairing of these two companies within the Carpenter Oak Group merges these sets of expertise, creating a unique capability to combine deep understanding of wood as a material, with cutting-edge design and fabrication technologies.  

Carpenter Oak is majority employee-owned, through a scheme that Xylotek has joined, which realises an ambition from the founding of Xylotek for all staff to have stake in the company.

Xylotek and Carpenter Oak share a connection in Charley Brentnall’s legacy, who was a founding partner of both companies -  Carpenter Oak in 1987 with Roderick James, and of Xylotek (with Oscar Emanuel and Martin Self) in 2018.  Charley passed away in early 2024 have dedicated his career to both the renaissance of traditional timber framing in the UK and subsequently seeking to push the possibilities of modern engineered timber.

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