Profile

Xylotek was founded in 2018 by Charley Brentnall, Oscar Emanuel and Martin Self with the aim of bringing together our diverse experience and shared passion for wood, to serve projects seeking high ambition for the application of timber in architecture. We operate internationally with a design and project management hub in Bristol UK. In July 2024 Xylotek become part of the Carpenter Oak Group, under the leadership of MD Luke Copley-Wilkins.

Our clients include cultural and academic institutions, commercial developers and private individuals. We are typically appointed as specialist consultants within design teams; as subcontractors to main contractors on large projects; or as design-build contractors in our own right. We are able to design, fabricate, assemble and install – in both conventional and unusual contexts.

Our specialism is in the delivery of non-standard timber structures that need innovative solutions. For every project we formulate the correct technologies, processes and supply chain for that job – working with industry partners to ensure the best offering of value and expertise in the market. Some projects are prototyped or fabricated in our workshops; others – often at a larger scale – are procured through our fabricator partners. In all cases, bring overall control to delivery through our expertise.

In seeking a well-designed low-carbon future, our driving motive is to change the world with wood.

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Charley Brentnall 1956-2024

It is with great sadness that we share news of the passing of Charley Brentnall. Charley was a founder of Xylotek, a passionate advocate of wood, and a uniquely generous and caring character. He will leave an immeasurable legacy in the people whose lives he has influenced through his practice and teaching, and in the many projects he has been part of. He died at home following a period of illness.

25 February 2024.

Clients & Collaborators

Team

Luke Copley-Wilkins

Managing Director

Luke Copley-Wilkins

Managing Director

Luke Copley-Wilkins studied architecture at Sheffield University. After international experience, he joined Carpenter Oak Ltd, developing its markets and joining the leadership team. He led the partnering of Xylotek with Carpenter Oak and is MD of both companies.

Oscar Emanuel

Business Development Director

Oscar Emanuel

Business Development Director

As a founder of Xylotek, Oscar brings a deep knowledge of the international structural timber industry gained over the last twenty years of working in the UK, Canada, US and France. His passion for the role of wood in the future of sustainable construction has driven a career dedicated to advancing timber applications. Through a combination of hands-on experience – gained through major self-build ventures and on international projects – and project management, Oscar has a long track record of delivering design-build projects from start to finish.

He was a founding director of EmanuelHendry Ltd in 2008 which successful grew as a design-led timber construction firm delivering to the UK market, and has worked as a consultant to US and European architects and timber construction companies.

With this holistic understanding of design, delivery and management – and a strong material and market knowledge and commercial network – Oscar hasled Xylotek’s development as a company seeking to benefit society by contributing to the transition to a low-carbon future.

Tim Hoggins

Head of Design & Engineering

Tim Hoggins

Head of Design & Engineering

Tim is a Chartered Structural Engineer with international experience at Arup, AKT and most recently at Hydrock where as Technical Director he led the successful growth of an engineering team of thirty. He is experienced in civil and structural engineering design including high-rise and engineered timber buildings.

Martin Self

Technical Director

Martin Self

Technical Director

Martin Self is an engineer, geometer and educator who has specialised in innovative timber structures since 2005. Following a background in aerospace engineering, he was a founder member of Arup’s Advanced Geometry Unit (2000-2006) and Director of Hooke Park (2010-2018), the Architectural Association’s woodland campus for experimental timber architecture, where he continues to teach.

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Key previous projects include the 2005 Serpentine Pavilion, for which he developed a pioneering application of geometric scripting for robotic fabrication; the form-finding for the Pompidou Metz timber roof at its concept design stage; and directing the design and construction of a series of timber buildings at Hooke Park that radically explore the use of locally grown wood.

He is a founding director of Xylotek and leads our technical design activities.

David Williams

Head of Operations

David Williams

Head of Operations

David Wlliams brings over 30 years of experience in the timber construction industry. His previous roles include Head of Design and Production at Oakwrights, MD of Bespoke Oak Designs, and Area Manager at SEMA GmbH. He brings industry-leading knowledge of wood technologies.

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Brendan Jenner

Sales Manager

Brendan Jenner

Sales Manager

With nearly two decades of experience and starting as a traditional timber frame carpenter, Brendan has honed his expertise in construction and timber building. His passion lies in sustainable design and creating environmentally-conscious structures. Beyond work, Brendan is a proud parent to three kids, a dog owner, and an avid outdoors enthusiast; fishing, sailing and cycling.

Phoebe Mitchell

Project Manager

Phoebe Mitchell

Project Manager

Phoebe graduated in Quantity Surveying from Heriot-Watt University and has gained a wide range of experience working in cost and project management in both consultancy and contractor settings. Her passion for sustainability and innovative architecture led her to join Xylotek to work on pioneering timber projects.

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Nate Crosby

Senior Designer

Nate Crosby

Senior Designer

After graduating in Product Design Technology, Nate has spent several years building experience and developing his knowledge as a Technical Designer of high-end bespoke furniture.

Then, in the summer of 2020 Nate moved to London, taking on the role of a Senior Designer with a large-scale developer of compact city living studios. Xylotek’s previous and future projects, as well as their collaborative working environment, led Nate to join in August 2021.

Rachel Wagner

Designer

Rachel Wagner

Designer

Rachel Wagner is an architecture graduate and has been working in timber design since 2016. Originally from São Paulo, she has a background in Glulam fabrication, construction and engineering, as well as a passion for digital fabrication and design. Rachel joined Xylotek in 2021 while finishing her master's in timber architecture and construction at ENSTIB in France.

Lloyd Aplin

Project Manager

Lloyd Aplin

Project Manager

lloyd.aplin@xylotek.co.uk

Marina Brant

Designer

Marina Brant

Designer

Marina is an Architect and Computational Designer holding a Master’s degree in Parametric Design in Architecture from Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya, Barcelona, Spain, focused on active bending lightweight structures. With extensive experience collaborating on international projects, she has worked on a variety of scales, including competitions, housing, façades, exhibitions, event spaces, retail, signaling, and product design.