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Doctor

Nathan Kotlarewski

Research Fellow in Timber Design and Products

Architecture and Design

Orcid identifier0000-0003-2873-9547
  • Research Fellow in Timber Design and Products
    Architecture and Design
  • +61 3 6324 4473 (Work)
  • School of Architecture and Design, Architecture and Design, T40B, Newnham Campus, TAS

RESEARCH INTERESTS

Expertise

Nathan’s research encompasses understanding material properties to develop new commercial products and inform manufacturing processes with existing infrastructure and future investments. A holistic design thinking approach supports Nathan’s research in addressing industry-focused opportunities to utilise resources and provide new developments and research extensions. His research informs the integration of advanced manufacturing to deliver commercial timber building solutions and design features. His core research area focuses of supporting the Tasmanian Timber industry transition from traditional practices of native saw-milling to plantation resources for emerging industries in construction and new timber products.

Research Themes

Nathan’s research is multidisciplinary and encompasses the University’s research themes of Creativity; Resources and Sustainability; and Data, Knowledge, and Decisions. With a background in Industrial Design, his research outputs are aligned with studying timber, its behaviour, properties, and applications to develop novel products, that encourage innovation in the timber industry. Working closely with industry partners Nathan’s research and product outcomes align with emerging markets, resource drivers and manufacturing opportunities to promote sustainable growth.

Collaboration

Nathan has travelled nationally and internationally to world-class research institutes to engage, share, and collaborate in timber design and product development. Nathan has also taught as a guest lecturer internationally and studied abroad to advance his teaching expertise, research capacity and global network. He has contributed to, and co-led several National Institute of Forest Products Innovation projects, Forest and Wood Product Australia grants, and Government incentive Innovation in Business grants.

Current projects

Characterising utility performance and in-grade properties of solid structural timber recovered from radiata pine T2 logs, third logs from clear fell, and core wood from current sawlogs.

PROJECTS

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GRANT
Viable supply chains for underutilised native forest species and resources
Forest & Wood Products Australia Limited1 Oct 2024 - 15 Mar 2026
People funded by this grant: Nolan G, Kotlarewski N
Project Total: $195,209; This project is to investigate establishment of viable supply chains for currently underutilised species and resources in target native forest areas, specifically Acacia species grown in southern Tasmania and species recovered from mine site clearing operations across the WA Goldfields region. This research includes development of a market opportunity profile for each species through resource definition, material characterisation, establishing potential producer and user profiles, and marketplace assessment. Funded by: Forest & Wood Products Australia Limited - Grant - Research, Development and Extension (RD&E) ($195,208); University of Tasmania.
GRANT
Research, development and validation of 8-star rated architectural products maximising the use of out-of-grade timber.
National Institute of Forest Product Innovation1 May 2024 - 1 May 2026
People funded by this grant: Kuys B, Kotlarewski N, Wallis L, Shanks J
Project Total: $356,895; A Swinburne led project with UTAS, CSAW, to design and develop multiple architectural product concepts prioritising the use of out-of-grade timber to transform manufacturing capability to growth areas in architecture – namely, the fabrication of products, components and subassemblies to meet a minimum energy efficiency rating of 8 stars. Funded by: National Institute of Forest Product Innovation - Grant; Hancock Victorian Plantations Pty Ltd; Swinburne University of Technology; University of Tasmania.
GRANT
Characterising utility performance and in-grade properties of solid structural timber recovered from radiata pine T2 logs, third logs from clear fell, and core wood from current sawlogs
Forest & Wood Products Australia Limited1 Jul 2023 - 12 Dec 2025
People funded by this grant: Wallis L, Shanks J, Nolan G, Rameezdeen R, Kotlarewski N
Project Total: $216,500; Pine third logs from clear fell, thinning logs, and the corewood of larger logs comprise mainly juvenile fibre and are therefore not typically processed for structural timber framing products. The limiting factor is often board instability in production and in-service compared with market expectations. However, alternative log and fibre sources become important in a market when availability of traditional sawlogs limits production volumes. Using Western Australian pine product, this scalable project will provide a capture critical performance data as a foundation for further research and development using this alternative fibre supply to meet market demand for timber construction and EWP feedstock. Funded by: Forest & Wood Products Australia Limited - Grower Research Advisory Council ($204,500); Wespine Industries Pty Ltd ($12,000); University of Tasmania ($12,000).
GRANT
Establishing E. nitens processing at the Bridgewater mill for Porta's timber products
Department of Industry, Science, Energy and Resources3 Apr 2023 - 2 Apr 2024
People funded by this grant: Kotlarewski N, Wallis L, Ettelaei A
Project Total: $98,280; Porta Mouldings Pty. Ltd. wishes to engage with the University of Tasmania’s, Centre for Sustainable Architecture with Wood to mill, monitor, season and kiln-dry emerging plantation hardwood resources. The project will include unique Porta training for good practice development in production to improve business resilience and ongoing development. Funded by: Department of Industry, Science, Energy and Resources - Innovation Connections ($49,140); Porta Mouldings Pty Ltd ($49,140); University of Tasmania.
GRANT
Developing a New Generation of Tasmanian Appearance Hardwood Products for In-State Design and Manufacturing
FWPA - National Institute for Forest Products Innovation21 Jan 2019 - 5 Oct 2022
People funded by this grant: Wallis L, Kotlarewski N, Nolan G, Wood K, Lee M
Project Total: $336,500; This project will develop a new generation of hardwood appearance products for manufacture in-state using current and new technologies from the available native, reclaimed, and plantation resources. Funded by: FWPA - National Institute for Forest Products Innovation - Grant-Research ($270,000); Tasmanian Timber Promotion Board ($20,000); McKay Investments Pty Ltd ($10,000); Forico Pty Ltd ($10,000); SFM Environmental Solutions Pty Ltd ($10,000); Britton Timbers ($10,000); Ta Ann Tasmania ($6,500); University of Tasmania.
GRANT
Increasing the durability and other material characteristics of Tasmanian hardwoods
FWPA - National Institute for Forest Products Innovation21 Jan 2019 - 4 May 2022
People funded by this grant: Wood K, Kotlarewski N, Lee M, Vega Rivero M, Ozarska
Project Total: $330,000; This project focuses on increasing the desirable material characteristics of Tasmanian hardwood species: Tasmanian oak and plantation hardwoods, for use in several product groups: sawn appearance board, cladding, veneer-based products and glue assembled products: glulam and cross laminated timber (CLT). Funded by: FWPA - National Institute for Forest Products Innovation - Grant-Research ($320,000); Neville Smith Forest Products ($5,000); Sustainable Timber Tasmania ($5,000); University of Tasmania.
CONSULTANCY/CONTRACT RESEARCH
Drying protocols for Tasmanian hardwood
Department of Industry, Innovation and Science1 Jan 2018 - 31 Dec 2019
People funded by this grant: Kotlarewski N, Lee M
Project Total: $80,000; NSFP has asked the University of Tasmania's Centre for Sustainable Architecture with Wood to assist with commissioning and optimisation of the predryers and establishing their use in day-to-day production and to assist in preparation and embed of DQA and training in its business. Funded by: Department of Industry, Innovation and Science ($40,000); Neville Smith Forest Products ($40,000); University of Tasmania.
CONSULTANCY/CONTRACT RESEARCH
Improving management options for eucalypt and acacia plantations in Vietnam and Indonesia
CSIRO-Commonwealth Scientific & Industrial Research Organisation1 Jan 2017 - 31 Dec 2018
People funded by this grant: Blackburn D, Kotlarewski N
Project Total: $35,000; To examine if solid wood products can be successfully processed from earlier age acacia and eucalypt plantations in Vietnam and Indonesia Funded by: CSIRO-Commonwealth Scientific & Industrial Research Organisation ($35,000); University of Tasmania.
CONSULTANCY/CONTRACT RESEARCH
Neville Smith Forest Products Colour Project
Neville Smith Forest Products1 Jan 2017 - 31 Dec 2018
People funded by this grant: Kotlarewski N, Power J, Mate K, Lee M
Project Total: $6,000; Neville-Smith Forest Products (NSFP) have requested a project that aligns their Tasmanian Oak resource with current trending colour palettes for the built environment. The aim of this project is to develop contemporary interior colour themes for NSFP Tasmanian Oak from research evidence based themes. Post project iterations may consider future colour trends. Funded by: Neville Smith Forest Products ($6,000); University of Tasmania.