FUTURE WOOD

Wood as a building material is experiencing a renaissance and increasingly becoming the epitome of modern architecture and building art. This is not only due to the many advantages that wood offers but also to the growing demand for sustainable and environmentally friendly building materials. An excerpt from the Home Report 2022 by Oona Horx Strathern*

AGE OF TIMBER

The essential advantage of wood as a building material is its load-bearing capacity. Wood is a very stable and resilient material that can also be used in large constructions such as high-rise buildings. In addition, wood is a renewable resource that, unlike concrete or steel, requires less energy in its production and is therefore considered more sustainable. Wood is particularly regarded as a healthy building material because it is breathable and can regulate moisture. Technical challenges when building with wood, such as special fire protection regulations and the natural aging processes of wood, must be taken into account to guarantee the longevity of the buildings. However, for this reason, wood is increasingly being used for facades and exterior cladding. The authentic and naturally aging appearance that results from weathering is often deliberately used today to achieve an aesthetic effect. Despite these challenges, wood is considered the building material of the moment as it meets the demands for sustainability, health, and emotionality.

Politics is also catching up: With the funding focus on “Buildings in Wood Construction”, the Federal Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry, Regions and Water Management promotes the “Increased Use of the Raw Material Wood” as part of the Forest Fund.

THERMOWOOD

A trend in timber construction is the use of thermo-treated wood. Wood that is modified and stabilized exclusively with heat and steam. The heat treatment achieves a high resistance to rot, making the wood suitable for use in outdoor and wet areas without being quickly damaged by fungal infestation. The water absorption capacity of the wood is reduced, which means it swells, cracks, and shrinks less. As a result, thermo-treated wood is also suitable for use under various climatic conditions.

No chemicals are used in its production. It is therefore a sustainable choice for a natural aesthetic. Thermowood also impresses in terms of thermal insulation and energy efficiency, which is particularly important in times of rising energy prices.

Wood is a renewable raw material and causes significantly fewer CO2 emissions compared to concrete and steel. In terms of waste disposal, wood is a more environmentally friendly material than concrete and steel, as it is lighter and easier to recycle.

WOOD IN THE CITY

Wood as a building material is also increasingly being used in urban environments.

Andrew Waugh, founding partner of the London architecture firm Waugh Thistleton Architects, who has worked with prefabricated CLT panels for over 20 years, sees significant advantages in building with wood materials to minimize disturbances from construction sites in the urban environment: “CLT construction sites are clean, quiet, and dry, without constant construction waste, cement mixers, jackhammers, or trucks appearing on site.” * In addition to the ecological benefits, the aesthetic effect also plays an important role. Unlike concrete and steel, wood gives buildings a softer, more natural appearance, which is often perceived as more pleasant.

The use of wood can also create stronger connections to nature in urban landscapes. Wooden buildings can help to lighten the cityscape and enliven the architecture.

Therefore, it is not surprising that more and more architects and urban planners are using wood as a building material in their projects – not only for buildings or residential houses but also for large, complex, and innovative constructions.

There are now many impressive examples of the use of wood in architecture worldwide.

• The contribution of the Czech Republic at Expo 2025 in Osaka is presented as a wooden pavilion, also known as the Kloboucká Forest Headquarters – two projects by the Czech architecture firm möjlk architekti.
• Norway, 85.4 meters high, is made of 100 percent wood.
• The Odunpazari Modern Museum (OMM) in Eskisehir, Turkey, consists of three separate but interconnected wooden buildings.
• The BIG Bjarke Ingels Group has provided the design for the project of the new terminal at Zurich Airport.
• In Vienna, Europe's first urban quarter built in timber construction is being created with the Leopold Quarter.

The conclusion is: We are in the Age of Timber, as Oana Horx-Strathern elucidates in the Home Report 2022: The technologies for timber construction are improving, and new laws, regulations, and subsidies for timber high-rise buildings are gradually changing the urban landscape towards more wood. The announcement of prestigious competitions for tall timber buildings also leads to a higher recognition for innovative solutions – from the use of cardboard to modular construction – and further reinforces the trend of building with wood.

*With thanks to the Zukunftsinstitut