FUTURE WOOD

Wood as a building material is experiencing a renaissance and is increasingly becoming the epitome of modern architecture and construction 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 like high-rise buildings. Moreover, wood is a renewable resource that requires less energy in production compared to concrete or steel, making it more sustainable. Wood is primarily considered a healthy building material because it is breathable and can regulate moisture. Technical challenges when building with wood, such as specific fire protection regulations and the natural aging processes of wood, must be taken into account to ensure the longevity of the buildings. However, for this reason, wood is increasingly 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 regarded as the building material of the moment, as it meets the needs for sustainability, health, and emotionality.

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

THERMOWOOD

A trend in timber construction is the use of thermowood. Wood that is modified and stabilized solely with heat and steam. The heat treatment achieves a high resistance to decay, making the wood suitable for use in outdoor and wet areas without being quickly damaged by fungal attack. The wood's ability to absorb water is reduced, which means it swells, cracks, and shrinks less. As a result, thermowood 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 convinces 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 generates significantly less 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 increasingly being used in urban environments.

Andrew Waugh, founding partner of the London architectural firm Waugh Thistleton Architects, who has been working with prefabricated CLT panels for over 20 years, sees significant advantages in building with wood materials to minimize disruptions 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 the site.” * In addition to the ecological benefits, the aesthetic effect also plays an important role. In contrast to concrete and steel, wood gives buildings a softer, more natural appearance, which is often perceived as more pleasant.

Through the use of wood, stronger connections to nature can also be created in the urban landscape. Wooden buildings can contribute to relaxing the urban scenery and enlivening 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 structures.

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 or the Kloboucká lesní Headquarters – two projects by the Czech architectural firm möjlk architekti.
• Mjøstårnet, in Brumunddal, Norway, 85.4 meters high, consists 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 delivered the design for the project of the new terminal at Zurich Airport.
• In Vienna, Europe's first urban district built in timber construction is being created with the Leopold District.

The conclusion is: We are in the Age of Timber as Oana Horx-Strathern describes in the Home Report 2022: The technologies for timber construction are improving, and new laws, regulations, and subsidies for timber high-rise construction are slowly changing the cityscape towards more wood. The commissioning of prestigious competitions for tall wooden buildings is also leading to a higher regard for innovative solutions – from the use of corrugated cardboard to modular construction – and further reinforces the trend of building with wood.

*With thanks to the Zukunftsinstitut