In architecture, wood was one of the first materials used by humans in construction, evolving and facing numerous challenges over the years. From the integration of new technologies in industrial production processes to ancestral techniques and materials reinterpreted for contemporary use, timber construction continues to garner significant interest among architecture and design professionals. Beyond its versatility, strength, appearance, and sustainability, cross-laminated timber, known as CLT, presents a highly promising future for the industry.
The properties of wood are not homogeneous; they vary depending on the species, moisture content, the origin of the trees, and the position of the pieces within the same log. Throughout its history, wood has gone through different stages, re-emerging today with applications in panels, beams and columns, thermal and acoustic insulation, floors, and ceilings, among other elements. Alongside alternatives such as glued laminated timber (GLT), oriented strand board (OSB), medium-density fiberboard (MDF), laminated veneer lumber (LVL), and/or laminated strand lumber (LSL), cross-laminated timber (CLT) emerged in the mid-1990s.
