Atrium Ljungberg unveiled Stockholm Wood City in Sweden, the world's largest urban construction project in wood, and in Norway, just four years ago, Voll Arkitekter completed the Mjøstårnet Tower on Lake Mjøsa, one of the tallest wooden buildings in the world at 18 stories. On the other side of the planet, the Tamango project by Tallwood Architects is an example of the challenges and opportunities of wood construction in Chile, as it could become the first 12-story building with a prefabricated wood structure in Latin America. Meanwhile, in Peru, the Construye para Crecer project by Poggione+Biondi Arquitectos won the XIX National Architecture Biennial 2022 with a residential complex to be built mainly of wood. Nearby, Uruguay recently concluded its social housing in wood competition, paving the way toward innovation in social interest architecture. Furthermore, in 2020, Vicente Guallart won an international competition to define the standards for the buildings of a new city in China. The project, titled The Self-Sufficient City, was already a design that materialized a new urban model in wood across four city blocks.
Across the globe, sustainability and innovation in construction are constantly evolving, and wood structures are presented as a promising option. ArchDaily presented The Future of Wood as its monthly topic, opening up a discussion to explore and hear predictions and thoughts from our readers regarding the future of this material in architecture and urbanism. Is wood the key to a more sustainable and livable urban future? Or are there challenges we must address before embracing this trend? What are the implications for architecture, cities, the economy, and the environment?
After reviewing an immense number of comments and opinions, we found consensus in favor of using wood due to its lower carbon footprint, efficiency, and aesthetics; and concerns regarding its resistance to fire and pests, durability, and environmental impact. Read the main perspectives below.
In favor: lower carbon footprint, efficiency, and aesthetics
Using wood in urban construction represents a sustainable and forward-thinking choice today. This material not only adds a warm, aesthetic touch to our cities but can also significantly contribute to reducing the construction industry's carbon footprint. Wood is a renewable resource; when grown efficiently, its use in buildings reduces carbon emissions during manufacturing and construction, while providing excellent energy efficiency. Thus, wood can be a key option for creating more sustainable and attractive urban environments for present and future generations.
"Wooden cities represent an exciting prospect in the evolution of urban architecture. The trend toward sustainable and environmentally friendly construction is driving research and development around this renewable material. Wood is not only more ecological than other building materials, but it can also offer a warmer and more human environment. The ability to blend the old with the new in wooden designs adds a special charm to cities and can foster a deeper connection between people and their surroundings. As we move toward a more environmentally conscious society, wooden cities could undoubtedly become an urban revolution that improves quality of life and reduces our ecological footprint," says Lisset, an architecture student from Peru.
From the same country, architect Horacio Núñez writes: "It is clear that wood will remain an important option for our homes, cities, and infrastructure; however, it will be necessary to diversify technological options (species/components) according to cultural and climatic heterogeneity, as well as the scale of global demand and its impacts."
Against: fire and pest resistance, durability, and environmental impact
Despite its aesthetic and sustainable attributes, using wood in urban construction poses significant challenges. Compared to other building materials, wood has lower fire resistance and is susceptible to pests and fungi that can compromise its integrity. Furthermore, its long-term durability is often questioned, as it requires constant maintenance. In addition, logging from natural forests can have a significant environmental impact if not managed sustainably. These factors raise questions about the suitability of wood as a primary material in building modern, safe cities.
Manuel Alvarez, a Colombian architect, says that "a city with a large number of wooden buildings is forced to live with many swords of Damocles: fire, wood-boring insects, pests, and continuous maintenance. If citizens are willing to live with that, then that's fine." From the same country, another architect comments on the importance of examining "how the massive use of wood as a medium for sustainable architecture and environmental sustainability will align with the pressure that will be exerted on forests."
Spanish architect Santiago Gallues Urrutia joins the conversation: "Wildfires are out of control, millions of square meters burned and destroyed—are we sure about what we are offering with wood?" Toni Solanas, another Spanish architect, tells us that "the most sustainable approach is to retrofit, giving new life to vacant buildings, and then build new structures with wood, earth, or plant fibers, but they don't need to be entire new cities, residential buildings, or public facilities."
From Argentina, architecture student Alicia writes: "I consider wood a material that was cast aside over the years under the belief that other materials were better suited for large-scale construction. Wood can be the key to a major change in our lifestyle; however, we should not blindly follow a trend. It requires extensive research by architects who choose to design with these 'new' materials." Another student from the country adds: "I believe that over time, wood will begin to show significant wear due to continuous exposure to the elements. From an aesthetic standpoint, the passage of time can be considered beautiful, but others might not like a dirty and neglected look. In any case, repairs or modular replacements will eventually be needed. While we can experiment with mixing old and new modules, it would undoubtedly require mobilizing a lot of people to replace parts, which is impractical for residents."
In Brazil, architecture student Matheus Cunha de Oliveira Bispo writes: "We still live in a world governed by money, and today, especially in my country, there is a very large black market for timber. Once this becomes a trend toward sustainable progress, there must be extensive planning so that deforestation does not continue unchecked, leading to the opposite effect." Gunther Kiekebusch, an architecture enthusiast from the same country, asks: "Today our forests are being devastated, so I ask, who will provide the wood? Is there a planting program? Is there a recycling program?"
In summary, while using wood in urban construction offers advantages in terms of sustainability and efficiency, it also presents challenges related to strength and durability. The choice to use wood depends on factors such as location, building type, and specific environmental and economic considerations—presenting architects with a major area for research.
This article is part of the ArchDaily Topics: The Future of Wood. Every month we explore a topic in-depth through articles, interviews, news, and architecture projects. We invite you to learn more about our topics. And, as always, at ArchDaily we welcome the contributions of our readers: if you want to submit an article or a project, contact us.
This article was written by Fabian Dejtiar. The translation is powered by AI.
