Wood is one of the world’s earliest building materials and remains one of its most versatile. Wood, timber beams, columns, and planks have been used to construct projects that range hugely, from a Japanese museum with a deceivingly simple interlocking grid structure to an undulating concert hall in Norway whose form creates ideal acoustic conditions for the performing arts. With 21st-century technological advancement of mass timber and increasing governmental approvals for its use in structures of all kinds, the architecture world is currently experiencing a renewed interest in the natural material. And it’s a worthwhile pursuit. As a renewable and often local material, wood is a top contender for low carbon buildings that consider a sustainable future. The works below explore the best designs that wood can provide, by top architects from around the globe pushing the material to its most elegant capabilities.
