For Wood Measure
How mass timber construction might change our skylines
Skylines of modern cities have been symbols of innovation and prosperity. Lured by their warm appearance and environmentally-sensible qualities, architects, high-rise developers, and policy makers around the world are increasingly embracing the possibility of the new, yet traditional, building material—wood.
The use of wood in built environments has long been adopted to create cozy atmospheres. A well managed timber industry could act as a “carbon sink” by requiring more trees to be planted, consuming instead of emitting CO2. Until recently, tall-timber construction was outlawed due to fire risks, but Canada’s National Research Council suggests that under test conditions, mass timber materials can achieve significant fire resistance. Already home to some cross-laminated timber (CLT) buildings, countries like Canada, Australia, and Japan have implemented new National Building Codes allowing for mid/high-rise wooden towers.
Nonetheless, sustainable timber solutions still face many challenges. Intended to showcase local wood with a colossal amount of exposed timber, Kengo Kuma’s 2020 Tokyo Olympic Stadium is accused to have caused damage to endangered rainforests by also using tropical plywood. Atlassian’s new place-defining tower in Sydney is estimated to cost a record high of AU$1bn (US$660m). Moreover, although CLT buildings typically consist of prefabricated parts that can be assembled by small crews, adapting to the new material could result in new challenges in insurance and construction operations.
Sources: The Guardian (July 22, 2019) | E-Architect (January 20, 2020) | Image: Tomohiro Ohsumi/Getty