Wood in Architecture and Construction

We are experiencing a real “wood architecture revival”, with increased roles for wood at all scales, from largescale structures to interior finishes, mainly as a result of wood’s capacity for contributing to climate change mitigation through carbon sequestering. This has kick-started a wealth of interest from architects and politicians looking to find ways to develop a carbon free future.  

Wood is a renewable, natural, carbon-storing material indigenous to many building cultures, widely utilised as a building resource. It is also the world’s most successful fiber composite, in terms of its high-strength and low-cost. Wood’s sensual qualities, its tectonic potential and longevity are closely connected to its high social value and cultural resilience. 

Aimed at building design professionals (architects, engineers, architectural technologists etc.) this five-day professional course addresses relevant topics that give up-to-date input about a broad spectrum of design relevant topics connected to design and construction of wood. 

The course will give you an opportunity to learn about wood as a material and structure, its characteristics, opportunities, and challenges. We will present cutting edge wood architecture research, both dealing with new wood as well as in relation to re-claimed wood. Current digital design/fabrication tools will be presented outlining the opportunities they offer in understanding wood’s specificity. 

Projects about current architectural and engineering wood practice will be presented showcasing current good practice. Last but not least, you will have an opportunity to work with your own project and get advice from specialists as well as network and discuss current and future aspects of wood architecture.  

By attending the course you will:

• Get a better understanding of the types of wood, wood properties and their applicability in architecture and building design
• Learn about opportunities and challenges when designing/constructing with wood
• Understand wood from a material scientist perspective
• Hear about latest research looking at wood agency, and the material- wood as an active contributor to the design
• Learn about to work with second-hand reclaimed wood
• Hear about recent projects in wood from both architectural and engineering perspective
• Get a better understanding of latest digital/parametric tools for design/fabrication in wood
• Visit the Royal Academy wood workshops
• Work with your own project and get advice from specialists