Mass Timber Construction Journal

Moke Architects has designed a wooden house in Muiden together with la4sale. The living/working house of the two founders of the la4sale landscape agency had to have a 'landscape' appearance based on the nature of the residents. The house has a visible wooden construction, pergolas, views and a greenhouse on the roof. The house designed by Gianni Cito and the partners of la4sale is located directly behind the dike of the IJmeer, in the new residential area near Amsterdam. The residents wanted a house where they could enjoy the view, but also have the necessary privacy. The house is divided into a front and rear house offset from each other; an idea suggested by the residents. https://lnkd.in/g46fDqRk

In May, the Meise Botanic Garden in Belgium unveiled the Green Ark project, a comprehensive renovation and expansion comprising 82,000 square feet of new and improved greenhouse facilities. Anchoring the new complex is a striking hyperboloid visitor’s pavilion, designed by Belgian firm NU architectuuratelier, which showcases the material potential of timber and leverages the latest sustainable technology. The complex structure was inspired by Felix Candela’s Cosmic Rays Pavilion (1951) in Mexico City, and constructed using Kebony Clear wood, a sustainable alternative to tropical hardwood. https://lnkd.in/gxEKB3NN

Milwaukee is gearing up to reshape its skyline with a $700 million development led by Madison-based, The Neutral Project. This ambitious multi-building development will not only include the tallest building in Wisconsin but also claim the title of the world’s tallest mass timber tower. Situated at 1001 N. Water St., where the Marcus Performing Arts Center parking structure currently stands, this project is poised to symbolize a fusion of sustainability, progress, and architectural creativity. The Marcus Performing Arts Center has held a cultural cornerstone role in Milwaukee since its establishment in 1969. The area surrounding its parking structure, now designated for the construction of Wisconsin’s tallest building and the world’s tallest mass timber tower, has long awaited an initiative that could uphold its historical and cultural importance. Through The Neutral Project’s vision for this location, Milwaukee is embarking on a phase of advancement that harmonizes modern sustainable principles with the city’s deep-rooted heritage. https://lnkd.in/gedHiPDT

ited at one of the highest points in the eternal city, Cabane 7L serves as an observatory that mediates between the skyline and gardens of Villa Medici, the French Academy in Rome. In these Renaissance gardens, the temporary installation, built entirely from mass timber, welcomes visitors to ascend to canopy level and discover a panoramic view never captured before — reactivating one of the city’s most iconic locations. Designed by architect Manuel Bouzas with Librairie 7L and CHANEL, the project is part of the 2024 edition of the Festival des Cabanes. This summer festival joins six different installations to transform the historic gardens into a laboratory for architectural experimentation. Primarily built with wood, the festival centers around the concept of the cabin (cabane), serving as a platform for dialogue between architecture, landscape, art, and design. https://lnkd.in/gV2TXDWd

A St. Thomas, Ontario-based timber manufacturer is getting a $3.5-million boost from the provincial government as Queen’s Park pushes to meet its housing target. At Tuesday’s announcement at Element5 – a supplier of wood panels used in mass timber construction – Nolan Quinn, Ontario’s associate minister of forestry, said the government is making the $3.5 million in funding to the company through the forest sector investment and innovation program, an initiative that provides capital for manufacturers and processors of wood across the province. Element5 is “leading the way in innovative mass timber building materials,” as demand for cross-laminated timber products increases, Quinn said. “Demand for these products is expected to grow by up to 25 per cent per year over the next decade,” he said. https://lnkd.in/gk6pHP3C

The Tribune recently asked why mass timber construction is so lagging in Chicago while nearby Milwaukee and other cities in the Pacific Northwest and Europe are making strides to embrace the movement by altering their building codes and fire safety regulations. Even after an amenable update to its citywide code in 2020, forces such as the collective memory of the 1871 Great Chicago Fire are one such impediment to the development of new wooden designs. A two-year-old residential project from Hartshorne Plunkard Architecture — a rare approved proposal over five stories — appears to have stalled. The DOB says it considers additional exceptions to the limit "on a case-by-case basis," but there remains an impression it is too late to the table, leaving the city known for its architectural innovations disappointingly out of the vanguard while a new race to the top unfolds. https://lnkd.in/gz5FTKXb

The Ontario government has announced it is contributing $3.46 million to help mass timber manufacturer Element5 expand its operations. The company, located in St. Thomas, is Ontario’s first manufacturer of cross-laminated timber. Element5 will spend $23 million on the expansion, stated a release. The expansion will more than triple the company’s production, creating 32 new jobs, increasing revenue by over 300 per cent and boosting export sales by nearly 600 per cent, the firm estimates. “With more space and new equipment, Element5 will be able to meet growing demand for their high-quality products and get more building projects done quickly and efficiently,” stated Minister of Natural Resources Graydon Smith in a statement. “This company is an advanced wood construction success story, powering growth and development across Ontario, Canada and the U.S.” The Ontario government has released an action plan designed to expand wood construction in the province. Its Advanced Wood Construction Action Plan encourages using more wood in the construction of mid-rise and tall multi-family residential, commercial and industrial buildings. The plan is available for public review and comment on the Environmental Registry, ending on Sept. 30. “The ongoing support from the province is a cornerstone of Element5’s strategic planning,” stated Element5 CEO Patrick Poulin. “More importantly, it reflects our shared vision to position Ontario as a leader in advanced wood construction and manufacturing, not only in Ontario, but across Canada and North America.” https://lnkd.in/g8Rhpqxa

KNAUF Insulation has revealed how its products were used in the bespoke, timber frame wall panels for the New Model Institute for Technology and Engineering’s (NMITE) Skylon campus in Hereford. The campus building is biophilic and described as an ‘exemplar’ of advanced timber construction techniques. NMITE is a higher-education provider created from the ground up by its founders, teachers, donors, and a cohort of young designers. Its goal is to give young people a path to becoming integrated engineers that are ‘sustainability conscious’ and ready to find solutions for achieving net zero. The organisation required a campus that facilitated its unconventional style of teaching and reflected the aspirations of the institution. As well as making the campus itself an object for students to learn more about timber construction, NMITE wanted the site to be a ‘living lab’. Sensors would be used to monitor the structural, acoustic, and thermal performance, with the intention of sharing this data with the industry to develop insights. Knauf Insulation’s products were used for the pre-fabricated panels supplied for the construction of the building. Taylor Lane built 20 panels offsite using a selection of non-standard materials and techniques specified by NMITE to demonstrate different approaches to students. Although each panel was unique, they all had a 240mm cavity that was insulated with OmniFit Slab 35. https://lnkd.in/eDfkew7r

A Perth Passive House Inspired By Traditional Japanese Architecture Built on an empty block in Perth, this striking home is equal parts sustainable and sentimental. It’s the family home of Ewert Leaf associate architect and studio lead Siew Fung Then, who was inspired by her time living in Japan to include an Engawa-style veranda, a traditional Tatami tea room, and serene garden spaces. But one of the most outstanding parts of the project is that it was built to the exacting standards of German Passivhaus certification. https://lnkd.in/gZfwZkcG

The official opening of Perth’s first timber hybrid office tower, Westralia Square 2 (WS2), stands as the harbinger for the change in approach needed for developers and tenants to meet and deliver sustainable commercial developments into the future. WS2, developed by GDI Property and currently leased at 90% capacity, was officially opened last week by Deputy Premier Rita Saffioti, marking the historic occasion. GDI CEO and Managing Director, Stephen Burns, says the success of the timber hybrid build placed the issue of sustainability, particularly relating to embodied carbon and scope emissions, at the forefront of design thinking and provided a resounding solution. https://lnkd.in/guT94u_x