Title: Solid Wood: Case Studies in Mass Timber Architecture, Technology and Design.
Author/s: Joseph Mayo.
Photographer/s: Aarstad, Jaarle; Ashley, Emile; Brass, Jeff; Brendeland, Geir; Borchardt, Bernd; Boy de la Tour, Didier; Cook, Peter; Cuff, Tim; DarkoTodorovic; Despang, Martin; Erhardt, Don; Fowelin, Johan; Grandorge, David; Havran, Jiri; Hufton and Crow; Jais, Ola; de Jong, Rob; Kirwan, Simon; Klomfar, Bruno; Lehoux, Nic; Marinescu, Ioana; Mayo, Andy; Mayo, Joseph; Müller, Norman A.; Pryce, Will; Reynolds, Patrick; Rötheli, R.; Shigeru Ban Architects Europe; Stamets, John; Tessler, Martin; Tornow, Sven-Erik; Vesby, Johan.
Photographs courtesy of: Professor Andy Buchanan, University of Canterbury; Architekten Hemann Korfmann; Arkitektbolaget Kronoberg AB; Arrow International; Athfield Architects; B&O Wohnungswirtschaft; Blumer Lehmann AG; Brisco Manufacturing Ltd.; CREE Rhomberg; Equilibrium Consulting Inc.; Eurban Limited; Fast+Epp; Feilden Clegg Bradley Studios; FPInnovations; Helen & Hard; HLM Arkitekur AS; Holzbau Burgschwaiger; Huber & Sohn; IBA/Martin Kunze; Irving Smith Jack Architects; Jan-Peter Koppitz; Kaden + Partner Architecten; kämpfen für architektur ag, Zürich; KLH; KLH UK; Kirsi Jarnerö; Lendlease; McFarland Marceau Architects; MERK Timber, Aichach, Germany; Merz Kley Partner; MGA; OLK/RÜF; Perkins+Will; Reiulf Ramstad Arkitekter; Salzberg University of Applied Sciences; Schankula Architekten; Sheppard Robson; Shigeru Ban Architects Europe; Simone de Menis; Stora Enso Building & Living; Structurlam; Techniker Ltd.; Willmott Dixon Group.
ISBN: 978-0-415-72530-9
Size: 276mm by 219mm, 346p.
Publisher: Routledge, New York.
Publisher www: http://www.routledge.com/
Wood often features as an accentual or complementary choice in modern building, cladding and panelling in timber to create a warm and attractive space while maintaining a simple, cost effective steel and/or concrete structure. But Solid Wood does not focus on wood as a supplementary material, and it does not focus on wood in its traditional form. Cross-Laminated Timber (CLT) and glue-laminated timber (glulam) dominate in this expert analysis on wood as a structural material in large buildings to rival concrete and steel.
Joseph Mayo does not conceal his belief that wood is a far superior material in the modern age due to its inherent sustainability and structural qualities. The book is predicated on the fact that, with rising CO2 levels in the atmosphere and rising population on the ground, buildings need to become able to support more people without relying on the extreme effect that concrete and steel production has on the environment. Mass timber is his solution, comprising of many different wood products that have been artificially modified for structural strength and consistency in size and quality.
Solid Wood is an incredibly persuasive argument for mass timber in a global context. The book is divided into two sections; the first is an explanation of what mass timber is and its structural benefits and the second far larger section is a series of case studies from around the world, divided into subsections based on countries/areas of origin.
The first section is the more technical of the two, closely examining the use of mass timber and the ways in which it can be a superior structural material than others. Particular attention is paid to fire safety, acoustic management and the wood ageing process. Mayo answers the traditional issues with structural wood construction in a clear manner that is accessible to any regardless of previous experience. This first section provides those who have never heard of CLT or mass timber to get a basis in knowledge, allowing them to appreciate the following case studies for the innovations that they are.
The second section examines case studies from England, Norway, Sweden, Germany, Austria, Switzerland, North America and New Zealand/Australia. European architecture sees much focus here due to the large influence that the heavily forested central Europe has had on the invention, development and use of mass timber structurally. There is also a noticeable focus on Western countries, with the complete absence of South American, Asian or African case studies, and it is unclear whether this is due to the lack of appropriate buildings to analyse in these countries, the lack of opportunity to analyse any there or the simple choice of Mayo. While this lack is unfortunate, the diversity of building projects that are included provides a wide view of the applications that mass timber is put to.
From its use in apartments (47), in schools and universities (167, 305) or in public buildings (271), mass timber is shown by Mayo to have established itself as a competitive structural material. The case studies are all accompanied by detailed photography from the construction process and diagrams that show how mass timber structures are constructed. These diagrams can be very technical and on occasion confusing, but the clarity of Mayo’s writing allows the architecturally inexperienced to learn and the architecturally expert to appreciate. The combination of clear explanations and an enormous level of detail is handled really well.
While there are many differences between all the case studies, there is also a noticeable pattern throughout them in how the use of mass timber changed construction. Construction is almost invariably faster than traditional construction, mostly cheaper and is well received by users of the building, but councils, codes and building regulations often need to be convinced of the safety in mass timber construction. The prefabricated nature of mass timber drastically lessens construction time which, in case studies from urban locations, is shown to reduces costs, and fire safety is managed in a variety of ways that often prove safer than comparable steel or concrete structures. Mass timber construction was found to be a viable and attractive option by all of the architects featured in Solid Wood.
This book is an inspirational and educational treasure trove, taking the reader from a position of complete ignorance about mass timber construction to one of fascination and admiration for this new wave of sustainable structural materials. It is perfect for those who wish to learn about the architectural focus of the next century as mass timber overtakes concrete as the core of our cities. Brilliantly written, beautifully laid out,Solid Wood succinctly identifies why mass timber will be the future of architecture around the globe.