Eco Homes in Wood
“Come to the woods, for here is rest”
― John Muir
Nothing comes close to the emotional assurance and comfort of living in a building that is made of wood. It is warm, silent, primordial; it offers perhaps the ultimate place to rest.
Of course, many other materials offer the opportunity to live within a singular substance. Stone and concrete have also accommodated this need since ancient times. However, the embodied energy of steel and concrete becomes more apparent – along with the need to make a direct impact on reducing our buildings carbon footprint. Our studio is actively looking towards alternative low energy technological solutions as we respond to the climate crisis.
Cross-laminated timber (CLT), is a simple timber component made from glueing layers of wood together to create a strong structural panel. It’s very similar to plywood but holds thicker laminations. It was first used in the early ’90s in Austria and Germany and matured around the millennium.
Low embodied energy –
Most building materials like concrete and steel take huge amounts of energy and produce fossil fuels, via the extraction process of the raw materials and during production. CLT, by contrast, has low embodied energy. Not only is it a green and sustainable building material, 'it's the only building material that grows’. Think about that for a moment… The difference between materials that are unnaturally extracted from the earth, versus ones that grow through the natural and organic processes that have evolved on our planet are huge.
As architects, we believe technologies like CLT will be critical in changing the approach to sustainable building, not as a conclusion, but part of an evolving process of efficient construction strategies. Yet it will take time to integrate new practices – and that time is now.
Lightness –
Wood is lighter by volume than concrete and steel. The substructure of a CLT Building can use less concrete in its foundations meaning less cost and less plant.
Prefabrication –
The advantages of prefabrication are well known in the construction industry. The decrease in lead times lowers construction costs and offsets the initial outlay of the material itself.
Silent Construction –
For the builders and craftsmen that work on our projects, the most surprising reality of CLT construction is the quietness of the construction site. The firing of nail guns being the main noise. Not to mention the beautiful smell of freshly cut lumber filling the air.
Thinking –
We’ve been carefully reviewing the environmental impact of our buildings. It’s become undeniable that the decisions we make with our clients can have a lasting impact on the environment. This includes CO2 emissions released during the production of our buildings and the embodied energy of materials that go into making them. Some of these decisions are complex when looking at materials from cradle to grave. However, some decisions are easy and in plain sight. Building from CLT is one of the easy decisions, both morally and aesthetically for its intrinsic and elemental beauty. It is also becoming a cost-effective option, particularly when considering a drastically reduced construction timeframe that is ultimately good for everyone.
In our studio, we are currently working on numerous CLT buildings throughout the UK offering truly low carbon, eco homes for our clients. However, we will continue to learn, research and reflect as we balance the pragmatic application of this construction material alongside the poetic and rigorous ambition of our architecture.
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