“Wooden buildings speak to all the senses!”
Wood has become something of a symbol of sustainability in the construction industry – but what is it that makes wooden buildings so positive for people and the environment? To learn more about the excellence of the material, we asked architect Oskar Norelius, director of White Arkitekter’s office in Stockholm, to tell us what he likes most about wood.
Wood as a material in buildings
Architects seem increasingly keen to propose wood for their projects and this didn’t come out of nowhere. We know that wood is a renewable material, with a low climate footprint compared to traditional building materials such as concrete and steel. So using wood from sustainable forestry can significantly reduce the construction sector’s carbon emissions. In addition, a timber frame can help regulate the indoor climate by balancing humidity, thus creating a more comfortable environment for the building’s occupants.
Like taking a deep breath
Of course, this is all common knowledge. But what if we want to highlight the values that go beyond the physical metrics? Are we justified in claiming that wood also offers aesthetic, sensory and tactile experiences that simply make us enjoy and feel good about being in wooden spaces? Definitely, says Oskar Norelius.
“Wooden buildings are about so much more than sustainability and climate performance. They also offer a warm, inviting environment that engages all the senses. With its vivid grain and knots, wood creates a natural aesthetic that we humans love. We get the chance to switch off that filter that gets us through a life of noise and just relax. For me, stepping into a large wooden building is like taking a deep breath,” says Oskar.
Oskar Norelius, White Architects.
Coming for the sustainability, and staying for the feeling
A pleasant place to be
Having set itself the ambitious goal of making all its architecture climate-positive by 2030, White Arkitekter is investing heavily in research and development in wood construction. Its successful, high-quality projects using wood as the central material demonstrate White’s true commitment to sustainability and innovation in wood architecture. This is a must, says Oskar, as today’s clients want and need to create environments that people like and want to be in, not least when it comes to offices.
“It goes without saying that we want comfort in our own homes, but in recent years attracting people to physical workplaces has become enormously challenging. The option of working from home has left office space lying empty and clearly not many people are thrilled by the idea of returning to grey environments full of hard surfaces. Demands have completely changed, with a focus on well-being, comfort and aesthetics in work environments, and there are so many new ways to work with wood,” states Oskar.
A built environment that’s more human
Wooden buildings are more than just a passing fad – they are part of a larger movement towards a built environment that’s more sustainable and more human too, Oskar continues. With a focus on innovation and collaboration between architects, structural engineers and the forest industry, wood will continue to play a vital role in the transition to a more climate-positive society. However, knowledge levels need to increase − there is no ready-made catalogue of solutions, but there are plenty of potential options out there, says Oskar.
“Using wood takes us on a different kind of journey compared with traditional construction, but the benefits are huge. Given a locally available raw material that fits perfectly into a circular approach, many of us can see the potential of expanding wood construction, not least in the context of large-scale projects. I often get people telling me what wonderful buildings we design and how good the results are. I usually describe it as coming for the sustainability, and staying for the feeling. That says it all really.”