Wood: A Material for Skyscrapers?

C.F. Møller a Scandinavian architecture firm has put out a proposal to design 34-story, wood-framed residential tower to be built in the center of Stockholm. If the proposal is accepted it will be built by 2023 and will be the tallest wooden structure in the world.

Historically skyscrapers are built from steel and concrete, however these materials account for approximately 30-40 percent of all CO2 emissions making them huge contributors to climate change. Wood, on the other hand is renewable, light (easier to transport) and decreases the amount of construction waste.

“Wood is still a little bit more expensive as a construction material,” Mårten Leringe, managing director of C.F. Møller told Wired, “But with the recognition of the advantages in terms of sustainability and environmental issues, we believe we’ll witness a large boom in the use of the material in the coming years that also will lead to a cheaper price on the products.”

If built, the building will be mostly timber with a concrete core for stabilization.

“The idea of bringing wood into the concept of a skyscraper is on one level mind-blowing, but on another hand absolutely possible,” Leringe said. “In Sweden we believe that wood is necessary to use if we seriously want to take on the challenge of creating sustainable constructions.”

To see more images and read the full article, click here: “Radical Eco Idea: A 34-Story Skyscraper Made of Wood” by Liz Stinson for Wired.com