One of the oldest building materials, our love affair with wood is unlikely to be over anytime soon. Timber delivers excellent results for projects of all scales: It’s light and versatile, eco-friendly, provides insulation and energy benefits, and aesthetically pleasing.
In short, wood is the past, present, and future of design. Whether they’re old or new, the following examples of ambitious architecture projects show that wood isn’t a material just for cozy cottages. At the hands of the right architects with a vision and love for wood, the sky is the limit — quite literally.
A Pedestrian Bridge in Georgia
The Anaklia-Ganmukhuri footbridge lies on the Eastern shore of the Black Sea in the Republic of Georgia.
The 505-meter bridge is unique in more than one sense: It’s made of wood, and it’s one of the longest pedestrian bridges in Europe.
An American Football Stadium in Michigan
The Superior Dome, which was built in 1991 in Michigan as the home of the Wildcat football team, is the largest wooden dome structure in the world.
This stadium with a capacity of 8,000 people is an event and experience within itself, both for players and spectators.
A Chalet-Like Airport in Wyoming
Enveloped by the Teton Mountains, Jackson Hole Airport in Wyoming is the only airport in the US within the borders of a national park.
It’s constructed predominantly of wood, making travelers feel like they’re in a cozy chalet rather than in a steel and concrete aviation hub.
An Orthodox Church in Russia
The Kizhi Pogost church complex has been lying on a Lake Onega island in Northwestern Russia since the 18th century. In the 1990s, it was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The structure was made entirely out of wood; the builders didn’t even use a single nail.
The church soars 32 meters high in a breathtaking landscape, making it the tallest structure in the world made using only wood.
A Skyscraper in Norway
Standing 85,4 meters tall in Norway, Mjøstårnet is the world’s tallest timber building. The wooden skyscraper is a multi-purpose building, comprised of residential areas, a hotel, and restaurants.
The 18-story building was completed in 2019 and inspired a new movement of wooden skyscrapers in other parts of the world, proving that the golden years of wood are yet to come.
