Wood in architecture, structures and construction. More than 50 manuals

Wood in architecture, construction and works

The art of wood architecture is more alive than ever in a world of technological materials that dominate the market and that are undoubtedly the great competitors of the woods noblest.

The wooden constructions have reached their modern splendor with architects and designers risking traditional materials but with renovating techniques that enhance the construction with sleepers, boards and slats at its best.

The cover photograph represents a Low Cost house presented in the wooden exhibition “Virserums Konsthall”Designed by Tengbom architects in collaboration with AFB and the lumber company Martinson.

Did you know that 18% of the world's population lives in houses built with wood

Whose goal was to build affordable and sustainable wooden housing for students. A purpose that was carried out with excellent results, an example of utility and current use in architecture where wood is the main protagonist of this story.

Architecture with wood

The construction with wood It is having a positive impact on the end user where this material finds comfort and comfort sensations that are not achievable in other materials.Wood houses Affordable and well designed make for a rising market.

Many models are the ones that dominate the market, some more attractive than others but we want to show the ideas of an Australian architect specialized in build wooden houses, is namedJackson Clements Burrows. A multitude of awards endorse him and it is that his works offer a different look at the world of architecture:

Nailshouses built with wood of which we could say … I want one! It must be remembered that most wooden houses are made with prefabricated elements and modules. It is this sense that we already talked about in the article on prefabricated houses that we unraveled all the ins and outs of the prefabricated wooden houses and other materials.

The following video explores the future of wood in structures and its consequences. With interesting reflections! …

Advantages of wood in its use

It should be noted that advantages of wood outweigh its disadvantages as a material.

• It is a Natural product. It is a product of natural origin, recyclable and renewable, whose production process in relation to other industrialized products offers less waste, requires low energy consumption and respects nature and the environment. The current use is not toxic, does not produce odors or toxic vapors of chemical origin, consequently, it is safe to touch and handle. It is also an easy material to work with.
• It is 100% renewable if trees are cut down in the forests properly and with the relevant certificates. New trees are planted carefully and without compromising natural resources.
• Good insulation. Insulation is a very important aspect for reducing the energy used in heating and air conditioning buildings. Wood is a natural insulator that can reduce the amount of energy required for air conditioning spaces, especially when used on windows, floors or doors. It presents great natural conditions of thermal insulation and acoustic absorption.
• Facilities in the management and structure work. It is a very versatile raw material that can be used in a variety of ways and that meets certain specifications and needs, according to the desired type of application. Leaves connections and splices simple to execute up to complex structures with adequate execution.

The oldest wooden house is in the city of Schwyz (Switzerland) and is 700 years old

• A material that lasts. The use of wood in construction well treated, provides durability, a beam, a log or batten, or the simple sleeper need maintenance. Examples of durability there are many; sarcophagi, statues, family gear, weapons, boats, instruments, elements of buildings.
• Ease of finding it and relatively inexpensive prices in relation to other materials.
• Usefulness of employment with different forms. It can be produced in pieces with structural dimensions of any size, it can be used in industrialization or in delicate elements.
• 100% reusable. Ability to be reused multiple times and without excess material. (A perfect example is the furniture with recycled pallets and how to make a geodesic domes)
• Structural properties Capable of withstanding both compression and traction sacrifices. It has a low density, low mass and high mechanical resistance. The flexural strength can be about ten times that of concrete. It will not fall apart when subjected to rough shocks that can cause damage to other building materials.
• Variety of textures and finishes. In its natural appearance it offers a huge plurality of patterns, be it smooth, wavy, rough … etc.

Main disadvantages of wood

• Variability in quantity. It is highly sensitive to the environment, increasing or reducing its size in the face of humidity changes.
• Vulnerability. Against attacks from external elements, for example water, its durability and hardness is limited when adequate precautionary measures are not taken.
• It is very fragile against fire, forming a «fuel in structures» element. A good way to prevent possible adversities is with a fire detector or some type of smoke detector.
• Small size and dimensions if we work from the perspective of architecture.
• Variability in resistance and hardness. The slats from the pine are not the same as the oak beams in a structure or for cutting, for example. It is necessary to look for its utility, technique and use for each function, be it for interior in carpentry or decoration, for exterior, in structural frameworks … etc.

Physical and mechanical properties of wood

I would like to add an outline with; first, a comparison with other construction materials, and then a diagram of the mechanical properties of wood.

• The hardness: The resistance that it presents being pierced with some metallic elements or certain machinery. This hardness is achieved in woods with low water content extracted from old trees.
• Density: Refers to its resistance, being subjected by bending or compression processes.
• Hygroscope: It is when it absorbs or releases moisture by capillarity.
• Thermal and electrical conductivity: It is when it serves as an insulator in the field of electricity.
• The texture: refers to the physique it presents, such as carvings, color, types of sanding … etc.

If you want more information about the characteristics of how it works on columns, beams, foundations, etc. You can consult this manual from HERE. And we leave the following excellent video about the myths that circulate about this noble material:

Types of construction wood

Although current technology is providing a varied range of typologies where even extra materials are added that match perfectly, we can classify them into:

• M. Natural noble or hard. They are heavy and resistant, which normally come from trees that have a slow growth (Examples such as Chestnut, Cherry, Ebony, Olive, Ash, Beech, Walnut, Oak … etc)
• M. Natural soft. The growth of the trees is much faster, so their resistances are softer and the sale of it is cheaper, at low prices compared to the previous one. For example, the pine would enter.
• Artificial wood. They are produced by suitably combined chips or sheets. Where plywood, chipboard, fiber boards (DM and DB) and tables come in.

Wooden structure:

Wood is not only used as an instrument to mold concrete, in interior design or in small buildings.

More and more, designers are daring buildings in height and wooden structures almost impossible. As an example in Spain we can find it in the historic center of Lleida - it holds the record for the tallest building in Spain - built with wood.

The building has five floors plus the ground floor, which in practice is six floors. Until now, there are only single-family houses or houses with a maximum of two heights in a country dumped with concrete for structures.

Better than watching a video about mounting wooden structures for a building of several plants, at the end of the article different manuals and techniques for the wooden house construction:

Currently if we remember correctly, the tallest building in the world built of wood It is in London, called the Stadhaus Tower N1, 17 m x 17 m, it is supported on a reinforced concrete foundation and the first floor was built in concrete.

The rest of the structure consists of a “hive” of solid laminated wood panels that fulfill the function of load-bearing walls, enclosures, distribution and complete carpentry, forming an exceptional framework. (More information about the company that is dedicated to constructing wooden buildings from its projects HERE)

But the ability of architects is to surprise and in this case from the US through the Michael Green architecture studio that proposes wooden skyscraper, aiming to reach 20 floors, even up to 30 floors are raised (See also article on ranking of the highest skyscrapers in the world).

A very risky idea where many detractors question the sustainability of the construction given the high amount of raw material that is needed. The study gives us the complete project of how it should be build wooden skyscrapers, see in this PDF … With information WHAT)

As in this case, we are lighter, and we wanted to compile a series of manuals or guides for wood construction and architecture, houses, single-family homes, techniques on beams, sleepers, boards, joints, structures or to the understanding of the world of wood in the work …

Wood construction and architecture manuals:

• Construction of wooden houses (Center for Technological Transfer of Wood CTT - Chile. With many chapters in PDF to learn.
  1. INDEX + INTRODUCTION
  2. Unit 1: THE WOOD
  3. Unit 2: PATHOLOGIES AND PROTECTION OF WOOD IN SERVICE
  4. Unit 3: RELEVANT ASPECTS TO CONSIDER IN A HOUSING CONSTRUCTION PROJECT
  5. Unit 4: SAFETY AND RISK PREVENTION IN CONSTRUCTION
  6. Unit 5: TOOLS AND INSTRUMENTS
  7. Unit 6: STRUCTURAL SYSTEMS
  8. Unit 7: FASTENERS AND JOINTS
  9. Unit 8: FOUNDATION
  10. Unit 9: HORIZONTAL FRAMES
  11. Unit 10: VERTICAL FRAMES
  12. Unit 11: ROOF STRUCTURE
  13. Unit 12: STAIRS
  14. Unit 13: HABITABILITY ASPECTS
  15. Unit 14: INSULATION AND VENTILATION
  16. Unit 15: FIRE PROTECTION
  17. Unit 16: CONSIDERATIONS IN THE DESIGN AND EXECUTION OF THE FACILITIES IN A HOUSE
  18. Unit 17: WOOD ROOF SOLUTION
  19. Unit 18: WOOD COATINGS FOR EXTERIOR PARAMENTS
  20. Unit 19: CEILING AND INTERIOR COATING SOLUTION
  21. Unit 20: WOOD COATINGS AS A FLOOR SOLUTION
  22. Unit 21: FINISHING WITH DECORATIVE WOOD MOLDING
  23. Unit 22: DOORS AND WINDOWS
  24. Unit 23: QUALITY MANAGEMENT
  25. APPENDIX 1
  26. APPENDIX 2
  27. ANNEX 3
  28. ANNEX 4
  29. ANNEX 5
  30. ANNEX 6
  31. ANNEX 7

Access to all documents from HERE.

• The issue of joints in structures on planks, boards and beams It is complex, both in the treatment of the cut, the edges and in the joining finishes, whether for interior, exterior or in the carpentry of a home itself. So the next wood construction manual It is only about that, in reality they are schematic cards that although a bit old are of great quality. Access from HERE (In the upper right part there are about 5 tabs like the following one, you just have to click on the small images)

• From Feim.org (Fonfederación Española de Espresas) They offer us a series of manuals on wood quite interesting like:

1. - Basic concepts of wood construction
2. - Wood products for construction
3. - Behavior in front of fire
4. - Execution, control and maintenance
5. - Joints in wooden structures.
6. - The wooden structure for roofs of houses and renovations.
7. - Durability.

• Guide of structural design - architecture… in wood HERE
• Wood products for architecture (AiTim in collaboration with the Higher Council of Architects of Spain) … With information HERE
• Thesis. Construction of wooden houses… An efficient alternative?… Look HERE.
• From Infomadera we can access different manuals, guides, videos … etc (From here). As an example of some manuals of wooden houses PDF :

1. Book Wooden houses I General
2. Book Wooden Houses II Log Houses
3. Book Wooden houses III Heavy-framed houses
4. Book Wooden houses IV Light-framed houses
5. Wooden houses V Half-timbered book
6. Book Wooden houses VI Means of union
7. Book Wooden houses VII Insulation and waterproofing
8. Wooden houses book VIII Structural calculation
9. Wooden Houses Book IX Bibliography
10. How to choose a log house, by Augusto Cruzado

We only intend to publicize the good virtues and types of wood As a material that is gaining prominence in modern architecture for large-volume buildings, we hope that the manuals and guides will be helpful.

Points of interest:

• Bioclimatic design manual.
• Plastic in modern architectureÍ.
• Innovative materials for architecture.
• The form of architecture encouraged by the wind and the sun.
• How to design urbanism with manuals.
• Biosustainable or sustainable architecture with more than 20 manuals

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