Across the world, more and more buildings are being constructed in wood. In the cities too, and even high-rise structures. The fact that tall wooden buildings such as the 24-storey Hoho in Vienna are possible is largely due to research at Graz University of Technology, where the groundwork for the development of cross laminated timber was laid in 1989. Cross laminated timber consists of multiple layers of solid wood boards glued together crosswise. The resulting pane which can be up to 20 metres long, are extremely stable, easy to prefabricate and process, and act as planar and spatial structures. Wood can be used as a load-bearing wall and ceiling component and can do everything that reinforced concrete does – but in an ecologically sustainable way. The technology, production and use of the building material are under constant further development at the holz.bau research centre and at the companies of the Holz-cluster Steiermark, while research is also being conducted into new innovative applications for wood as a renewable raw material.
Cross laminated timber, from 1989
lignum – Institute of Timber Engineering and Wood Technology/Graz University of Technology, holz.bau forschungs gmbh
Partners and Sponsors: Mayr-Melnhof Holz Holding AG, KLH Massivholz GmbH With thanks to Holzcluster.
