Architectural Aspects of Massive Timber: the potential of massive timber structures

The work presented in this thesis concerns architectural utilising of new plate-like timber-products. It has been performed at the Division of Building Engineering at KTH School of Architecture, Royal Institute of Technology in Stockholm.

Since the beginning of the 1990’s the area of industrially processed timber products has received several new contributions, techniques and products, which open up avenues to novel design features. From the flora of products, this thesis concentrates on plate-like surface- elements. The potential of their architectural use in construction is outlined. The analysis is based on viewing and treating buildings as systems with a specific function, depending on the relations and co-action between its parts and integrated sub-systems. A prerequisite for good system-action is a holistic approach to the interactive development of structure,detailing, especially in connections, and installations.

The focus is set at the interplay between architectural and structural design. This approach is not new, since timber has been used in buildings, for visual and structural purpose throughout a long history, all over Europe. In fact, such applications have been very varied and characteristic of different regions, which adds to the charm of classic architecture in wood. Now that new structural components, like plate-like products, are introduced it is likely that a certain standardisation of expression will appear. It is therefore interesting to identify and discuss recent trends belonging to different regions in parallel. Conditions and activities in Sweden are compared with similar cases in Austria and Switzerland.

The thesis comprises analyses of technical reports and research programmes, as well as studies of built objects and experimental applications. Impressions are registered from work in practice and production conditions. Some historical comparisons have been made in order to illustrate similarities and differences. The prerequisites for interactive development are surveyed and evaluated to form a basis for further and more practical architectural research on the subject.