On the Architectural Qualities of Cross Laminated Timber

In resent years wood as a building material has gain renewed focus and with that new production methods and wooden products have been developed. One of these products is Cross Laminated Timber (CLT) which, by means of high-technology production and a distinctive construction with layers of lamellae glued together crosswise, possesses structural capacities
which are out of woods nature. Several research studies have clarified that CLT has many qualities within the engineering field but knowledge regarding its applications and aesthetics is more insufficient. Thus, the purpose of this paper is to look into in what way this material is interesting seen from an architectural point of view. The paper deals with aspects like workability and accuracy as result of high-technology production, architectural freedom due to the materials technical properties, its tactile and visual qualities when exposed as interior surface. The qualities which have been found to be particularly interesting seen from an architectural point of view, are those related to its property of being a plate and provider of a simple building system as well as to its great workability and high level of details in both production and appearance.