Timber Typologies - Understanding options for timber construction
Timber Development UK has published a ground-breaking new book with Waugh Thistleton Architects looking at "Timber Typologies".
Aimed at developers, investors and policymakers, Timber Typologies outlines the variety of build options and methodologies available for low-carbon timber construction and details the sort of building types each method is suitable or appropriate for.
Written with Waugh Thistleton Architects, one of the leading ‘timber first’ architects’ practices in the UK, the book is intended as a primer or beginner's guide to the variety of timber solutions available. It will help decision-makers understand the options open to them and make the right choices to deliver the best outcomes.
David Hopkins, chief executive at Timber Development UK, said:
“Timber is vital when it comes to decarbonising construction. However, if it is going to realise its full potential, we can no longer talk in simple generic terms about this material. We need to be specific about the systems and approaches available and the benefits and risks each of these can bring.
“We can’t make progress if clients, architects and policymakers are talking at cross purposes about what they mean when they talk about building in timber.”
Alastair Ogle, associate at Waugh Thistleton Architects, and one of the lead authors of the book, said:
“We still see enormous amounts of misinformation and misunderstanding when it comes to timber. Clients, local authorities and even insurers don’t seem to understand that all of these things they refer to as “timber” are in fact a wide range of completely different build systems with very different properties.
“We’re committed to helping design and enable a low-carbon building revolution, but that will only come when we increase understanding across the market. We hope this will in turn increase confidence in permitting, designing, insuring and constructing the low-carbon timber buildings of the future.”
Timber Typologies is the first in a trio of books aimed at increasing understanding options among the decision makers. It will be accompanied by Timber Policy – a guide to the variety of ways countries and city authorities are encouraging timber construction around the world, and Timber LCA, examining comparisons of lifecycle analysis between buildings constructed of different materials.
This article is published as an information press release about the publication Timber Typologies, June 12, 2023.
--Timber Development UK 16:58, 12 Jun 2023 (BST)
[edit] Related articles on Designing Buildings
- Bodger.
- Engineered wood products.
- Green timber.
- Modified wood.
- The Differences Between Hardwood and Softwood.
- The history and techniques of woodturning.
- The history of timber construction in the UK.
- Timber species.
- Types of timber.
- Types of rapidly renewable content.
- Urban treescape.
- Wrot timber (wrought timber / dressed timber / finished timber / planed timber)
Featured articles and news
The 5 elements of seiri, seiton, seiso, seiketsu and shitsuke.
Shading for housing, a design guide
A look back at embedding a new culture of shading.
The Architectural Technology Awards
The AT Awards 2025 are open for entries!
ECA Blueprint for Electrification
The 'mosaic of interconnected challenges' and how to deliver the UK’s Transition to Clean Power.
Grenfell Tower Principal Contractor Award notice
Tower repair and maintenance contractor announced as demolition contractor.
Passivhaus social homes benefit from heat pump service
Sixteen new homes designed and built to achieve Passivhaus constructed in Dumfries & Galloway.
CABE Publishes Results of 2025 Building Control Survey
Concern over lack of understanding of how roles have changed since the introduction of the BSA 2022.
British Architectural Sculpture 1851-1951
A rich heritage of decorative and figurative sculpture. Book review.
A programme to tackle the lack of diversity.
Independent Building Control review panel
Five members of the newly established, Grenfell Tower Inquiry recommended, panel appointed.
Welsh Recharging Electrical Skills Charter progresses
ECA progressing on the ‘asks’ of the Recharging Electrical Skills Charter at the Senedd in Wales.
A brief history from 1890s to 2020s.
CIOB and CORBON combine forces
To elevate professional standards in Nigeria’s construction industry.
Amendment to the GB Energy Bill welcomed by ECA
Move prevents nationally-owned energy company from investing in solar panels produced by modern slavery.
Gregor Harvie argues that AI is state-sanctioned theft of IP.
Experimental AI housing target help for councils
Experimental AI could help councils meet housing targets by digitising records.
BSRIA Occupant Wellbeing survey BOW
Occupant satisfaction and wellbeing tool inc. physical environment, indoor facilities, functionality and accessibility.
Comments
[edit] To make a comment about this article, click 'Add a comment' above. Separate your comments from any existing comments by inserting a horizontal line.