Wooden Architecture Archives - Page 8 of 9

Modern Wooden Architecture: Complex Lattice Shop Facade

Posted on March 4, 2014 by Jeff Easterling

Architects continue to use wood in new and unexpected ways, integrating it into both interiors and exteriors as far more than just framing or decorative elements. This example by Kengo Kuma might be one of the most unexpected yet: a complex wooden lattice reminiscent of a basket, added to the exterior of a dessert shop in Japan.

The architect wanted to create the feel of a forest in the middle of the busy city with the interwoven wooden slats. Though the effect may be thoroughly modern, the technique used to create it is an ancient Japanese handicraft passed down between woodworkers and artisans called ‘Jiigokugumi.’ This method joins the slats without the use of glue or nails.

The latticework continues into the interior of the shop, set off by dark-painted walls and complemented by geometric wooden tabletops. While the screen certainly makes a big visual statement, it also serves the practical purpose of providing a little privacy and shade from the sun.

Check out more novel uses of wood in modern architecture.

Cabin Mansion: Wooden Residential Architecture on a Large Scale

Posted on February 21, 2014 by Jeff Easterling

If the phrase ‘wooden architecture’ makes you think of modest cabins in the woods, maybe these photos of an incredible wooden mansion will change your perception. Spacious, luxurious and thoroughly modern, ‘Martis Camp House’ by Swaback Partners near Lake Tahoe, California proves that wood can go far outside the box with unexpected applications.

Imagine what this luxury home would look like if it were made of concrete instead of wood. The wood siding gives it a warm and welcoming feel and extra visual interest that complements stone and copper elements to perfection.

The architects characterize this residence as “a home for the high Sierra’s that does not fall in line with the traditional regional architecture that mostly is a dark and heavy composition. Instead, the concept was to celebrate the light and airy feeling of snow and the effects it can bring to the interiors.”

Of course, using wood siding on a modern house of these proportions is far from the only way to incorporate wood into larger-scale architecture. More and more modern buildings are getting a facelift from wood facades, while architects make plans for all-wood skyscrapers.

Trend Watch: All-Wood Additions to Traditional Houses

Posted on February 13, 2014 by Jeff Easterling

Is your home feeling a tad too small? Maybe the answer isn’t moving into a larger house, but rather adding some extra space. Homeowners are increasingly choosing to expand their homes with additions that don’t necessarily blend in with the architectural style of the main residence. Add-ons made of wood and glass give homes a fresh new look, no matter what the original house looks like – whether it’s a historic brick residence or typical suburban style.

One striking example is the Timber Fin House (pictured top), which was fitted with a wood extension that perfectly complements the existing brick facade. Neil Dusheiko Architects explain that the shape of the extension “is designed to track the sun and create a positive space in the garden.”

A historic brick house on a railway line in Amsterdam got a similar expansion from Zecc Architects, but this one has a lot more glass, functioning almost like a sun room.

A 1950s home in the Netherlands has an entirely new look with its charred timber extension, a sculptural prefabricated volume that hugs the home on two sides and features a dynamic angled roofline.

Maynard Architects gave a contemporary home extra living space and an upper-level deck in one with this creative wood add-on featuring exposed natural wood siding and visible interior rafters.

3 Unique Architectural Projects Highlighting the Beauty of Wood

Posted on January 14, 2014 by Jeff Easterling

How versatile can lumber be? These three incredible examples of contemporary wooden architecture answer that question in three very different ways, from an unusual take on traditional timber framing techniques to a stack of wooden beams carved into a functional sculpture. Intriguing and totally unexpected, these structures highlight both the powerful natural beauty and the endless possibilities of wood.

Unusual Wood Frame: Archery Hall & Boxing Club, Japan

This archery hall and boxing club in Tokyo by FT Architects takes an unusual approach to exposed wood framing. The client wanted a column-free space comparable in size to the sacred all of a traditional Japanese temple. In order to achieve this span without columns while keeping costs low, the architects investigated some novel structural forms. “Through collaborative exploration with timber experts, researchers, manufacturers and suppliers, we derived timber construction systems that are not commonly associated with structural or architectural usage,” they say. “Small timber sections, normally reserved for furniture making, were chosen for the archery hall, and timber members that were deemed defected because of insect damage, for the boxing club.”

Sculpted Wood: Norwegian Wild Reindeer Center Pavilion

Taking inspiration from the natural, cultural and mythical landscape in which it is set, this stunning pavilion features an organic inner core made of stacked timber that was carved and sanded to make it a massive functional sculpture. Made of pine, it was designed using digital 3D models and milled by Norwegian shipbuilders. The wood was assembled in the traditional way, using only wood pegs as fasteners, and was finished with oil.

Jenga-Like Beams: Final Wooden House by Sou Fujimoto

Potential inhabitants had better be prepared for an entirely new way of living in a home at ‘Final Wooden House,’ which consists of massive stacked beams creating shelves and niches going from the floor to the ceiling. Says the architect, “Lumber is extremely versatile. In ordinary wooden architecture, lumber is effectively differentiated according to functions in various localities precisely because it is so versatile. Columns, beams, foundations, exterior walls, interior walls, ceilings, floorings, insulations, furnishings, stairs, window frames, meaning all. However, I thought if lumber is indeed so versatile then why not create architecture by one rule that fulfills all of these functions.”

Trend Watch: ‘The Hobbit’ Sparks New Interest in Wood Interiors

Posted on January 2, 2014 by Jeff Easterling

All of the stunning custom woodwork seen inside Bilbo Baggins’ earth-sheltered home in the 2012 film ‘The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey’ has piqued public interest in intricate craftsmanship. The filmmakers and set designers interpreted author J.R.R. Tolkein’s description of Bilbo’s residence, Bag End, in rich wood tones with lots of arches.

“We used round doors to be true to Tolkein’s descriptions in the book and also we used his sketches,” production designer Dan Hennah told The Los Angeles Times. “The ceiling in the kitchen is stone and inspired by cellar design, and the arches throughout were used as a structural element to maintain the premise that Bilbo’s house is underground.”

The magazine Woodworking Network also took a look at impact the film (and of course, the books) has had on the custom woodworking industry. The round doors, scrolled details and other elements of the hobbit house have inspired similar treatments in private homes, hotels and shed designs.

Woodworking Network notes that “In the film, perfectly circular doors are indeed set in matching jig-sawn door frames, components pegged into place. Middle-earth is a pre-industrial society, so everything had to appear handmade and unique.”

Take a look at one particularly notable example, by architect Peter Archer. Beautiful hobbit-inspired details include a ‘butterfly’ window with center-hinged panels, a round 3-inch-thick door and rounded rafters (pictured above, and in the video). Fine Homebuilding has more pictures.

34-Story Wooden Skyscraper Planned for Stockholm

Posted on December 24, 2013 by Jeff Easterling

The wooden skyscraper revolution continues as more architects get back to basics, even for structures that reach into the clouds. Sweden’s Berg | C.F. Moller’s proposed design for HSB Stockholm’s architectural competition 2023 envisions a future in which our tallest residential buildings are made of wood. The firm’s 34-story design would be all-wood construction over a concrete core, with both social and environmental sustainability at the forefront of the project.

The architects chose wood because its production has no waste products and binds CO2. It’s low weight but very strong, and more fire resistant than both steel and concrete due to the fact that 15% of its mass is water. The beams and pillars of the skyscraper are made of solid wood, and each apartment is lined in it for a warm, homey feel.

The skyscraper has a stepped design at the top, allowing for private rooftop gardens complete with full-sized trees. The lower apartments have glass-covered verandas, and the whole building is powered by rooftop solar panels. It’ll not only provide eco-friendly residences, but act as a landmark for the city.

This is just one more example of innovative visions for super-tall wooden structures coming out of the architecture world in recent months. The architecture firm that designed the Willis Tower (formerly Sears Tower) of Chicago plans a 42-story wooden skyscraper, the tallest of its kind, and architect Michael Green has designed a concept for a 30-story tower in Vancouver.