The Woodscraper

Abstract: This thirty-storey apartment tower in wood is an exploration of the potential of a prime building material grown by the sun. The building industry represents approximately one-third of greenhouse gas emissions worldwide. Since buildings are becoming more and more energy-efficient, the effects of the embodied energy in building structures become increasingly important. In this respect, wood structures embody a significantly lighter carbon footprint than steel and concrete and offer a viable approach for meeting the challenges of climate change. Typically the unique architectural qualities of wood have been reserved for low-rise typologies, but the performance characteristics of wood make it a competitive, eco-friendly alternative to steel and concrete in tall buildings. Wood in the form of mass timber panels is a durable and strong material. With increasing demand for housing in large sustainable buildings, wood should be an important structural material for the skylines of the future.