Wood Magazine - Issue 4, 2012

»We architects have to learn to embrace toxin-free & eco-friendly designs.«

Trä meets

At the moment, enormous quantities of Douglas fir in British Columbia, Canada, are dying due to attacks by a kind of bark beetle. Architect Daniel Fagerberg has spent 17 years turning this natural disaster into an opportunity.

As professor at Lincoln University in Nebraska, USA, he trains architects in ‘FearAbility’. His ambition is to contribute to sustainable social development and, with the help of wood, to change the construction industry and redefine the role of the architect.

What is the aim of the course?
“I make sure my students understand how our architecture affects the environment. At the moment, nobody takes complete responsibility for the construction process, which leads to a hotchpotch of decisions, designs and components. I see this as a major threat to our prosperity.”

So what should we do?
“As architects, we need to take more control of the building process and learn to embrace toxin-free, eco-friendly and economically viable designs. And of course, we should make use of the available resources to create outstanding architecture.”

How can the disaster in British Columbia be turned into something positive?
“By using the timber, before we lose it, we can build really exciting, super eco-friendly homes for the same price as or cheaper than we’re doing at the moment. For me and my students the key is to get people in the US to understand how we can use the timber in the construction industry instead of in the paper and pulp industry.”

»We architects have to learn to embrace toxin-free & eco-friendly designs.«

Daniel Fagerberg

Personalities that trä has met

»The world really has to achieve something major this year.«

»If you have an idea, it’s important to be involved with all the details«

»It’s important to be involved in regular housing development.«

“We must use every type of resource in the most effective way possible.”

»Doesn’t it feel like we’re in a wood revolution?«

»Important to encourage an interest in architecture.«

»We have to play our part in creating great architecture«

»BIM is going to break through with today’s young people. They are our future.«

“I’m always working on the best mix of materials”

There’s far too little capacity in the market when it comes to CLT

A new way to save energy

Structure and form or form and structure? That is the question

“We’re constantly striving to come up with new engineering ideas”

“Wood was more exciting than working with concrete.”

»In order to design wooden buildings, you have to be interested in trees.«

»We’re constantly looking for the best combination of form and structure«

»Tall buildings can be built faster and more economically«

We want to help build a cleaner & more attractive city

»We want to reconnect with the material’s history«

»Sweden could become a leading wood nation«

»Knowledge is turning more people onto wood«

»Within three years, we’ll be constructing 16-storey buildings in wood«

“Work more closely with the forest industry”

»The material is the machine!«

“We’re going to see more examples of attractive facades”

»Show respect for and challenge the setting.«

»Wood is a democratic material.«

»I choose wood where it is exposed to our human senses.«

»Good architecture ensures better care for older people.«

»Architectural, eco-friendly and good value housing.«

»We architects have to learn to embrace toxin-free & eco-friendly designs.«

Daniel Fagerberg

Personalities that trä has met

»The world really has to achieve something major this year.«

»If you have an idea, it’s important to be involved with all the details«

»It’s important to be involved in regular housing development.«

“We must use every type of resource in the most effective way possible.”

»Doesn’t it feel like we’re in a wood revolution?«

»Important to encourage an interest in architecture.«

»We have to play our part in creating great architecture«

»BIM is going to break through with today’s young people. They are our future.«

“I’m always working on the best mix of materials”

There’s far too little capacity in the market when it comes to CLT

A new way to save energy

Structure and form or form and structure? That is the question

“We’re constantly striving to come up with new engineering ideas”

“Wood was more exciting than working with concrete.”

»In order to design wooden buildings, you have to be interested in trees.«

»We’re constantly looking for the best combination of form and structure«

»Tall buildings can be built faster and more economically«

We want to help build a cleaner & more attractive city

»We want to reconnect with the material’s history«

»Sweden could become a leading wood nation«

»Knowledge is turning more people onto wood«

»Within three years, we’ll be constructing 16-storey buildings in wood«

“Work more closely with the forest industry”

»The material is the machine!«

“We’re going to see more examples of attractive facades”

»Show respect for and challenge the setting.«

»Wood is a democratic material.«

»I choose wood where it is exposed to our human senses.«

»Good architecture ensures better care for older people.«

»Architectural, eco-friendly and good value housing.«

English heading

»We want to reconnect with the material’s history«

»Sweden could become a leading wood nation«

»Within three years, we’ll be constructing 16-storey buildings in wood«