Guide to innovative solutions in structural timber in contemporary Galician architecture
The “Collaboration agreement for the valorization of fast-growing forest species in Galicia and promotion of timber in construction,” signed between the Galician Forest Industry Agency (XERA) and the University of Santiago de Compostela (USC), falls within the strategic framework for promoting timber construction, as defined in the Galician Forest Industry Development Agenda of the Xunta de Galicia.
The agreement has two main objectives: the first is to enhance the value of fast-growing forest species in Galicia through the structural characterization of the most representative species in the territory. The second is to promote timber in construction by supporting local products and transferring research outcomes.
The Technical Guide on innovative solutions in structural timber in contemporary Galician architecture aims to disseminate quality work carried out in Galicia in recent years, highlighting authors, novel technical solutions, products used, and companies involved in structural timber construction projects.
The main objective of this publication is to showcase the possibilities and qualities of structural timber construction, particularly from a technical perspective, so that knowledge of these solutions promotes greater demand for such products. Together with cost competitiveness due to reduced transport and increased awareness of responsible consumption, this will help foster more local industry for manufacturing technical timber products using wood from Galicia.
The publication features twenty-one Galician projects built with timber over the last five years (2017–2022), recognized for their architectural quality, using either innovative timber structural systems or innovative timber products themselves.
XERA and PEMADE selected the projects based on the following criteria:
- Located in Galicia or designed by an architecture firm based in Galicia.
- Completed between 2017–2022 (inclusive) or completed but still in the final processing stage.
- Recognized for architectural quality or structural uniqueness through awards (prize, runner-up, mention, finalist) or significant impact on the structural timber sector due to R&D&I or having an environmental or passive standard certification.
- Timber used in a significant part of the structure, with a strong spatial role.
- Use of novel structural techniques, innovative or uncommon structural systems, or an innovative product.
- Graphic material and project data were provided free of charge by the project architects for inclusion in this technical guide.
Full reference
Xunta de Galicia, PEMADE. 2022. Technical Guide. Innovative solutions in structural timber in contemporary Galician architecture. Galician Forest Industry Agency (Consellería de Economía, Emprego e Industria) in collaboration with the Structural Timber Engineering Platform (PEMADE) of the University of Santiago de Compostela (USC). Legal deposit C-2156-2022. 136 pp.