Timber construction culture
Online encyclopaedia, knowledge transfer and participation: the BFH database aims to become the go-to research tool on Swiss timber construction. By the end of 2024, around 400 wooden buildings are to be documented in an attractive way.
Factsheet
- Schools involved School of Architecture, Wood and Civil Engineering
- Institute(s) Institute for Urbanism, Architecture and Construction ISAK
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Research unit(s)
Baukultur group FGBK
Timber Structures group FGH - Funding organisation Schweizerische Eidgenossenschaft (Bundesverwaltung)
- Duration (planned) 01.09.2021 - 31.08.2024
- Head of project Prof. Dr. Marion Sauter
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Project staff
Linda Imhof
Mareike Vogel
Elia Schneider
Markus Zimmermann
Henriette Lutz - Keywords Timber construction; online platform; architectural history; construction
Situation
1. Since the end of the 1980s, Switzerland has (again) seen the construction of timber buildings of international importance. In parallel, the timber building trade became academised, a process furthered by the integration of the Higher Technical School of Wood Biel into the BFH network. This led to a rapid increase in know-how in the development of sustainable and efficient building techniques, as well as efficient and sustainable materials.
Course of action
Today, Switzerland is at the forefront of timber construction technology. The focus of the new, online encyclopaedia was set accordingly: construction and design are given equal importance, and engineering work and architecture are treated on a par with each other. In order to be able to demonstrate lines of development, examples of modern buildings are supplemented with historical timber constructions in cooperation with the cantonal departments for heritage conservation. Bridging the gap between tradition and high-tech also serves to communicate timber Baukultur to an interested public, who often still associates timber construction with mountain chalets. What is needed is a new, urban timber Baukultur.
Result
An easy-to-use research tool has been available since autumn 2023: www.holzbaukultur.ch. Photographs, plans and publications on around 400 timber buildings as well as audiovisual contributions are easily accessible and freely available. This enables the project, which is mainly funded by the FOEN in the context of the Wood Action Plan, to make a valuable contribution to Swiss Baukultur.
