3 trends that will change the construction industry for good

This trend doesn’t stop at offices or inner walls. Compared to concrete and steel, wooden structures are light, making them easier to modify and expand. Wood can be made into modular components, allowing for flexible design and quicker space modifications. These components can be prefabricated and assembled on-site. For example, in Amsterdam, Superlofts building features subdivided lofts and mezzanines made from CLT; while other innovative examples boast modular storage walls and fold-down or sliding devices.

In a circular economy, buildings can become material banks for future construction. When made of wood, entire buildings can be disassembled, moved, and reconstructed.

Trend 2: Wood makes cities beautiful

While wood and timber have a long history as materials for residential buildings, bricks have been the most popular choice in many countries for decades or even centuries. In the residential areas of cities like Toronto, Melbourne, or Helsinki, you might see houses that appear to be made with brick but actually have a wood frame. In many cases, bricks are chosen for aesthetics, serving as the preferred choice for exterior siding.

Now, this trend may be shifting, as the value of natural aesthetics and wood is on the rise. More and more concrete houses have wooden details or timber facades. Wood is considered a premium and sustainable material, with studies suggesting home buyers may be willing to pay more for an apartment in a wooden building.

Wood is not embraced only for its ecological and aesthetic features, but also for its positive impact on wellbeing. Studies show that wooden materials and interiors are perceived as more pleasant than others and have a positive and restorative effect on emotions.

Trend 3: The rise of bio-based materials and hybrid construction

As UN Environment programme puts it: bio-based building materials, when properly managed, may represent our best hope for radical decarbonisation of the construction industry, which currently accounts for nearly 40% of global greenhouse gas emissions. The industry’s carbon intensity is mainly due to the carbon-intensive nature of materials like cement and steel.

Construction industry is facing stricter emission standards and enhanced reporting requirements, along with financial frameworks like the EU Taxonomy for Sustainable Finance. Together these are the main drivers for more sustainable practices and materials.  

As a result, the request for sustainably produced timber is set to increase significantly.

At the same time, it is crucial to improve the way we use conventional materials such as concrete, steel, aluminium, plastics, glass and bricks. This is where hybrid construction comes into play.

Combining different materials can harness the strengths of each material for better performance, durability and sustainability. Take, for example, the hybrid sandwich wall where laminated veneer lumber (LVL) meets concrete.

Engineered timber products offer numerous advantages, including possibility for prefabrication that can reduce construction time and waste. As a material, wood also allows greater flexibility in design, as showcased in world-class examples such as the Prototype (M5) residential tower in Vancouver, Mjøstårnet in Norway and HAUT skyscraper in Amsterdam.