Could timber eat into concrete's market share?

In a previous article we wrote about the rise in cross-laminated timber (CLT) as a construction material and plans to build an 80 storey sky scraper in London using the panels. Although architects in the UK are looking at the benefits the material can offer, firms in France are already passionate about working with timber, using it for both residential and office developments. Timber has experienced periods of growth and decline as a construction material over the years. It was initially the most commonly used because it was so readily available. When concrete came along its use started to fall. With the creation of new composites and concerns about the carbon footprint of concrete, timbers are back on the rise though.The French have been quick to adopt wider use of timber, especially CLT. Firms have seen the advantages it offers in terms of weight savings, prefabrication possibilities, and a short construction period. The material is also better for the environment, requiring less energy to manufacture and work with than concrete.One of the most impressive projects in France that uses CLT is the Hyperion tower in Bordeaux. It is set to be 18 storeys tall and uses the panels for flooring and walls. The residential development will feature a handful of homes on each floor and is expected to be finished in 2020. If it runs to schedule the construction will take a year, six months less than it would take to work entirely with concrete.Incredibly the city of Bordeaux plans to use timber to create 270,000 square feet of space for homes and workspaces per year for the next 15 years. This is an astonishing commitment to working with low carbon, sustainable materials.When considering the residential architecture London is home to, timber could offer fantastic opportunities for architects and developers. It could improve designs, making them more eco-friendly and better at connecting people to nature, especially if the timber is left exposed.In addition using timber and CLT panels is renowned for reducing the amount of disruption a project causes. This is because materials arrive ready to install, reducing not just the amount of time and effort that must go into construction, but also the noise and nuisance of the work.At Coffey Architects we have a passion for using carefully selected building materials. This has helped us to build our reputation as a creative name for residential architecture London based clients are pleased to work with. We can explore using various types of timber and how it can benefit your project.To discuss your needs with our team, simply contact us today.