Summary

Wood architecture is gaining importance worldwide. The aesthetic, technical and ecological advantages of this regenerative building material are obvious. This monograph is the first to present a definitive documentation of the important examples in wood architecture in Denmark, Iceland, Norway, Sweden, and Finland. The book offers a detailed analysis of 19 buildings, with photographs, drawings and technical details, and briefly introduces 71 further buildings. The selection is based not only on aesthetic and architectural criteria, but also on the merit of innovative solutions to technical problems. All manner of buildings are represented here: from single family homes to churches, from industrial buildings to libraries, from temporary-experimental architecture to large halls. Historical exponents illustrate the importance of a centuries old tradition in Scandinavia (modular construction, framed church buildings, etc.) and analyse their inspirational role for today's architects. This monograph offers an extensive and exciting image, and a few surprises, of contemporary wood architecture in Northern Europe. An indispensible book (including a commentated bibliography, as well as indices of names and locations) for specialists and non-specialists interested in wood architecture.