BOOK:100 Contemporary Wood Buildings, Taschen Publications

Not so very long ago, some might have considered wood a material of the past, long since replaced by more modern components such as concrete and steel. The truth is radically different. Bolstered by new manufacturing techniques and ecological benefits, wood has seen a fabulous resurgence in contemporary construction. The book “100 Contemporary Wood Buildings” explores how architects around the world have created and invented with this elementary material. Featuring follies, very large buildings, and ambitious urban renewal schemes, it celebrates the diverse deployment of wood by architects around the world.  The book pays tribute to many emerging international talents as well as to such renowned figures as Tadao Ando to Renzo Piano. It celebrates each architect’s vision and innovation, as well as investigating the techniques, trends, and principles that have informed their work with wood. It examines the computer guided milling that has allowed for novel new forms, the responsible harvesting that allows wood to align with our environmental concerns.-Efi Michalarou