The use of timber as a construction material throughout the ages, and what technological advancements have brought it back to the forefront of the construction industry?
Edwin Westwell - N0521458
Objectives
• Research styles of timber frame construction used throughout Britain over the centuries.
• Research advancements in timber framing that occurred over centuries of use.
• Research advancements in timber production that have brought it to the forefront of the construction industry once again.
• Research qualities of timber that make it a more environmentally friendly and economically structural material than concrete and steel.
• Research the world’s largest cross-laminated timber buildings.
Introduction
Timber framing has been the most popular form of construction throughout the world for thousands of years. In Britain alone, archaeologists have uncovered traces of timber framed buildings dating back more than ten thousand years. It is almost impossible to think of another building material with such a prolific history; this is thanks to the sturdy, resilient qualities of the material and its relative ease of construction using only hand tools (Trada, 2016).
As a direct result of Britain’s abundant supply of oak, the wood was hugely popular as a building material until the 18th century. It is also a testament to its durability that so many buildings constructed with it are still standing today. Throughout the ages, timber frame construction has evolved and become highly refined. Modern timber constructions are completely unrecognisable to their historic ancestors, indicating the endless opportunities that timber provides as a construction material, and highlights why timber is still at the forefront of the construction industry centuries down the line (Trada, 2016).