Smeaton’s Eddystone lighthouse revolutionised lighthouse design in the 1700s. It was modelled on the physical shape and structure of an oak tree. Yet, three hundred years later, the world’s tallest timber building still stands 10m short of the world’s tallest tree. While advancing industrial timber processing and a rising sustainability agenda have heralded a new age for wood based building materials in the 21st century, much of the traditional knowledge around the material’s strengths and weaknesses has been lost. Simultaniously, new research is opening for a more nuanced utilization and adaptation of wood based products based on parametric design and biomimicry. Yet the full potential of the tree’s inherent structural and physical properties is still not realised.

The course aims to give students a thorough introduction to the design potential and limitations arising from wood’s inherent structural and physical properties. It will run alongside any studio course pursued by the students and provide an opportunity to implement and explore timber based design ideas and solutions within their existing studio projects.

The course will cover:

• material properties, production and qualities
• traditional timber knowledge and practices
• modern timber architecture and engineered timber products
• structural systems, natural and built
• timber in low-carbon building design
• design implications as the result of choice of structural systems
• responsive design and physiological modelling