Swedish Wood

ARTICLE When Wilmotte & Associés Architectes were commissioned to design a temporary, modular exhibition hall and event arena as a short-term replacement for the illustrious Grand Palais, they chose wood. The selected elements were prefabricated for a post-free structure that can even be reused.

ARTICLE With 20 floors, Sara Kulturhus in Skellefteå is one of the world’s tallest wooden buildings, reaching 75 metres into the sky. Trä! got a first look at the project that is almost finished. The building, which has changed both the skyline and the view of what can be achieved in wood, is the result of real teamwork, with everyone sharing their experience and expertise. Most of the raw material and construction technology for Sara Kulturhus has also been sourced locally.

ARTICLE Kai Strehlke loves every minute of his current job. He is an architect and head of digital processes at Blumer Lehmann in Gossau, Switzerland, where he has been involved in projects including the Cambridge Central Mosque, designed by Marks Barfield Architects, and the Swatch headquarters by Shigeru Ban.

ARTICLE Once upon a time Gare Maritime train station in Brussels played an important role in goods transport. Now the building has a new claim to fame. Inside the rustic cast iron shell, Europe’s biggest CLT project has just been completed.

ARTICLE Triodos Bank’s new headquarters in the Netherlands are the pinnacle of sustainability. The building is fully circular, which means that all the materials in it, except the foundations, can be disassembled and recycled. It is also the world’s first material bank.

ARTICLE Both welcoming restaurant and communal resource. With its spacious hall, light furnishings and clever details, Magnolia invites gatherings of all kinds.