Architecture schools use hands-on timber projects to rebuild students' understanding of wood
A new study finds that design-build exercises in forests significantly improve how future architects understand timber's environmental properties and sustainability. The research suggests that experiential learning—rather than classroom instruction alone—better prepares the next generation to make greener material choices in construction, a sector responsible for roughly 11% of global carbon emissions.
Originaltitel: Students in the forest: the role of design-build pedagogies in repairing material disconnections in architecture education
<p>This article explores an intellectual disconnection in architectural education about the conception of wood as a building material. It explores initiatives to develop in future architects a deeper consciousness of the complex ecology of timber, promoting its sustainable use in the building industry. It explores six case studies drawn from architectural education to explore the ways in which the properties that make timber sustainable are explored through research and design, and how this deep understanding is transferred to students through hands-on applications.</p>