The Timber Structure Houses Design Competition aimed to develop and research the earthquake and typhoon resistant characteristics of timber structures took place at the 2014 WWD celebration. A total of nine teams, one from Finland and eight from universities in China, was nominated among all entries and made it to the final.
On March 22, the symposium on timber structures took place in the morning and the review meeting of the competition held in the afternoon. It brought together a professional line-up of nine specialists, including scholars, scientists and architects of multiple disciplines. Focused topics were set to explore the field of wood construction systems and techniques for disaster preparation and protection.
In this rather intensive symposium, the international and Chinese professionals shed light on developments in their respective homelands. Specialists from Italy, India, Japan and China laid out the essentials of efficiency and sustainability in structural systems of timber, a well as analysis and current knowledge of the industry, while dealing with wood building issues.
As the technical development of timber structures has made significant progress in material, design, construction and maintenance during the last few decades, timber structures have become the mainstream design of family dwellings and public architecture in some countries.
Two sections were presented in the review meeting for the competition, seismic resistance and the typhoon resistance. Ten experts from eight countries formed the judging panel. Each of the niminated teams gave a ten-minute presentation of their design which was followed by an interactive question and answer session led by the judging panel.
In addition to the presentation, each team displayed a poster illustrating their design for review. The potential for damage prevention against earthquake and typhoon and the viability of that potential based on the design were evaluated by the judging panel as assessment criteria.
The conversation and discussion with the specialists were an education to each team, regardless of the result. The exchange of ideas and experiences among the specialists was invaluable.
The winners of the final competition were announced at the closing ceremony of WWD celebration. DCR2 and “Smiling Resist Wind and Cloud” of Chongqing University were awarded for “Excellence in Design”. Nanjing Forestry University was awarded for “Best Teamwork”. Beijing Forestry University, Team of Hoka from Finland, T Cube of Tongji University, Team B of Hunan University and SuWoodINT team of Soochow University were awarded for “Best Innovation”.
It is imperative to put joint efforts into timber structures that prevent and reduce damage caused by natural disaster and enhance sustainable function and performance. Contributing to communication, academic research and technical innovations regarding sustainable timber structures, the program should facilitate solutions to the house building systems that benefit our lives.
World Wood Day is a cultural event celebrated annually during the week of March 21st to highlight wood as an eco-friendly and renewable biomaterial and to raise awareness on the key role wood plays in a sustainable world. Starting from 2013, WWD celebrations were held in Tanzania and China respectively, involving participants from over 100 countries and regions.