Designing timber buildings for longevity

Synopsis

The urgent need to reduce global carbon dioxide (CO₂) emissions to address the climate crisis has brought the embodied energy of building designs under the spotlight. Using timber in construction can lock CO₂ into a building's structure, helping to reduce upfront carbon emissions, but only for as long as the building remains in use. This article explains how designing for adaptability, durability, and deconstruction and reconstruction or end of life can produce long-lasting, resilient timber buildings that act as a carbon store.