Authors:
Juan José Ugarte
Contributor: Juan José Ugarte
Curators: Renato Verdugo and Scott Minneman
In our previous issue, we explored how Giuseppe Penone's sculptures reframe our perception of trees. In this issue, we turn our attention to the architectural uses of wood—a material that humans have utilized for construction for nearly half a million years. Pioneering firms, such as Chile's Tallwood, are pushing the boundaries of tall timber construction. Tallwood's proposed 12-story Tamango building in Patagonia may seem modest compared to the soaring steel and glass structures reshaping urban skylines. However, in a seismically active, forest-rich region, building upward with wood offers a sustainable solution to climate and economic development challenges. Tallwood is part of a global movement redefining what's possible with high-rise timber construction. While each country and region face unique geographic, geological, environmental, and socioeconomic constraints, Chile is demonstrating leadership in this space within the Global South. Meanwhile, projects in North America, Oceania, and Europe are reaching unprecedented heights—some are already at 25 stories, with proposals aiming to exceed 50. This demonstrates that even time-tested materials and technologies can fuel innovation worldwide, opening new frontiers for discovery and development.
Author
Juan José Ugarte is a professor at and former dean of the School of Architecture at Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile and senior advisor to the Inter-American Development Bank. He cofounded Tallwood (www.tallwood.cl), a research architecture firm based in Chile that is focused on high-rise construction utilizing mass timber technology. He was chairman of the 2021 World Conference on Timber Engineering, an annual forum on developments in timber material sciences.
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