Education, innovation and research in wooden architecture and construction in the Alps

Abstract

The essay explores the importance of teaching and research in the building cultures of specific territories, with a particular focus on the use of wood in construction. Through interviews with experts from research centres and universities, such as Andreja Kutnar from InnoRenew CoE in Slovenia, Frédéric Pichelin from the Bern University of Applied Sciences in Switzerland, and Florian Court from the Haute École du Bois et de la Forêt association in France, the essay highlights how such institutions are promoting innovation and sustainable development in the wooden construction sector. Kutnar emphasises the importance of interdisciplinary and holistic research to develop renewable materials and improve the quality of the built environment. Pichelin discusses how innovation can emerge from the integration of new technologies and biobased materials, while Court addresses the challenge of industrialising wood production processes while preserving unique local characteristics. The essay also examines future challenges for wooden architecture in the Alps, such as climate change and the need for sustainable resources, highlighting projects like VETA/NOVA developed by the Bern University of Applied Sciences, which aims to develop guidelines for the restoration of historic wooden buildings. Finally, it discusses the possibility of translating global prerogatives into a local context, influencing the contemporary architectural identity of the Alps and its multidimensional impact on the territory.