Timber high rise, state of the art

Abstract

This article is focused on analysing the current situation of timber high-rise construction. It begins with a historical review from the traditional Pagodas (up to 63 m tall) to visions of the future that rises to 350 m. It states the technical development that has led mass timber to today's engineered products and its researches. It displays timber's behaviour to fire and its properties as a structural material compared to others more commonly used in high-rise construction. It proves to be as mechanically competitive as concrete or high strength steel. Different strategies can be used against horizontal forces to obtain maximum slenderness. However, its main advantage, from an ecological point of view, is its capacity to absorb CO2, which, along its high degree of prefabrication, makes it a sustainable alternative with an increasing acceptance.