5. Structural materials

5.1 Wood, a sustainable material

Durability, fire resistance, improved thermal comfort, structural adaptability [TBA 1 720] , wood as a building material has immense qualities. A major advantage is that Europe's forests are not endangered, quite the contrary, and fir and spruce, the species most commonly used in timber-frame homes, are available in almost unlimited quantities.

What's more, wood is the only building material whose manufacture has a positive impact on the environment,...