Wood as a game changer: how wood makes our cities healthier
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Hout is goud (wood is gold). You hear it more and more often in the construction industry – and we couldn't agree more. Wood is a fantastic, sustainable material with countless applications. By using wood, we choose a material that actively absorbs and stores CO₂ from the air, thus contributing to the reduction of greenhouse gases. But the benefits extend beyond the environment.
"Wooden facades enhance the cityscape with their natural appearance and provide a pleasant base for growing plants," says architect Paul de Ruiter. "This way, we bring nature back into the city, change the look and feel of buildings, and stimulate biodiversity. A true win-win. Cost-wise, wooden facades are somewhat comparable to concrete. Concrete requires little maintenance, but wood needs to be thermally preserved to prevent discoloration and maintenance". In projects like Havep, Biosintrum, Trudo and Horizons, we work extensively, or sometimes even entirely, with wood. "Green plants can also climb more easily around wooden structures, which gives the building a friendly and inviting appearance. The presence of plants also keeps the building cool in the summer and improves air quality, so the school contributes to a healthier, greener city," says Paul. All this demonstrates how wooden facades can be valuable both functionally, aesthetically, and ecologically.
