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Whether it takes the form of a section of a new building, a redevelopment, an addition to an existing building, or experimental architecture, wood will always express its personality while opening the door to environmentally friendly construction techniques and energy-efficient technologies. This was one takeaway from the projects vying for the 2024 Wood Architecture Prize, an award held as a part of the 19th Klimahouse, a trade event dedicated to the building industry, its latest trends, and sustainability. The winning entries, in particular, were – and will be – strong enough to set a benchmark for the entire industry. The award, now in its second year, is the first at a national level focused on the use of wood in architecture. Fiera Bolzano established the prize, with an expert panel comprising Turin Polytechnic, the Iuav University of Venice, and PEFC Italy.
This year saw two winning projects and four special mentions from the 80 competing entries. Overall, the projects showed how sustainability, energy efficiency, and design can come together in innovative ways to inspire the architecture of the future, starting today. All of them addressed the European Union’s objectives of reducing polluting emissions and the environmental impact of the building industry.
Architect Camilla De Camilli’s studio won the Private Architecture award for its Casa del Custode project in Bologna. The key feature of this modular pavilion design is that it comprises just three elements: a timber frame, glass, and Venetian marble chip flooring. This is a structure that fits perfectly into its context while being highly flexible and able to fulfill a range of uses. Initially conceived as a guardhouse, Casa del Custode can also be used as a space for interaction and rehabilitation for people with eating disorders.
Arbau Studio and FTA | Filippo Taidelli Architetto were joint recipients of the Public Architecture prize, respectively, for the extension of healthcare facilities in Forte Rossarol, near Venice, and the Roberto Rocca Innovation Building in Milan. The extension project reshaped the individual buildings, while preserving their essential geometries, and included an understated design of a public space. The Roberto Rocca Innovation Building features an unusual exposed timber structure. Its simplicity, uncompromising layout, and the airiness of its interiors mean a better quality of life.
The jury also awarded four special mentions, one for architects under 35, and three for projects with outstanding features and innovations. The first went to architects Federico Robbiano and Luca Scardulla from llabb for The Hermitage project, a remote structure overlooking an unspoiled valley designed for meditation and contemplation. Its timber panels define its identity, with horizontal and vertical lines that create a precise and delicate balance.
Mixtura Studio, Outstudio Architetture, and architects Lukas Tammarle and Paul Senoner were the recipients of the other three special mentions.
A separate award was dedicated to innovative startups. This was won by two cutting-edge companies, selected in collaboration with Politecnico di Milano’s PoliHub Innovation Park & Startup Accelerator. Among the 17 participants, the two joint winners chosen by the jury, chaired by Enrico Deluchi, CEO of PoliHub, were RECOCO2 and LabNEXT. Involved in the green building sector, RECOCO2 reclaims and transforms various types of inorganic and inert materials – such as glass, ceramic production waste, and steel mill waste – into recycled flooring. LabNEXT, on the other hand, focuses on the research, development, and manufacturing of innovative and sustainable chemical additives, materials, and finished products. It coordinates partnerships aimed at developing communities and innovation hubs in the field of technological materials.
The 19th Klimahouse – the Bolzano fair dedicated to the building industry, its latest trends, and sustainability – recorded 33 thousand visitors, 400 exhibitors, and over 100 parallel events. Themed “Build Well. Live Well,” the event reasserted its role as a catalyst for innovation, ideas, and inspiration for green building projects, while also offering architects, companies, building associations, startups, and end users a chance to come together and interact. The basic mission of the event is to chart a path towards the protection and conservation of the planet for future generations.
Individual photo credits are included in each gallery image
