L’ús de la fusta com a material de construcció és gairebé tan antic com l’existència de l’ésser humà. Durant mil·lennis, la fusta ha estat un dels principals materials de construcció, permetent el desenvolupament de les primeres civilitzacions. Al llarg de la història, l’ús de la fusta ha anat variant, canviant tant el seu lloc com la seva funció dins de les estructures, així com les tècniques emprades, però sempre ha estat present.
Amb l’aparició del formigó modern i les noves tècniques de producció d’acer durant el segle XX, la fusta va quedar relegada i, en gran mesura, substituïda. No obstant això, en els darrers anys, gràcies a la innovació en nous elements estructurals de fusta i, sobretot, a la necessitat de construir de manera menys agressiva per al medi ambient, l’ús de la fusta en la construcció està experimentant un creixement ràpid. La petjada ecològica dels edificis construïts amb fusta és considerablement menor que la dels edificis construïts amb formigó o acer.
Així doncs, la fusta es perfila com un material que pot situar-se a l’avantguarda dels materials estructurals en un futur proper. No obstant això, el seu gran desavantatge respecte als materials de construcció del segle XX és la seva durabilitat. A diferència del formigó i l’acer, la fusta és un material orgànic, fet que la fa susceptible a una sèrie de patologies d’origen biòtic, les quals no afecten la resta de materials. El desconeixement sobre aquestes patologies, combinat amb el ràpid creixement de la construcció en fusta, pot portar a la construcció d’edificis amb una durabilitat notablement inferior a la dels construïts amb formigó o acer. Això, tot i que inicialment suposa una construcció menys agressiva per al planeta, pot acabar ampliant la petjada ecològica a causa de la seva vida útil més curta.
Per tant, és responsabilitat dels arquitectes i constructors dissenyar i construir edificis amb fusta que incorporin solucions constructives adequades, garantint una vida útil el més llarga
The use of wood as a construction material is almost as old as the existence of human beings. For millennia, wood has been one of the primary building materials, along with adobe, enabling the development of the earliest civilizations. Throughout history, the use of wood has varied, with changes in its place and function within structures, as well as the techniques employed, but it has always been present.
With the advent of modern concrete and new steel production techniques in the 20th century, wood was relegated and largely replaced. However, in recent years, thanks to innovations in new structural wood elements and, above all, the need to build in a way that is less harmful to the environment, the use of wood in construction has been experiencing rapid growth. The ecological footprint of buildings constructed with wood is considerably smaller than that of buildings constructed with concrete or steel.
Thus, wood is emerging as a material that could take the lead among structural materials in the near future. However, its major disadvantage compared to 20th-century construction materials is its durability. Unlike concrete and steel, wood is an organic material, making it susceptible to a series of biotic-origin pathologies that do not affect other materials. The lack of knowledge about these pathologies, combined with the rapid growth of wood construction, could lead to the construction of buildings with a significantly shorter lifespan compared to those built with concrete or steel. While this initially suggests a less harmful construction for the planet, it may end up increasing the ecological footprint due to its shorter useful life.
Therefore, it is the responsibility of architects and builders to design and construct wood buildings that incorporate appropriate construction solutions, ensuring the longest possible lifespan. The durability of these buildings is key to ensuring that the use of wood truly translates into a sustainable long-term option.
The use of wood as a construction material is almost as old as the existence of human beings. For millennia, wood has been one of the primary building materials, along with adobe, enabling the development of the earliest civilizations. Throughout history, the use of wood has varied, with changes in its place and function within structures, as well as the techniques employed, but it has always been present.
With the advent of modern concrete and new steel production techniques in the 20th century, wood was relegated and largely replaced. However, in recent years, thanks to innovations in new structural wood elements and, above all, the need to build in a way that is less harmful to the environment, the use of wood in construction has been experiencing rapid growth. The ecological footprint of buildings constructed with wood is considerably smaller than that of buildings constructed with concrete or steel.
Thus, wood is emerging as a material that could take the lead among structural materials in the near future. However, its major disadvantage compared to 20th-century construction materials is its durability. Unlike concrete and steel, wood is an organic material, making it susceptible to a series of biotic-origin pathologies that do not affect other materials. The lack of knowledge about these pathologies, combined with the rapid growth of wood construction, could lead to the construction of buildings with a significantly shorter lifespan compared to those built with concrete or steel. While this initially suggests a less harmful construction for the planet, it may end up increasing the ecological footprint due to its shorter useful life.
Therefore, it is the responsibility of architects and builders to design and construct wood buildings that incorporate appropriate construction solutions, ensuring the longest possible lifespan. The durability of these buildings is key to ensuring that the use of wood truly translates into a sustainable long-term option.
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