Canadian Glulam to be Used in Post/Beam Housing Project in Korea for the First Time

By: Tai Jeong

Country Director, Canada Wood Korea

The design of a high-end residential complex in Gyeonggi Province, Korea, was released recently. The project will be comprised of 34 post-beam wood houses using glue-laminated timber (Glulam) made of Canadian fiber and all other framing components with Canadian SPF.

Mr. Hyun Wook Lee, the developer of this project, was one of the first Korean architects to be introduced to Canadian wood-frame construction by Canada Wood Korea. Lee is also known as the inventor of “peanut house,” an affordable wood-frame duplex design that can save energy bills and improve living quality. Lee is now building 100 to 200 wood-frame units a year.

The post-beam design of this project enables the elimination of interior load-bearing walls, allowing for large open interior spaces and high ceilings. The SPF glulam frame will be left exposed, adding natural beauty to the look of the house. All the glulam components will be manufactured in Japan and imported to Korea for final assembly, lowering the structural and labour costs.

Construction work will begin in September 2020. Stay tuned for more details.