UBC Timber Design Studio 2024: A Cross-Cultural Journey in Timber Construction
The UBC Timber Design Studio 2024 continued a long-running series that has become a vital bridge between Canadian and Chinese academic communities in timber design. Since its inception, this annual program has attracted top universities from China, including Tongji University, Tsinghua University, and Harbin Institute of Technology in the past, and has significantly enhanced the reputation of UBC’s Faculty of Forestry within China’s timber design and engineering circles. Through this event series, UBC and Canada Wood have established a strong Canadian brand presence in China, inspiring young architects to explore the possibilities of Canadian wood products in sustainable construction.
From July 11 to July 23, 2024, students and faculty staff from Nanjing Tech University, Nanjing Forestry University, and Zhejiang University joined UBC professors, including Prof. Frank Lam and Dr. Zhang Chao, through Zoom and WeChat. Prof. Lam introduced the curriculum and assigned a real-world design challenge inspired by China’s National Timber Design Competition, tasking students with designing a multifunctional agricultural center in a rural village in Sanmen County, Zhejiang. This 2,000-square-meter timber structure was to integrate farming, education, and exhibition spaces, blending sustainable design principles with practical applications. The program concluded with a lecture on current trends in timber materials and structural applications.
As a follow-up to the virtual course, students participated in a site tour of notable timber architecture in China. Led by Canada Wood’s XiaoFu, David, and Yading, the tour included stops at the UCCA Dune Art Museum and Dongpo High School in Yixing. These visits showcased innovative applications of timber in contemporary Chinese architecture and offered insights into how Canadian wood products could inspire future projects in China.
By building relationships and fostering a deeper understanding of Canadian wood products, UBC’s Timber Design Studio generates long-term benefits for the timber industry, positioning Canadian wood as a material of choice for sustainable architecture in China.
