Timber construction is widely regarded as a key driver in the transition towards a more sustainable built environment. As a renewable material capable of storing carbon, timber is often presented as the great hope for transforming the construction sector. However, genuine sustainability requires far more than simply using timber as a building material. Through a carefully selected range of projects, Timber Architecture: PEOPLE. PLACE. HOME. COMMON SENSE. investigates the social, cultural, spatial and constructive conditions needed to achieve truly ecological, economic and socially sustainable architecture.
In its second edition at HDA, the exhibition focuses more strongly on international projects that offer diverse responses to the challenges of building with timber. These are complemented by research projects from Graz University of Technology, highlighting current developments at the intersection of material research, structural innovation and construction practice. In this way, the exhibition acknowledges Graz and the region of Styria as an important centre for timber architecture, timber research and the timber industry, connecting regional expertise with international perspectives.
At HDA, the exhibition is accompanied by a public programme that expands the discussion on sustainable construction through contemporary approaches to timber architecture. As part of the world_wide_wisdom lecture series, the internationally acclaimed architectural practice Helen & Hard offers insights into its work. The exhibition therefore presents not only outstanding examples of architecture but also provides a platform for dialogue about the future of building.
This project was submitted to the HDA OpenCall 2025 and further developed in collaboration with HDA
Following its first presentation at kunsthaus muerz, the exhibition is now shown at HDA – House of Architecture, where it places a stronger emphasis on international projects and is complemented by current research from Graz University of Technology. In doing so, it opens up diverse perspectives on building with timber and serves as a starting point for a broader discussion on the future of construction.
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Helen & Hard was founded in Stavanger in 1996 by Norwegian Siv Helene Stangeland and Austrian Reinhard Kropf. Today, 26 employees from 10 nations work for the architecture firm based in Stavanger and Oslo. In recent years, Helen & Hard have become particularly known for sustainable timber architecture, much of which was created in collaboration with Swiss engineer Hermann Blumer.
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