The Institute for Advanced Architecture of Catalonia (IAAC) celebrates Built by Nature on winning the World Economic Forum’s inaugural Giving to Amplify Earth Action (GAEA) Award in the Impactful Innovation Accelerator category. The award was presented at the WEF Annual Meeting 2025 in Davos, Switzerland. 

In its first year, the GAEA Awards recognize pioneering partnerships addressing global climate and nature challenges through innovative and scalable solutions. Out of more than 120 nominations, an independent jury selected five transformative initiatives driving systemic change worldwide.

The Impactful Innovation Accelerator Award highlights solutions that create enabling ecosystems for climate and nature innovation. It acknowledges Built by Nature’s work in advancing sustainable timber and biobased construction materials as a strategy to reduce embodied carbon while supporting responsible forestry stewardship.

This recognition also strengthens Mass Madera, a growing network led by IAAC and supported by Built by Nature, dedicated to expanding mass timber construction in Spain as a key strategy for decarbonizing the built environment.

With Built by Nature’s support, Mass Madera has become a leading platform for knowledge exchange, research, and industry collaboration, allowing IAAC to further accelerate timber-based systems, advocate for policy changes, and drive innovation within the sector.

About Mass Madera

Mass Madera is a pioneering network dedicated to accelerating the use of mass timber construction in Spain as a key solution to reducing carbon emissions in the built environment.

By fostering collaboration among key stakeholders—including developers, architects, construction companies, researchers, investors, policymakers, and environmental organizations—Mass Madera aims to increase the number of square meters built with timber and drive systemic change in the construction sector.

Spain presents a significant untapped potential for sustainable forestry and mass timber construction. With 37% of its land covered by forests, including over 2.6 million hectares of certified forest, the country has the resources to scale sustainable timber-based construction while supporting rural economies and addressing climate change.

Guided by the principles of Connect, Coordinate, and Catalyze, Mass Madera is committed to expanding the adoption of industrialized timber construction, advocating for policy advancements, and positioning timber as a viable ecological alternative in the context of the current climate emergency. Read more.

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