IAAC Celebrated the Annual Mass Madera Network Event in Valencia

The Institute for Advanced Architecture of Catalonia organized together with Mass Madera and Built By Nature the Annual Meeting of the Mass Madera Network, one of the most significant events focused on the use of timber in the realm of construction in Spain.

The Annual Meeting of the Mass Madera Network, which took place on January 17, 2024, at Las Naves in Valencia, started with welcoming remarks from Francisca Hipólito, R&D Technician of Las Naves; Paul King, CEO of Built by Nature; María Teresa Verdú Martínez, General Director of the Urban Agenda, Housing and Architecture in Spain and Daniel Ibáñez, Director of the Institute for Advanced Architecture of Catalonia. The event followed with the presentation of the 2023–2024 Mass Madera Report delivered by Carla Ferrer, Mass Madera Network Coordinator, Eduard Correal, Juan Bugarín, Aida Santana, Irene Jimeno, and Felipe Riola. The report aims to offer a comprehensive overview of the current state of the industrialized solid wood sector for construction in Spain and underscores the importance of promoting the use of this material as the cornerstone of a new construction model.

The Report on the Use of Industrialized Wood for Construction in Spain, presented during the event, unveils that currently, the utilization of industrialized solid timber in Spain ranges from 0.5% to 1%. Projections indicate that within three years, the production capacity of Cross-Laminated Timber (CLT) in Spain will double. Today, CLT production is concentrated in the regions of the Basque Country, Galicia, Catalonia, Cuenca, and soon Aragon. Spain contributes approximately 2.5% to the global CLT production, with significant projects, particularly in public development, comprising 46.1% of recent ventures. The growing interest in industrialized solid wood in Spain is underscored in the 2023-2024 report, reflecting its potential for aiding the decarbonization of the construction sector.

The conclusions drawn from the report propose a decalogue of recommendations to foster solid industrialized wood construction in Spain. To support this trend and offer practical guidance for decarbonizing the construction sector, a roadmap is suggested. It emphasizes the importance of a Carbon Footprint Census, mandatory inclusion of carbon footprint declarations in building construction documentation, and the establishment of quotas for low-emission buildings in public construction projects. Additionally, incentives for sustainable construction, integration of industrialized wood education in architectural and engineering curricula, open-access technical guides, and the creation of a technical advisory agency are recommended. Moreover, promoting innovative projects, fostering collaboration between universities and industry, supporting technological transformation in the local timber sector, and active participation in international forums for sustainable construction are proposed measures. These recommendations aim to facilitate a comprehensive transition in the construction sector towards complete decarbonization by 2050.

About Mass Madera

Mass Madera emerges as a network geared towards expediting the use of industrialized solid wood in Spain. The primary mission of the network is to accelerate the adoption of industrialized solid wood as a solution to mitigate emissions linked to the construction sector. This initiative responds to the imperative of continuing to provide housing and urban solutions for a growing population while addressing the pressing need for emission reduction within the building industry. Read more.