The 20 Most Impressive Wooden Structures in the World (| part)
Bringing the lumber.
A new proposal for London pitches a wooden skyscraper that would become the second-tallest building the city. Meanwhile, architects around the world are reconsidering this traditional building material. We bring you the most majestic, most interesting, and most impressive wooden buildings old and new.
Kennecott Mines, Alaska
Copper was once the big deal at the company town of Kennecott, Alaska. Between 1911 and 1938 five mines were dug to harvest copper ore near Kennecott and McCarthy. During the heyday, the two towns were built up with mines, camps, and plenty of, shall we say, extra-curricular activities by the miners that required a building. One of the largest structures to take shape was a roughly 14-story wood building in the center of Kennecott. Now completely abandoned and protected as a National Historic Landmark as part of the Wrangell-St. Elias National Park and Preserve, the dilapidated structure still stands. Barely.
Old Government Buildings, New Zealand
Built in the late 1870s, the Government Buildings Historic Reserve in Wellington was the world's second-largest wooden building for more than a century. With concrete prices forcing builders to turn fully to wood, the four-story structure was built using kauri wood. Kauri is now a protected type of forest in New Zealand, so you won't see another structure like this anytime soon.
Creation Museum's Noah's Ark, Kentucky
Whatever you think about the Creation Museum in Kentucky, you have to admire the construction prowess that went into the site's Noah's Ark. Built to proportions found in the Bible, it measures 510 feet long, 90 feet (five stories) high, and is made of more than 600 miles of wood planks. One of the largest wood-framed buildings in the world, this museum exhibit gets a little help from concrete to hold it upright on dry land.
SunnyHills, Japan
Pineapple cakes on the inside and an intricate wooden lattice structure on the outside highlight this SunnyHills cake shop in Japan. Famed wood builder Kengo Kuma modeled the building after a bamboo basket and carried the effect inside. The technique of Jiigokugumi joins wooden slats without the use of glue or nails.
Superior Dome, Michigan
For just shy of a decade, the Tacoma Dome in Washington State held the title as the world's largest wooden dome. But the Superior Dome in Marquette, Michigan, wrestled away the moniker in 1991 by opening up at 536 feet in diameter, just six feet more than the Tacoma structure. Covering a sports stadium located on the campus of Northern Michigan University, the 14-story dome spreads over 5.1 acres with its 781 Douglas Fir beams and 108 miles of fir decking.
Tamedia Office Building, Zurich
Tucked into downtown Zurich, Switzerland, the seven-story headquarters for media company Tamedia puts wood on the forefront of architecture. Opened in 2013, the exterior stands out for its timber use, an aesthetic carried over fully to the interior with a celebration of wood. The design also focused on creating thermal barriers within the structure, heating and cooling spaces by the extraction of air and thereby creating a truly sustainable envelope of wood.
U Bein Bridge, Myanmar
The world's longest wooden bridge has stood since around 1850, providing a passage about 15 feet above mud flats and Taungthaman Lake. Made nearly exclusively from teakwood—legend has it the wood was taken from a former palace—this 3,960-foot bridge remains in use by both locals and tourists.
Community Church of Knarvik, Norway
Found in Hordaland, Norway, about 45 miles west of Bergen's Treet, the Knarvik Church opened in 2014 embracing wood in an angular style. Architect Reiulf Ramstad clad the exterior in pre-weathered pine that accents the pointed pyramidal steeple. Located atop a rocky bluff, the beauty of wood extends inside to the 500-person worship area.
