The 20 Most Impressive Wooden Structures in the World (|| part)
Forté, Australia
At more than 10 stories tall, Forté puts Australia on the map for high-rise timber structures. An apartment building that was the tallest wood building in the world when it opened in 2012, it used cross-laminated timber to become Australia's first-ever 5-Star Green-Star certified residential building. Overall, the 10-story structure has 23 apartments—spacious floor plans, for sure—and a ground floor full of retail shops.
Murray Grove, London
London designers are now busy unveiling dreamy plans for a timber skyscraper that would become the city's second-tallest structure. But an early test of this idea came in the form of Murray Grove, a 2009 building that became the tallest modern timber structure when it opened. At nine stories tall, it was the first of its kind to be built with load-bearing walls, floor slabs, and stairs and lifts built from entirely timber. Housing 29 apartments, the Gove had zero defects upon completion, its owner boasted.
Treet, Norway
Treet grabbed the world record for tallest timber construction at 170 feet in height when it soared past Australia's Forté in 2014. The designers started out just wanting to build a sustainable project in Bergen, Norway, and put a focus on using wood as they started planning this project inspired by Norwegian timber bridges. Soon they realized a world record was within reach. Treet is basically build of cross-laminated timber modules stacked upon each other, though engineers worked in concrete slabs twice during construction to add weight and keep the building from swaying.
Kizhi Pogost Church, Russia
Soaring to 123 feet, this is reportedly the world's tallest structure made exclusively of wood, including the frame and rivets. Located on Kizhi Island in Russia, the church was finished in 1862 without any metal of any sort (a steel frame was added in the 1980s). With 22 domes and an internal vault, the Russian Orthodox church has stood without anything other than timber as its support for over 150 years.
Horyu Temple, Japan
The world's oldest surviving wood structure give us a picture of what Japan looked like more than 1,300 years ago. The Buddhist temple built around a statue includes a five-story pagoda, a main hall, an eastern precinct, and a hall of visions. The 46-acre grounds contain more than 2,300 cultural and historical structures. The temple was selected in 1993 as Japan's first UNESCO World Heritage site.
The Metropol Parasol, Spain
Part work of art and part community structure, the Metropol Parasol in La Encarnacion Square in Seville, Spain, can make a case to be the world's largest wooden structure. It was designed by German architect Jurgen Mayer-Hermann, whose inspiration for the form came from nearby ficus trees and the Cathedral of Seville. The four-story whimsical flow of the structure covers more than 136,000 square feet, towering over a bar, restaurant, and museum.
The Great Eastern Temple, Japan
Built in the early 8th century A.D., the Great Eastern Temple in Japan's Nara province is home to the world's largest bronze statue of Buddha and was one of the largest wooden structures in the world when built, measuring 187 feet long by 164 feet wide. The building has had a hard life that included two rebuilds. On the up side, reports say archaeologists—using X-rays—have seen everything from swords to jewels inside the walls, although for now they've left them be.
