The Timber Structure Houses Design Competition and the Symposium on Timber Structures are held on March 22, 2014.

The Timber Structure Houses Design Competition aimed to develop and research the earthquake and typhoon resistant characteristics of timber structures took place at the 2014 WWD celebration. A total of nine teams, one from Finland and eight from universities in China, was nominated among all entries and made it to the final.

On March 22, the symposium on timber structures took place in the morning and the review meeting of the competition held in the afternoon. It brought together a professional line-up of nine specialists, including scholars, scientists and architects of multiple disciplines. Focused topics were set to explore the field of wood construction systems and techniques for disaster preparation and protection. 

Prof. Antonio Frattari from University of Trento gives a brief presentation on Cross Laminated Timber.

Dr. Toshitugu Hirata talks about the adhesion system of wood construction.

In this rather intensive symposium, the international and Chinese professionals shed light on developments in their respective homelands. Specialists from Italy, India, Japan and China laid out the essentials of efficiency and sustainability in timber structural systems, a well as analysis and current knowledge of the industry, while dealing with wood building issues. 

Mr. Sanjay Prakash presents a subject on earthquake and wind resistant buildings. 

Dr. Jun Yang gives a speech on traditional timber buildings to the experts and participants.

As the technical development of timber structures has made significant progress in material, design, construction and maintenance during the last few decades, timber structures have become the mainstream design of family dwellings and public architecture in some countries. 

The inspiring speeches offer opportunities for the students, scholars and professionals to learn and share. 

Two sections were presented in the review meeting for the competition, seismic resistance and the typhoon resistance. Ten experts from eight countries formed the judging panel. Each team gave a ten-minute presentation of their design which was followed by an interactive question and answer session led by the judging panel.

The presentation allows each team to present their design ideas to the judging panel.

The judging panel reviews the house design presented by the competitors.

In addition to the presentation, each team displayed a poster illustrating their design for review. The potential for damage prevention against earthquake and typhoon and the viability of that potential based on the design were evaluated by the judging panel as assessment criteria.

The posters of house design of all competitors are on display.

The judges discuss on each house design in front of the poster displays.

The design posters illustrate the ideas and structures of the timber house designed by each team. The examples given above are submitted by Beijing Forestry University (left) and Nanjing Forestry University (right).

The conversation and discussion with the specialists were an education to each team, regardless of the result. The exchange of ideas and experiences among the specialists was invaluable. 

Students enhance their knowledge and experience in the competition, while learning from the competitors and the specialists. 

The winners of the final competition were announced at the closing ceremony of WWD celebration. DCR2 and “Smiling Resist Wind and Cloud” of Chongqing University were awarded for “Excellence in Design”. Nanjing Forestry University was awarded for “Best Teamwork”. Beijing Forestry University, Team of Hoka from Finland, T Cube of Tongji University, Team B of Hunan University and SuWoodINT team of Soochow University were awarded for “Best Innovation”. 

The winners of the typhoon resistant design pose with their award certificates.

Pictured are the winners of earthquake resistant design in the award ceremony.

It is imperative to put joint efforts into timber structures that prevent and reduce damage caused by natural disaster and enhance sustainable function and performance. Contributing to communication, academic research and technical innovations regarding sustainable timber structures, the program should facilitate solutions to the house building systems that benefit our lives.

The specialists and judges pose with the participants of the Timber Structure Houses Design Competition.