As a natural building material, wood contains a unique richness which is impacted by many factors including climate and topography. Whether the building site is next to a forest or not, timber used in construction has been subjected to an industrial decision-making process that dictates its final physical properties. In this act of translation, where wood is often treated similarly to other inanimate materials, a tree’s uniqueness is sacrificed for transportability, structural consistency and usability. 

Focusing on the characteristics of wood, the exhibition explores the act of transformation across the life cycle of the material; from extraction to transportation, standardisation to encapsulation and eventual disassembly for potential reuse. In seeking out the unique traits of timber, we aim to question how industry and construction can learn from and be shaped by the inherent qualities of the material.

“There is a forest in my backyard but my house is built from trees grown far away” has been awarded with the Architectural Association of Ireland (AAI) Award. Curators: Aet Ader, Helmi Marie Langsepp and Mari Möldre (b210 Architects) and St John Walsh (Alder Architects). Participating offices: Creatomus Solutions, Hannigan Cooke Architects, Joseph Mackey Architects, OGU Architects, Paco Ulman & Kaja Pae, Peeter Pere Architects, Studio Kuidas, Robert Bourke Architects, Ruumiringlus, Wrkshop Architects.