Climatic advantages of the spread of timber constructions in peripheral regions - the case of southern Switzerland

Abstract

The aim of this paper is to investigate the methods available for encouraging the spread of timber constructions in small, peripheral regions such as southern Switzerland. Since 2005, Switzerland has witnessed a major increase in the number of timber constructions, mainly due to the new fire prevention regulations and to the climate and energy goals that the country wants to meet in the near future. This growth has been less significant in southern Switzerland. Data given by the Federal Office for the Environment (FOEN) shows the climatic advantages of the spread of timber constructions. Therefore, the opportunities for increasing the growth of such constructions in southern Switzerland have been researched. In order to identify and take advantage of the unique features of the use of wood in this region, two recent timber buildings, the Nordic Ski Centre by Durisch & Nolli, and the House in Ludiano by Tocchetti & Pessina, are analyzed and presented in this paper. The case of southern Switzerland can be a model for the spread of timber constructions in other similar regions.