Construção em Madeira. Preconceito Nacional ou Inadequação? Processos atuais da conceção à execução.

Abstract

Practically since the beginning of mankind, wood is present throughout the entire construction history. Whether it's used as a structural element or just as a finishing material, wood conveys an undeniable sense of comfort and building quality. In Portugal however, despite its many valences and the abundance of resources, it's still not seen as an equal or more viable option as most common building materials like concrete and steel. Is it a matter of national prejudice or inadequacy? This is the main question of this research, while trying to realize whether wood, the oldest material available to Man, can also be the most technological it can work with, especially when engineered wood products like cross-laminated timber (CLT) are developed. This paper aims to understand how the development of new wooden building materials, resulting from industrialized processes, influences or conditions an architect's design methods and consequently, the project execution in its various stages. It is also discussed how these materials can contribute to a cultural change regarding the reduced role that wood plays in Portuguese construction. Based on the analysis of multiple Portuguese projects built in recent years, wood's use evolution in national construction is analyzed. Recognizing that the architect's choice of one set of materials over others constitutes a defining moment in the transmutation from project to construction, this research seeks to emphasize that wood, like any other material, has its characteristics, its execution constraints and, above all, transmits a complex variety of sensations to the built environment.