Cross-national exchange on the opportunities and challenges of the new Building Type E for planners and contractors—Focus: Regional timber construction

Project background

The existing knowledge on topics such as “Simple Construction,” “Building Type E,” the use of regional wood, regional woodworking, etc., is to be discussed as part of the project with key players in regional timber construction—planners (ByAK, ZT Tirol/Vorarlberg), producers and contractors (proHolz Tirol and proHolz Bayern), as well as researchers (Rosenheim Technical University of Applied Sciences) and, where applicable, government representatives—as part of the project. The efforts—which aim to make building “simpler” again, while still maintaining architectural quality—have spread throughout Germany from Bavaria to the federal level, which has now even led to considerations of amending the BGB (German Civil Code) regarding the law governing contracts for work and construction.

In November 2023, the Free State of Bavaria, in cooperation with the ByAK, launched “19 pilot projects” aimed at identifying concrete measures to “simplify” construction. The findings from these pilot projects, as well as those from the “Einfach Bauen” research projects at City of Wood in Bad Aibling (e.g., low-layer construction, reduction of sound insulation measures, demountable construction, and single-material separation of layers/materials, etc.) also present new challenges for timber construction that should be taken into account in building design.

Project objective

This project aims—with a particular focus on the Inn Valley region—to spark a “paradigm shift in wood construction” and to motivate those involved in the field to explore new approaches. Existing knowledge on topics such as “simple construction,” “Building Type E,” the use of regional wood, regional woodworking, etc., will be made accessible to a broad professional audience through the planned series of expert events as well as through the presentation of exemplary projects and research approaches. 

Cross-border exchange also provides an opportunity to compare the planning, legal, infrastructural, and manufacturing conditions in both countries. This will enable the identification and further development of alternative and innovative solutions. Exemplary case studies from both sides of the border, which have emerged under different structural conditions, are intended to demonstrate the feasibility and practicality of various solutions—both at the building level and through innovative, simple component and detail solutions. These insights can give rise to new concepts and ideas for timber construction that are tailored to the specific requirements and stakeholders in the region.

Project procedure

Existing knowledge on topics such as “Simple Construction,” “Building Type E,” the use of regional wood, regional woodworking, etc., will be discussed with a broader professional audience as part of the planned series of events, workshops, and educational project, as well as through the presentation of exemplary projects and research approaches. The exhibition, which will summarize the findings of this transnational, interdisciplinary exchange at the end of the project, will then bring these insights to a wider audience.

Innovation

Another focus is on the exchange of different perspectives among the stakeholders involved in the “wood value chain”—particularly between planners and contractors. In practice, differing viewpoints often lead to misunderstandings in planning and execution. Through interdisciplinary dialogue, the project aims to develop shared goals and a common understanding of sustainable timber construction. Innovation can only emerge through collaboration across disciplinary boundaries.

The project specifically brings together experts from various fields, thereby laying the foundation for long-term collaboration that extends beyond the project’s duration. Ideally, this will foster a shared “mindset” that sustainably strengthens regional timber construction and adapts it to future challenges.