UIA World Congress in 2023 – Sustainable Future of Mass Timber
Anssi Lassila is taking part in a session on the Sustainable Future of Mass Timber Architecture at the UIA World Congress in 2023 in Copenhagen on July 5.
Rethinking Resources
The panel on the Sustainable Future of Mass Timber is part of the program on Rethinking Resources. It is one of the six thematic categories around which the abundant program of the congress is built. In the session, architects from the Nordic countries share their experiences in building with wood. Discussing the lessons that they have learned through practice, they attempt to chart the way forward on the road of responsible development of the use of mass timber in architecture.
Monica von Schmalensee of White Arkitekter is chairing the discussion. Other participants in addition to Anssi Lassila are Siv Helene Stangeland of Helen & Hard and Robert Schmitz of White Arkitekter.
- Sustainable Future of Mass Timber
- Wednesday, July 5, 2023 at 15:15 – 16:30
- Bella Center Copenhagen, Room C1M1
- Center Boulevard 5, Entrance 6, 2300 Copenhagen
The Innate Qualities of Wood
In his talk, Anssi Lassila focuses on the innate qualities of wood as a natural material. He looks at how we can best make use of them to create buildings that are both socially and ecologically lasting. Taking into account the natural qualities of wood, we can design buildings that are efficient in their use of resources in construction and of energy during operation, as well as suited to the conditions of the local climate. To build in a sustainable manner, anything we build must fulfill a real need. No matter what material we use, building excessively or in a way that fails to meet a purposeful function, will never be ecologically sustainable.
Six Themes of the UIA World Congress in 2023
The approach of the 2023 congress is defined by a dual commitment to environmental and social sustainability. Arranged around six themes, the program features the following topics: Climate Adaptation, Rethinking Resources, Resilient Communities, Health, Inclusivity, and Partnerships for Change. Without sacrificing the complex interdependency of the sustainability agenda in the built environment, the themes address the 17 Sustainable Development Goals defined by the UN.
The congress attempts to find answers to the question of how architecture can shape societies. Through a rich and varied program, the goal is to create potential for a more sustainable, equitable and inclusive future. The motto of the 2023 congress is: “We know the problems, we have the solutions, and we need to act now in order to save the planet.”
UIA World Congress of Architecture
The World Congress of Architects is organized every three years by the International Union of Architects, UIA. The World Congress in 2023 is held in Copenhagen, Denmark on July 2-6, 2023. It is the first one of its kind to take place in a Nordic country.
Realized in collaboration with a large group of partners, the event is organized by the Nordic Section of the UIA. It is composed of Denmark, Finland, The Faroe Islands, Iceland, Norway, and Sweden. Previous destinations include Rio (2021), Seoul (2017) Durban (2014) and Tokyo (2011), among others.
The International Union of Architects
The International Union of Architects was founded in 1948 to unite the architects of the world through an association of their national organizations. From the 27 delegations present then, the UIA has grown to include the key professional architects’ associations in more than 100 countries. It has an estimated 1.3 million architects under its umbrella. 2023 marks the 75th anniversary of the organization. The non-governmental organization is recognized by UNESCO as the only architectural union operating at an international level.