Wood: Photographs of the world's best timber architecture, available in a new book

Beautifully illustrated and demonstrating the material’s extraordinary range, Wood is a new book that offers the perfect introduction for architects, aesthetes, students and anyone with an interest in creativity.

Featuring images of projects from some of the most influential and innovative architects of the last century as well as striking and memorable buildings by contemporary architects, Wood reveals architects’ ongoing fascination with timber. Spanning the globe, the projects encompass churches, monuments, cultural spaces and more – from Renzo Piano’s otherworldly Jean-Marie Tijbaou Cultural Centre to FAO’s sprawling timber landscape for Yokohama port terminal and Le Corbusier’s humble room-sized cabin – demonstrating the startling variety of structures the material can inspire.

Carefully arranged to encourage comparison and discussion, each project includes key information alongside engaging extended captions, which provide insightful commentary. The projects are thematically grouped in chapters such as Texture, Juxtaposition, Landscape and Light, to elucidate their architectural qualities. An embossed jacket enhances the tactile experience of the book, drawing the reader in and echoing the textural appeal of wood itself.

Building on the earlier bestselling titles, Concrete and Brick, Wood is authored by graphic designer William Hall. It features an introductory essay by writer and naturalist Richard Mabey who explores the symbiotic relationship between building and trees. Ultimately, with its blend of inspiring and beautiful imagery and insightful and thought-provoking text, Wood will appeal not only to every architect, academic or art enthusiast but also to anyone with an interest in the potential of this overlooked yet fascinating architectural material. Published by Phaidon on 20 March 2017.

Via Creative Boom submission | All images courtesy of Phaidon, and copyright info displayed under each image. Main image: Evolver, Zermatt, Switzerland, Alice Studio/EPFL, 2009. Picture credit: © Joel Tettamanti/ALICE Studio EPFL