The WAF shortlist: A helical forest tower and a welcoming airport terminal

7 August 2019 Sustainable construction

We are delighted to present the first two shortlisted projects for the World Architecture Festival’s (WAF) Best Use of Certified Timber Prize, supported by PEFC: A forest tower in Denmark that invites visitors to discover the forest from above, and an airport in the Philippines, whose timber roof makes it both inviting and earthquake-resistant.

Supported by PEFC, the prize rewards architects and project teams for using certified timber for constructions outstanding in sustainability, innovation, quality or aesthetics.

Camp Adventure Forest Tower – EFFEKT

Camp Adventure Forest Tower is a helical observation tower that invites visitors to climb up above the treetops of the PEFC-certified Gisselfeld Klosters Forest in Denmark.

The 45-metre-tall tower forms the culmination of a 900-metre-long boardwalk through the forest, and offers visitors a 360-degree view over the trees, hills, lakes and meadows that make up the natural landscape.

The tower and boardwalk are a seamless continuous ramp, giving everybody the opportunity to access the forest and to take a walk above the treetops, regardless of their physical condition. Constructed from weathered steel and PEFC-certified oak, the tower blends in subtly with the surrounding nature.

The observation tower and the boardwalk are part of Camp Adventure, an adventure sports facility that includes treetop climbing and aerial zip lines.

Mactan-Cebu International Airport - Integrated Design Associates Ltd. 

Mactan-Cebu International Airport (MCIA), the second largest airport in the Philippines, has received a new terminal 2, with a gigantic roof made of PEFC-certified timber.

The concept for the terminal was inspired by the local climate, materiality, feel, arts, crafts and industrial skills.

Like the traditional indigenous houses in the Philippines, the terminal has a high pitch roof and low eaves to fend off solar heat and glare. The uppermost structure is lightweight to withstand earthquakes and its form is well braced against typhoons.

The wooden main roof arches – supplied by PEFC certified Rubner Holzbau – span 30 metres, and define the building’s modular composition and architectural form. The roof has air-conditioning ducts as well as skylights to let in natural light. The building exudes a sense of simplicity and warmth so different from the typical coldness found in many airports.

The terminal is designed for four million passengers per year at the initial phase and is anticipated to grow to twice as many within the next ten years. The modular design allows the terminal to expand incrementally to meet future change.

Stay tuned for more WAF finalists next Wednesday!

The Best Use of Certified Timber Prize, supported by PEFC

For the second time, the World Architecture Festival and PEFC will reward the Best Use of Certified Timber Prize, recognising architects and project teams for their use of certified timber as a main construction material.

In total, 39 architects from over 18 countries entered their projects into the prize. While certified timber is a core construction material, the type and purpose of the buildings vary widely, demonstrating the versatility of timber.

The winner of the Best Use of Certified Timber Prize will be selected at the WAF in Amsterdam, on 6 December 2019.

Photo credits: EFFEKT Arkitekter, Rasmus Hjortshøj - COAST Studio, Integrated Design Associates - John Nye