The History of Wood in Constructions Between Past and Present

Department of Architecture and Industrial Design, “Luigi Vanvitelli” University of Campania, Italy

Abstract: Timber is one of the first materials used by man for construction. In the past, the problem of the durability of wood was not taken into account, which for this reason has had a progressive decline. But in recent years, these problems have been remedied with the new technologies that have led to the introduction of industrial production processes. The building systems of the past have not been abandoned, but rather optimized. Indeed, real innovation consists not so much in the invention of something new, but in the use of ancient techniques and materials, revisited in a contemporary way. This article offers an overview of the state of the art on wooden constructions. It starts from a historical-critical excursus on the first uses of wood and on the reasons why it has fallen into disuse over the centuries following the spread of more modern materials. The study continues by showing how the interest in the use of wood in the construction of buildings has grown strongly in recent years. The advantages of this natural material are therefore investigated and it is shown how the development of new technologies has managed to overcome the disadvantages associated with it. The properties of the wood material and the types of processing it undergoes are also shown. Finally, the article provides a review of the main construction systems used and their essential characteristics.