Whole Tree Architecture is Putting a Green Spin on Building Convention
Omar Yusuf — October 17, 2011 — Eco
References: wholetreesarchitecture & treehugger
The little-known green contracting firm Whole Tree Architecture is putting Stoddard, Wisconsin on the map with their innovative, eco-friendly designs.
The philosophy that helps fuel the company is simple and straightforward: use whole timber, instead of processing the wood down into carbon-copy products. It may seem counter-intuitive, but untreated timber has the advantage of greater fire resistance, a larger carrying load and benefits from carbon sequestration. So in lieu of erecting a house from flammable, flimsy and very ungreen wood, Whole Tree Architecture is collecting trees that no one wants and turning them into something everyone wants! Fallen logs, unwanted stumps and otherwise unnecessary trees have been collected locally and become a pivotal part of a family's home. CEO Roald Gundersen underscores his company's achievement of avoiding transportation costs, adding toxic bleaches and stripping entire forests -- I couldn't agree more and applaud the company!
The philosophy that helps fuel the company is simple and straightforward: use whole timber, instead of processing the wood down into carbon-copy products. It may seem counter-intuitive, but untreated timber has the advantage of greater fire resistance, a larger carrying load and benefits from carbon sequestration. So in lieu of erecting a house from flammable, flimsy and very ungreen wood, Whole Tree Architecture is collecting trees that no one wants and turning them into something everyone wants! Fallen logs, unwanted stumps and otherwise unnecessary trees have been collected locally and become a pivotal part of a family's home. CEO Roald Gundersen underscores his company's achievement of avoiding transportation costs, adding toxic bleaches and stripping entire forests -- I couldn't agree more and applaud the company!
Trend Themes
1. Whole Tree Architecture - Whole Tree Architecture is disrupting the conventional building industry by using whole timber for eco-friendly designs.
2. Green Contracting - Green contracting firms like Whole Tree Architecture are revolutionizing the construction industry with environmentally friendly practices.
3. Timber Innovation - Innovative use of timber by companies like Whole Tree Architecture is creating new opportunities for sustainable building materials.
Industry Implications
1. Construction - The construction industry has the potential to embrace whole timber architecture as a disruptive innovation for greener buildings.
2. Green Building - The green building industry can benefit from the adoption of whole timber architecture for its eco-friendly and sustainable advantages.
3. Forestry - The forestry industry can explore new opportunities and partnerships with companies like Whole Tree Architecture to repurpose unwanted trees and minimize waste.
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