8 real examples of oak curtain walling on façades

Wooden curtain walling by Grupo Gámiz

Technology has made glulam wood an extraordinary ally to architects seeking sustainability and warmth without renouncing creativity. The latest innovation is the use of oak on façades. Emblematic names such as Renzo Piano and Herzog & de Meuron already have faith in this unique wood to make all the difference to their projects.

The commitment to innovation in construction materials has given rise to an interesting paradox: wood, present in architecture since it began, in Neolithic times, has become the material of the future, that which will mark the way architecture will evolve.

Technology has played a large part in this development. The progress made in the structural capacity of glulam wood has given architects greater freedom to design their projects with greater sustainability and warmth. Until now, using only solid wood sometimes entailed conceding some creativity in the designs.

With the oak glulam beams with the CE marking for structural use, we gain elegance and sophistication along with function.

In addition to its load-bearing capacity and creative freedom, glulam wood is lightweight, has a lower carbon footprint, contributes to energy efficiency, and provides warmth and well-being. And now, with the arrival of oak glulam beams for façades, all these generic advantages are enriched by the touch of elegance and distinction of one of the most exquisite fine hardwoods there is.

See how oak makes the difference in these eight real examples of oak glulam wooden curtain walling, summarised here, which you can enjoy in greater depth by downloading this free ebook.

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1. Maison de l’Ordre des Avocats

TYPE OF PROJECT: Offices. Institutional building
LOCATION: Paris (France)
ARCHITECT: Renzo Piano Building Workshop
DATE OF EXECUTION: 2018-2019
PHOTOGRAPHY: © L.Zylberman / Graphix-Images

2.Cambridge Biomedical Campus

TYPE OF PROJECT: Medical research centre
LOCATION: Cambridge (United Kingdom)
ARCHITECT: Herzog & de Meuron
DATE OF EXECUTION: 2017-2019.
PHOTOGRAPHY: © Herzog & de Meuron

3. Gymnasium München Nord

TYPE OF PROJECT: Secondary school. Elite sports school
LOCATION: Munich (Germany)
ARCHITECT: h4a Gessert + Randecker Generalplaner
DATE OF EXECUTION: 2015
PHOTOGRAPHY: © Zooey Braun Fotografie

4. General Secretariat of the European Parliament

TYPE OF PROJECT: Zero-energy building
LOCATION: Luxembourg
ARCHITECT: Heinle, Wischer und Partner
DATE OF EXECUTION: 2015-2021
PHOTOGRAPHY: © Heinle, Wischer und Partner

5. Enovos

TYPE OF PROJECT: Headquarters
LOCATION: Esch-Sur-Alzette (Luxembourg)
ARCHITECT: Jim Clemes
DATE OF EXECUTION: 2014
PHOTOGRAPHY: © Jim Clemes

6. Vocational training centre, Sulingen

TYPE OF PROJECT: Education Vocational training centre
LOCATION: Sulingen (Germany)
ARCHITECT: BKS Architekten GmbH
DATE OF EXECUTION: 2017
PHOTOGRAPHY: © Ralf Buscher

7. Eichendorff school

TYPE OF PROJECT: Education Primary school
LOCATION: Stuttgart (Germany)
ARCHITECT: Hausmann Architekten GmbH
DATE OF EXECUTION: 2019

8. Obermenzing school

TYPE OF PROJECT: Education Secondary school
LOCATION: Munich (Germany)
ARCHITECT: Auer Weber Assoziierte GmbH
DATE OF EXECUTION: 2019

Download the ebook for access to more information and images of each project.

In this publication, each project is given context and ample illustration with various high quality images. If you’d like to find out more about the application of oak curtain walling, download our free ebook.