ForestED

ForestED: strengthening the connection between forests and cities through innovation. A project focused on transforming wood extracted from study areas in Catalonia and Galicia into prototypes of structural components for construction.

Catalonia and Galicia together produce 11.6 million cubic meters of wood a year, of which barely 3% is native deciduous hardwood, while dependence on foreign timber exceeds 80%. The under-use of a large wooded surface brings growing abandonment, wildfire risk and environmental degradation.

The species studied are sweet chestnut, beech and Aleppo pine in Catalonia, and pedunculate oak, chestnut and birch in Galicia, through experimental building prototypes that consider physical-mechanical properties, durability and technical behaviour. Cross-laminated timber (CLT) made from lower-grade material offers load-bearing and insulation properties, and a lower carbon footprint than concrete and steel.

Objectives: sustainable forest management, promotion of biodiversity, innovative and sustainable building with timber, training and workshops, and outreach through a documentary and a travelling exhibition (ForestED – Del bosque a la edificación, Barcelona and Madrid, 2025).