”Wood is a strong material. It is essential to understand wood – you cannot force wood into anything but must use it in accordance with its natural properties.”
Heikkinen believes that wood is inviting partly because it has human characteristics. “A living tree contains approximately the same proportion of water as the human body, and trees also communicate through their roots. Wood is a warm material that you can even hug.” Increasing education in wood construction Heikkinen considers teaching to be the most significant step in his career. He finds the continuity of work more interesting than his own achievements. “I have had a long and consistent career, which has been recog- nised internationally. Many younger colleagues in the field have taken part in our basic education. I have also had the pleasure of working with good partners, who are now professors in their respective fields.” Aalto University’s wood architects cooperate with other Finnish universities and are active in international networks, with the Technical University of Munich and Yale School of Architecture, among others. The collaboration with Yale emphasises environ- mental aspects and the circular economy in architecture. Wood construction teaching and research appear to be boom- ing. In Heikkinen’s words, “In the US, huge sums are being invested in the field, and in Europe, wood construction professorships are being established everywhere.” The importance of understanding wood Heikkinen believes his students are sometimes baffled by the flood of information concerning wood construction. His answer to this is to focus on something tangible – on wood as a material. “Our first-year studies begin when we all head off to Evo forestry campus near Hämeenlinna, and then jointly find and fell the best pine tree. We then begin to examine the tree and build our year- long course around it.”
What must an architect and constructor know about wood? Heikkinen says two basic facts take you a long way. Wood seeks a moisture balance with its environment, and wood has different properties in different directions. In other words, wood construc- tors must consider wood shrinkage and expansion, as well as the grain direction. “Wood is a strong material that can even break a joint or itself. It is essential to understand wood – you cannot force wood into anything but must use it in accordance with its natural properties.” Finally on the verge of a breakthrough He sees a great need for sustainable construction and for teaching and learning about it, both in Finland and other parts of the world. “In my opinion, we are far from ready. We know that construc- tion consumes a great amount of natural resources and energy, but the sector is still waiting for a major breakthrough. Wood could offer an opportunity for this, just as the construction of concrete suburbs in the 1970s led to a huge improvement in hous- ing standards.” Heikkinen says that a breakthrough in wood construction has been expected several times during his career, but development has been slower than expected. “However, it now seems the sustainability goals prompted by climate change are finally being realised. The properties of wood, which is a renewable, carbon storing and recyclable material, have gained new importance. “I hope to see this wonderful renewable natural resource being used in the best possible way in the future – for construction.” • Pekka Heikkinen Architect, Professor of Practice, Wood Architecture, at Aalto University and initiator and head of the Wood Program. Prize winner of several architec- ture competitions.
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