The projects submitted to the competition always showcase the diverse and current state of timber construction in each country. This year’s finalists are presented here.

The design honours the Parc de la Villette park and the deconstructivist attractions designed by Bernard Tschumi in the 1980’s. It is intentionally generic to allow the site’s uses and events to shape its identity and involves two interlocking structures: one in concrete for stability, and the other in wood for lightness and a reduced environmental impact. With spans of up to 12 metres, the structures create open interior spaces with natural light filtering through to provide an undergrowth-style ambience. 

The building has two levels around a central atrium that can be used for project presentations, conferences, and informal gatherings. Tailor-made micro-architectures punctuate the spaces, serving as meeting facilities, copy rooms, and coffee areas. The flexible workspaces offer panoramic views of the park’s lush vegetation. Designed in consultation with the users, the spaces can be divided and combined freely using structuring furniture designed by the architects. The teams at La Villette even built some of the pieces themselves. 

This modernisation project respects what already exists: some buildings will be renovated and restored, and the densification will retain existing structures as much as possible. Where replacement is unavoidable, the new buildings will have a similar architectural style. 

For example, the first construction site has four two-storey buildings that will be replaced by new four-storey buildings. On the second site, four new two-storey wooden rowhouses will be added around the semi-open courtyards, creating more housing options in the area. All existing buildings will be renovated with a light touch. Some compromises in comfort will be necessary, however, as preserving local history serves the greater good. Through its restoration and densification, Pappelhöfe ensures the continuation of this unique legacy for generations to come. 

A central aspect of the refurbishment project was a circular economy approach that emphasised renewable resources and the reuse of materials. Additions to the existing steel frame were made using glulam timber and CLT, while bricks, sheet metal, corrugated panels, and stairs are repurposed materials “borrowed” from the collections of Varvsstaden’s Material Library. This innovative tactic not only saved resources but also minimised the carbon footprint, in line with the project’s sustainable ethos. Featuring a café, restaurant, foyer, and exhibition area, Gjuteriet’s ground floor is now a public space designed to foster community interaction and engagement. 

Gjuteriet’s transformation into a versatile, flexible building that meets contemporary needs is a testament to the power of the respectful repurposing of industrial heritage. The project has resulted in significant social, local, and environmental benefits by activating an all-new public realm along the adjacent quay, dry dock, and inner basin. As a new focal point in Malmö, Gjuteriet is set to kickstart the regeneration of the Varvsstaden district into a thriving neighbourhood with homes, workplaces, and a fine arts campus – all connected to the city centre by new bridges and transport links. 

The heart of the complex is its Olympic-length swimming stadium. Its dynamically curving roof magnifies the space, making it feel spacious and intimate at the same time. Stretched over wooden beams, the sculpted roof membrane appears to move and undulate like a living organism, adding unobstructed height and optimising sight lines from the stands. Indeed, this immense cathedral to aquatic sports has no false ceiling or panelling. Instead, the borders of the space are defined solely by the highlighted structure and the inverted vault of the roof. 

Wood is present both indoors and outdoors, providing beautiful continuity. It invites visitors to enter, sets the rhythm of the pathway, and filters light and views, and the exposed surfaces add rich colour and softness. All the stadium’s structural elements are wood. This is unique and unexpected in such an urban space, adding to its magic. The roof is supported by long-span wooden beams, which in turn are tensioned by oblique glulam tie beams. This technical feat minimises air volume (and thereby the stadium’s heating bill) while being architecturally dynamic in line with the project’s athletic symbolism. It resolves structural, acoustic, and aesthetic constraints with one simple, delicate, and light construction system: the roof surges upward and appears to fly. Pre-aged Douglas fir slats wrap around the building exterior, damping noise and protecting from the wind and sun, creating a reception space that is at once sheltering and welcoming. 

A perforated paralleliped with rounded edges, the structure of the Buissons footbridge is a contemporary reinterpretation of the truss beam. This innovative construction method not only gives the structure a refined appearance, it uses materials efficiently: despite its significant dimensions, the footbridge only consumed a modest 40 m³ of wood, mostly raw timber. Its diagonals consist of three to four interwoven spruce slats (27x200mm) placed under tension and compression between two glulam beams, which are curved at the bottom to increase the clearance for the river below and to mitigate flood-related damage. The whole structure is secured with rods fixed by timber bolts and metal dowels. 

One of the project’s challenges was to provide sufficient clearance for the river below without resorting to cumbersome access ramps. The curved underside resolves this issue. The curved design language continues in the roof and sides, adding structural dynamism and giving the project a distinctive identity. The structure is protected from the elements by a slightly inclined roof built from three-ply panels, complemented by a 1.2-metre overhang and covered with copper sheets to ensure durability. Bracing is provided by the roof’s three-ply panels and by diagonals under the larch floor. The joists supporting the roof are doubled, creating an interstice that accommodates lighting devices and extends the design language of the interwoven truss slats. 

The building transforms the public outdoor spaces and views from the Boulevard Lefebvre, creating a secluded inner garden amidst the high-rise buildings. Forming a triangle around the diamond-shaped garden, the building consists of an L-shaped section with two storeys and a one-storey wing that forms the triangle’s base. The daycare centre and the maternity / child protection centre are symmetrically placed on either side of the western corner and connected to each other through the attic. Through the lobbies, the public spaces open onto views of the garden. 

The maternity / child protection centre is on one level in the southwest wing, while the daycare centre spans two levels. Reception units for babies too young to walk are on the ground floor around the garden courtyard, and the upstairs mezzanine leads to wings for toddlers and a large rooftop playground. Plants on the rooftop terrace extend the ground floor’s lush landscape, giving the children a garden that appears to float on two levels.