immo!nvest – Die Plattform für Standorte und Immobilien

Tag: Wälder

  • Federal Council supports price recommendations for Swiss timber

    Federal Council supports price recommendations for Swiss timber

    Initiative 21.463 “Price recommendations also for wood from Swiss forests” is intended to offer the approximately 250,000 Swiss forest owners better guidance on the market. The possibility of agreeing guide prices, similar to those in agriculture, allows forest owners to better align their sales prices with market conditions. This contributes to stability and transparency on the timber market and supports the sustainable management of forests.

    Positive effects of price recommendations
    The Federal Council sees the introduction of price recommendations as an important step towards promoting the forestry and timber industry. The publication of these recommendations is intended to support more market-oriented behaviour on the part of those involved. This leads to indirect positive effects, as the sale of timber makes a significant contribution to the financing of forest management and maintenance. As a result, all functions of the forest, including its ecological and social services, are better ensured.

    Independent implementation by sector organisations
    The implementation of the price recommendations should be carried out independently by the forestry and timber sector organisations. The Federal Council emphasises that the proposed regulation in the WaG does not constitute an unlawful elimination of competition under antitrust law. Individual companies are not obliged to comply with the recommended prices, and no price recommendations are set for consumer prices. This ensures that competition remains fair and that the price recommendations merely serve as a guide.

    By supporting the parliamentary initiative, the Federal Council is sending out a signal in favour of strengthening the Swiss forestry industry. The introduction of price recommendations for raw timber is intended to increase market transparency, secure the financial basis for sustainable forest management and thus maintain the diverse functions of the forest in the long term.

  • From ancient origins to modern architecture

    From ancient origins to modern architecture

    1. Development in Europe
      Wood was a popular building material in Europe until modern times. Construction methods evolved from log to post and beam buildings, with the latter being particularly favoured in areas with few forests. However, these post-and-beam buildings, which required less wood and used flexible filling materials such as clay, had a limited lifespan due to moisture.
    2. Revolution through half-timbered construction
      Half-timbered construction, which became established in the northern Alpine regions from the 12th century onwards, brought about a revolution in construction technology. This construction method allowed for more durable structures through the use of posts and struts, which reduced moisture damage and enabled the construction of multi-storey buildings. Timber-framed buildings are characterised by their decorative façades and technical sophistication.
    3. East Asian timber construction
      In contrast to European timber construction, traditional East Asian timber construction is mainly a skeleton construction characterised by its complex roof structures. In this building style, it is not the walls but the roof structures that bear the main load, resulting in a unique spatial effect and earthquake resistance.
    4. Influence of industrialisation
      With the onset of industrialisation in Europe in the 19th century, traditional timber construction began to be replaced by masonry and reinforced concrete. Nevertheless, timber was revitalised and further developed through innovations such as glued timber beams and new construction techniques.
    5. Renaissance of timber construction in the 21st century
      Since the start of the new millennium, timber construction has experienced a rebirth, driven by ecological benefits and technical innovations. Modern construction methods include hybrid structures made of timber, concrete and steel. These developments have led to the diverse and energy-efficient use of timber in architecture.
    6. The future of timber construction
      Timber construction has not only changed in terms of construction methods, but also in terms of perception. From traditional methods to digital production and BIM, timber is now a highly modern, versatile building material. With increasing acceptance in building legislation and continuous technical innovation, timber remains a central element of modern architecture.

    Wood as a building material has deep historical roots dating back to the Neolithic and Bronze Age. How influential was wood in the construction of pile dwellings in the Lake Constance region and eastern Switzerland back then? What fascinating insights do these early wooden structures offer us? They arose from the need to clear forests for farmland. And so they not only enabled the colonisation of areas near the lake, but also created protection and new transport routes. An astonishing testimony to times gone by that still impresses us today.