The Versatility of Timber Construction
From residential estates and office complexes to an observation tower and an Olympic milestone in Paris, this issue showcases the versatility of timber construction through seven exemplary projects, each documented in depth with our focus on construction details. The selected works span dense urban sites and scenic rural settings, demonstrating timber’s growing adaptability across Europe, regardless of location or function.
The timber buildings are also diverse in appearance. In Paris, Mobile Architectural Office has completed an elegant social housing project that fills a corner plot near Gare de L’Est, with a street-facing facade of cross laminated timber (CLT) clad in white corrugated panels. Meanwhile, the Start-UP business incubator in Heilbronn’s Neckaruferpark, designed by Waechter + Waechter, stands out with its exposed V-column glulam frame. The transparent double facade allows views into the workspaces and out over the Neckarhafen area. In Riehen near Basel, Studio Gugger has infused a modular residential complex of four buildings with an idyllic dark red hue – evoking Sweden’s iconic red houses. And in Kristiansand at the southern tip of Norway, the Oslotre team has designed a distinctive commercial and office building featuring a facade of curved green pine elements.
Our Technology section examines the Olympic Aquatics Centre in Paris, an exceptional timber structure by Schlaich Bergermann Partner. Its suspended roof spans nearly 90 metres over the pool – a record worthy of the Games. Enjoy these inspiring projects! Sandra Hofmeister
-
Nominee DETAIL Award 2024
House Without Cement in Munich
The nominees for the Detail Award 2024 have been announced: This timber house by Florian Nagler, nestled within a garden, extends the living and office space of the main building in Munich Pasing, while contributing to the goal of urban densification.
-
Take part and win
DETAIL Quiz
Every month we offer you the exciting opportunity to win exclusive products from the Detail Shop or our partners. Simply answer our quiz question correctly and you'll be in the running to win.


Stay up to date
Subscribe to Our Newsletter Now
-
Luxury restaurant as a stage
Ristorante Contraste in Milan by Studio Debonademeo
Studio Debonademeo designed the Contraste luxury restaurant in Milan, creating spaces that resemble theatrical stages, with different colour schemes for each zone.
-
Conversion for private use
Sutter House in the Bregenzerwald by Firm Architekten
Spacious floor plans instead of many small apartments: The interior of the house in Au in the Bregenzerwald has undergone major changes during the renovation by Firm Architekten. It has retained its typical regional appearance.
-
Nominee DETAIL Award 2024
Non-Hierarchical Social Housing
The nominees for the Detail Award 2024 have been announced: Barcelona-based architectural duo Peris + Toral has realised 43 flats made of clay on Ibiza, setting new standards in social housing construction.
-
Nominee DETAIL Award 2024
Barn-Like Museum Extension
The nominees for the Detail Award 2024 have been announced: The Faith Museum by Niall McLaughlin Architects is an extension of a Grade I listed castle, positioned along the line of a medieval retaining wall from the original castle complex.
-
Innovative construction
Hardwald Observation Tower in Switzerland
With the observation tower in the Hardwald forest in Switzerland, the architecture firm Luna Productions has created a contemporary symbol of circular timber construction.
-
Tiny hideaway on a steep hillside
Tiny House near San Francisco by Mork-Ulnes Architects
On a steep hillside in Marin County near San Francisco, Mork-Ulnes has built a guest house with a striking roof silhouette. The new building occupies the exact footprint of an old garage.
-
Luxury in the smallest of spaces
Mini-Apartment in Rotterdam by Star & Board
In Rotterdam, the two practices Star and Board have squeezed four rooms, including a whirlpool, into a 6.89 m² apartment.
-
Nominee DETAIL Award 2024
Haus Havanna – Conversion of a Tobacco Warehouse
The nominees for the Detail Award 2024 have been announced: For the revitalisation of the listed Haus Havanna in Linz, Kaltenbacher Architektur conceived a new facade design made of 70,000 glass blocks.
-
Nominee DETAIL Award 2024
Circular Sports Buildings
The nominees for the Detail Award 2024 have been announced: Pool Architects have developed combinable and reusable modules for temporary sports halls.
Publisher's offer
Find more than 3.800 captivating projects along with detailed construction drawings here!


-
Chameleon effect
Station Mission in Hamburg by Carsten Roth
Protect and yet offer insights: Carsten Roth combines both in the station mission at Hamburg's main railway station. The eye-catching feature of the new building is its colour-changing metal facade.
-
Cork façade
Residential house in Spain by Gurea
A residential building in Spain designed by Gurea Arquitectura Cooperativa features a facade clad in cork panels.
Interiors & Design
-
A playful synthesis of the arts
House near Valencia by Masquespacio
Near Valencia, Ana Milena Hernández Palacios and Christophe Penasse of Masquespacio have transformed a house built in 1925 into an expressive living space and studio.
-
Live, relax, make music
Haus LP in the Bregenzerwald by Firm Architekten
Firm Architekten designed Haus LP in the winter sports resort of Schoppernau. The typical local timber construction also provides space for a rehearsal room where the client gives music lessons.
-
Prayer room with mountain views
Mountain Church in Julong by Inuce
At the foot of a mountain slope, the new church designed by architects Inuce can be seen from afar. The sacred building can seat 1000 people.
Climate & Resources
-
Nominee DETAIL Award 2024
Circular Sports Buildings
The nominees for the Detail Award 2024 have been announced: Pool Architects have developed combinable and reusable modules for temporary sports halls.
-
Cork façade
Residential house in Spain by Gurea
A residential building in Spain designed by Gurea Arquitectura Cooperativa features a facade clad in cork panels.
-
Greenhouse for culture
Glass Pavilion in Brno by Chybik + Kristof
The Czech city of Brno honours Gregor Mendel with a contemporary replica of his greenhouse. The new building will be used for exhibitions and events.
Books
- Glass Construction Manual student priceSpecial Price €30.00 Regular Price €79.90Incl. 7% VAT , excl. Shipping Cost
- Refurbishment Manual student priceSpecial Price €30.00 Regular Price €79.90Incl. 7% VAT , excl. Shipping Cost
Current Topics Detail 6.2024
-
Playful and reduced
School in Madrid by Office for Political Innovation
The six-storey building that is home to the Colegio Reggio school draws attention even from afar. With its diverse shapes, colours and textures, the building resembles a toy castle.
-
Expansion on a brownfield site
Residence and Office near Inverness by Loader Monteith
In the north of Scotland, Loader Monteith have planned an office building and residence for a mountainbike holiday company. A second residence is to follow.
-
Nearly 50 m of wood-frame construction
Residential High-Rise in Paris by Moreau Kusunoki
With Le Berlier, a 15-storey residential tower, Moreau Kusunoki have created a model for large-scale wood-frame construction in the French capital.
Natural Building Materials
-
In the midst of nature
Student-Built Observatory near Barcelona
The Flora observatory built near Barcelona for observing nature was developed and erected by a team of students and researchers at the Institute for Advanced Architecture of Catalonia.
-
Interview with Sarah Wigglesworth
Creative Solutions to Combat the Climate Crisis
British architect Sarah Wigglesworth drew international attention with her Straw Bale House in London. In this interview with Heide Wessely, she describes how to design cities more sustainably.
-
Sustainable and single-origin
London’s Tallest Circular-Design Office Building Made of Wood
With the Black & White Building, Waugh Thistleton have not only created London’s tallest solid-wood office building, but have also made a significant contribution to the circular economy.
Sustainable Construction
-
Repurposing
Wilkinson Eyre Overhaul Battersea Power Station in London
On behalf of an investor from Malaysia, Wilkinson Eyre have transformed London’s Battersea Power Station into a shopping mall featuring offices and flats. For the most part, the interiors of the impressive turbine halls have been preserved.
-
Theatre factory in old foundry
The Mercury Store in New York by CO Adaptive Architecture
Assigned the task of repurposing an industrial building into a performing arts centre, the architects consistently set their focus on retaining and opening its historical structure.
-
Pivoting walls
The Plato Art Gallery in the Czech Republic by KWK Promes
In the Czech city of Ostrava, KWK Promes have transformed an old slaughterhouse into an art gallery. The dilapidated condition of the exposed-brick building represented both challenge and inspiration for the planners.
Videos & Podcasts
-
Hotels, hostels, resorts
Where’s the Journey Headed? – Editorial Detail 3.2023
The current issue of Detail takes a look at new beginnings. Few sectors of the economy were so battered during the corona years as the hotel industry.
-
Meet the Architects
DIIIP, Loft M in Cologne
In our video series #Meet the Architects, architects present current projects from their offices. Jochen Reetz from DIIIP explains the design for the Loft M project in Cologne.
-
Refurbishment
Taking Stock – Editorial Detail 1/2.2023
Apart from the ecological, social, and economic necessity to do so, adaptive reuse often raises unforeseen structural and detailing issues, which we address at the start of the year. We document seven selected projects energy-efficient renovations, the addition of new functions to existing buildings, the densification of inner-city areas, and conversion.
Videos
-
Ecological resistance
The Rambla Climate House in Spain
In a suburb of the Spanish city of Molina de Segura, Andrés Jaque and his office Offpolinn have created the Rambla Climate House, a single-family dwelling conceived as a climate- and eco-house. The project won the 2022 Simon Architecture Prize.
-
Structural fire protection
Frame House in California
Mork-Ulnes are designing a single-family house that will withstand future disasters.
-
Surrounded by nature
Modular House in Madrid
The DelaVegaCanolasso architecture studio specialize in small houses using modular techniques. In this video, Ignacio de la Vega and Pilar Cano-Lasso shed light on their latest project, the Fresnos house in Madrid.
Products & References
-
Circular materials from Milan
Recycling, Reuse and Circular Materials
Circular design was the dominant theme at Milan Design Week. Here we present four projects that demonstrate innovative approaches to the sustainable use of material cycles.