Revolution in timber construction: Boku develops innovative materials from hardwood!

Revolution in timber construction: Boku develops innovative materials from hardwood!

On October 13, 2025, the “UniStrand” research project initiated by the University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences (Boku) was presented, which offers promising news for timber construction. This is about the development of a new generation of wood materials that are intended to effectively use hardwoods such as beech, oak and poplar. These initiatives are part of a larger trend in which wood is seen not only as a beautiful building material, but also as a climate-friendly alternative to energy-intensive raw materials. Loud MyDistrict The researchers' goal is to increase resource yield to over 80% through the use of "strands" - long, slender wood chips. This could fundamentally change current practice, which relies heavily on cross-laminated timber made from softwoods.

Currently, only 30 to 40% of all wood is used effectively in timber construction, with the high proportion falling away as sawdust or wood chips. However, with the new technology, which is being developed in a partner network of research institutions, the forestry and construction industries, these numbers could increase significantly. The presented system is not only more environmentally friendly, but also offers improved strength properties compared to conventional products such as OSB or normal lumber.

Sustainability in focus

The need to use wood in a resource-saving manner is reinforced by constant changes in forest structures. Mixed stands and an increasing proportion of deciduous trees require a rethink in the use of wood. OTS emphasizes that wood not only stores carbon, but is also becoming increasingly important as a sustainable building material in modern construction. By focusing on long-lasting building products, the aim is to avoid dramatic environmental impacts that could arise from burning wood as fuel.

The “UniStrand” project, funded by the BML’s THINK.WOOD initiative, could therefore not only show solutions for rapidly growing housing construction, but also make an important contribution to reducing CO2 emissions. The construction of multi-storey wooden houses, such as the HoHo Vienna lighthouse project, already shows how promising these approaches are for the future.

New techniques, innovative materials

The panel structure produced consists of several layers of wooden strip panels glued crosswise and ranging in thickness from 7 to 17 cm. These panels not only provide improved stability, but are also designed so that they can be adapted to a variety of design requirements during production. Window and door openings can be left out directly during the manufacturing process, which Emma Nussbaum from Boku describes as a significant advance in material efficiency.

In summary, the “UniStrand” project shows how wood, as a traditional and modern building material, can have a major influence on the construction industry in the future through innovative techniques and a sustainable focus. This development could revolutionize timber construction and make full use of the potential of hardwood. The following applies to Vienna and all of Austria: The wooden construction of tomorrow is being prepared here!

For further information and details on the potential of wood as a building material, it is worth taking a look at the comprehensive study Federal Environment Agency, which provides valuable data on the availability and use of wood in the construction industry.