Sustainable Building with Timber

Free online course on edX

Start anytime

Registration open

Following a successful first run with over 4,500 learners from more than 100 countries, registration for the rerun of the free online course Sustainable Building with Timber is now open!

This self-paced course, consisting of six modules, is designed for all stakeholders in the built environment—architects, developers, engineers, consultants, policymakers—and students. It provides the knowledge and skills needed to harness the vast potential of timber construction. Developed by Delft University of Technology (TU Delft) in collaboration with the Forest Stewardship Council and other partners, the course allows learners to start anytime and progress at their own pace.

Photo: Lister Buildings

"The way and manner we build and materialize has to change. One of the most promising solutions is building with wood and other biobased materials from sustainably managed sources.”

Arjan van Timmeren, professor of Environmental Technology & Design at TU Delft

Why join the MOOC?

The first edition of this course attracted high enrolment numbers—a clear indication of the importance of this topic. Learners made valuable contributions to the project library, sharing high-quality examples of timber buildings from around the globe. The course received excellent feedback, with an average rating of 8, reflecting its positive impact and relevance. Don't miss your chance to join this inspiring learning experience!

HOME for the future

This course is part of the HOME for the Future project, an initiative by FSC® Netherlands and FSC® Denmark. The project’s mission is to promote the use of wood from sustainably managed forests in social housing construction. To achieve this, the project focuses on several key areas: advocating for the inclusion of wood as a building material in legislation, enhancing knowledge within the construction industry about building with wood, and contributing to the National Environmental Database by producing life cycle analyses (LCAs) and environmental product declarations (EPDs). Additionally, tools are being developed to better assess the financial and climate-related benefits of building with wood. HOME for the Future is funded under the EU LIFE program.

Course syllabus

  • We will explore the importance of shifting to a (more) timber and bio-based construction industry, within the larger societal context of circularity, sustainability and the move toward a ‘post-carbon’ building sector. You will learn how this includes the entire value chain from sustainable forestry to the socio-cultural and economic aspects of policies that hinder, or favor, timber construction and innovation.

  • We will explain the relevance of assessing the environmental impacts of building with timber vs. conventional materials, with a method called Life Cycle Assessment (LCA). You will learn the general framework of LCA, and compare results based on an illustrative case study assessing alternative materials. We will then focus on the comparison of carbon footprints, end-of-life scenarios, and the importance of prolonging product lifespans.

  • You will embark on a journey through the evolution of timber construction, starting with the history of timber products, from traditional sawn timber to modern CNC-milling. We will delve into the basic properties of wood, its structural capacity, fire safety and seismic resistance, and its impact on acoustics and well-being.

  • Journey through the intricacies of timber structures and components, traversing from basic log construction to advanced space module methodologies. We will define building heights and explore the diverse timber building typologies ranging from low-rise, mid-rise, refurbishments and topping-ups, to the ambitious high-rise and tall timber constructions. Concluding the module, you will encounter hybrid timber systems: both those combining varied wood species into harmonious structures and the innovative composite concrete floor systems setting the standard for multi-storey edifices.

  • You will delve into the historical evolution of joinery culture and the crucial role it plays in timber construction. You will explore timber façades and discover the products that shape their beauty. Water management strategies, the anatomy of skins and the thermal envelope will become your ally as you understand its impact on timber façades. Prefabrication of components and assembly with elements will unlock new possibilities for efficient construction, adaptability and values for change. And as we look to the future of timber construction, you will be inspired by innovations yet to come.

  • We will explore the prefabrication potential of building in mass timber. You will go on a short (virtual) tour through a conditioned manufacturing hall to understand how activities associated with construction can easily be moved away from building sites, and why they should be.

Instructors

  • Arjan van Timmeren

    Arjan van Timmeren is full professor at Delft University of Technology, Faculty of Architecture and the Built Environment, Department Urbanism, Environmental Technology & Design, Academical Portfolio Director ‘Sustainable Cities’ for TU Delft Extension School for continuing education and Principal Investigator at ‘AMS Institute’ (Institute for ‘Advanced Metropolitan Solutions’) in Amsterdam.

    His work focuses on sustainable development in the built environment, with emphasis on Environmental Technology, Urban Metabolism, Circular and Biobased Economy, Urban Climate and environmental behaviour.

    Arjan leads several (inter)national projects and has seats in (inter)national steering groups, quality teams and scientific boards

  • Gilbert Koskamp

    Gilbert Koskamp is a lecturer at Delft University of Technology (NL) in the Department of Architectural Engineering and Technology, a research tutor at the Academy of Architecture in Amsterdam, and a co-founder and partner at Ssse | OvO Associates Architects.

    He was raised in Switzerland where he studied technical engineering and architecture and worked as an architect in the Saint Gallen Area, he has been located in Amsterdam since 1995. He is focused on researching the design of timber construction and is a founder of TREE_TimberREengineered, as well as the initiator and coordinator of Touching Cellulose, a high-end timber lecture series.

  • Pierre Jennen

    Pierre Jennen is a staff member at Delft University of Technology in the Department of Architectural Engineering and Technology, and a co-founder and partner at Ssse | OvO Associates Architects. He received his bachelor’s and master’s degrees from the Faculty of Architecture and the Built Environment at Delft University of Technology where, in 2014, he initiated the wood studio in the Master 1 course.

    He is also a contributor to TREE_TimberREengineered and to the Touching Cellulose high-end timber lecture series.

  • Pablo van der Lugt

    Pablo van der Lugt is research fellow for biobased building at AMS Institute and Delft University of Technology in the Department of Urbanism, in addition to his role as senior consultant in the mass timber and engineered bamboo industry.

    He obtained his PhD from TU Delft on the environmental impact of building materials with a focus on biobased building materials. He is an expert on the biobased circular construction economy. He regularly gives keynote lectures on this topic and has written internationally acclaimed articles and books, including Tomorrow’s Timber and Booming Bamboo.

  • Elizabeth Migoni Alejandre

    Elizabeth Migoni Alejandre is a researcher at Delft University of Technology in the Department of Environmental Technology and Design. Her doctoral studies, conducted at Leiden University, have focused on environmental sciences, working on the connection of ecosystem services and life cycle assessment.

    Her current research explores the environmental implications of biomaterials in the built environment to support sustainable urban transitions.

The Sustainable Building with Timber course was developed by TU Delft's Faculty of Architecture and the Built Environment and the TU Delft Circular Built Environment Hub, in collaboration with VIA University College Denmark, FSC® Netherlands, Ssse OvO associates architects, Lister Buildings, AMS Institute, Material District geWOONhout, Waechter Waechter and TU Darmstadt.