Ana Mernik Looking Out Week 10

Since we're talking about fire safety in Materials&Assembly, and wood in Fabrication, here's a mix of both: http://www.archdaily.com/443626/the-case-for-tall-wood-buildings/

The article talks about Michael Green's 240 page report outlining why skyscrapers should be made of wood.
He argues that wood is the most significant building material grown by the sun because it reduces greenhouse gas emissions, stores carbon in buildings, is renewable and durable and strong, reduces construction time and costs, and offers design flexibility to architects. He acknowledges that fire regulation is the biggest problem.

In another article on ArchDaily (http://www.archdaily.com/483650/tall-tinder-are-wooden-skyscrapers-really-fire-safe/) Robert Gerard talks about the problem of building codes for wood skyscrapers. While there has been developments in tall wooden buildings in Australia and the UK, US currently doesn't have enough research on the topic to pass the regulations. And where the research has been done, code authorities don't approve it as an alternative.

This next diagram is really cool - its showing two curtain wall facade sections. The left is made of concrete, the right of wood.