ABSTRACT
The potential for material- and technology-driven changes in timber architecture is large and is being explored in academic research, including projects presented at the Advancing Wood Architecture Symposium at the German Architecture Museum in Frankfurt. The role of research and experimentation in developing novel approaches in architectural design plays a central role in the work of the research institutes and the individual contributors of the symposium. A strong research culture allows for stronger industry relations, potentially influencing developments that exceed the possibilities of the current context of architecture in academia and practice. But while such interdisciplinary approaches are crucial, they can also lead to a loss of critical distance that is crucial in guiding research work. Architectural practice rarely offers enough time and resources to engage in fundamental research and the theoretical discourse often develops in parallel or after the work has been created.
