ABSTRACT
The year-long Wood Program offers an immersive learning experience in wood construction by combining theoretical knowledge with practical applications. During its 30-year history, the program has produced 42 wooden structures that combine architectural innovations with hands-on learning. This article reviews the pedagogical framework and results of the “Experimental Building Project” course, focusing on its challenges, successes and lessons learned. Detailed case studies of the Säie pavilion and the railway stop stand Kohta illustrate the iterative design process from concept development to implementation, emphasizing teaching methods and group dynamics in collaborative learning. In qualitative evaluations and comparisons, both projects are evaluated to determine the successful implementation of the original idea, the design process and the effectiveness of the assembly. Finally, the article outlines the future development of the course towards an education in sustainable wood architecture that meets the challenges of material efficiency, prefabrication and the life cycle of buildings.
