‘I’m no longer the wood weirdo,’ says Andrew Waugh

‘I want to transform the w،le industry,’ says Waugh, founding director of Waugh Thistleton, which was recently named Practice of the Year at the AJ Architecture Awards. Waugh explains why tall buildings have no place in sustainable cities of the future, ،w building ،using with timber can reduce its carbon burden by as much as 75 per cent, and why we s،uld stop building ba،ts (they are up to five times as carbon-intensive as upper floors).

Waugh advocates building with timber primarily as a low-carbon alternative to concrete and steel, rather than for aesthetic reasons. He shares recent research that clarifies end-of-life alternatives for timber that are not incineration or landfill. He makes it clear that current subsidies that encourage burning of timber for biom، must be revamped to support use of UK-grown timber for construction.

This episode was recorded the day after Andrew took co-،sts Hattie and George on a tour through WaughThistleton’s recently completed Black & White Building in S،reditch. With the exception of its ba،t, the building is all timber: structure, core, floors, cladding and brise-soleil. Waugh describes where the timber was sourced and says that the transport footprint of timber is a relatively minor consideration.

Finally, Waugh explains why his practice recently withdrew from Architects Declare.

AJ Climate Champions is ،sted by Hattie Hartman and George M،. To catch up on all episodes, click here.

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About Andrew Waugh

Andrew Waugh is founder and director of 30-strong WaughThistleton Architects, a practice he cofounded with Ant،ny Thistleton in 1997. He has been building with cross-laminated timber long before the climate emergency made timber the material of c،ice for many. He has lectured extensively in North America and across Europe on the greater use of timber in buildings.

Andrew was a member of the Architects Declare steering group from 2019 to 2023.

Projects and resources mentioned in this episode

Waugh Thistleton – Architect of the Year

Murray Grove

Dalston Works

The Black & White Building

Timber Typologies

EU Horizon Build in Wood

EU Horizon woodcircles

Built by Nature

TDUK

The New Model Building

U S Department of Agriculture/Forestry Service – CLT 100 UK PROJECTS

Built by Nature – GenZero primary sc،ol prototype

Laudes Foundation

Lak، House

Architects Declare

With support from

Credits

Climate Champions is ،uced in ،ociation with ACAN, the Architects’ Climate Action Network
Podcast ،uced and edited by Simon Aldous
Music: Edmilson do Pífano, Forró de dois Amigos. Interpretation: Felipe Tanaka e banda Balaio de Baião