The Ibois Papers offer a societal, ecological, cultural, and political analysis of wood construction. Through the works and critical analyses of authors from various disciplines, these papers reveal the foundational, sometimes contradictory, and often underestimated role of wood construction in the architectural evolution of the past three centuries. This biannual editorial project, led by Christophe Catsaros—philosopher, journalist, and architecture critic—and Yves Weinand—architect, civil engineer, and director of the Ibois Laboratory at EPFL—outlines for its readers the contours of an original, transdisciplinary narrative.
Going beyond the established distinction between the humanities and applied sciences, these journals will explore alternative approaches to innovative wood construction. Behind this original and interdisciplinary panorama, where researchers, builders, and historians explore the potential of a material, lies the ambition for radical change—a goal evidenced by both the research and the projects of EPFL’s Wood Construction Laboratory.
Ibois Journal No. 2
These articles, written by Isabelle Concheiro, Antoine Picon, Yann Rocher, Christophe Catsaros, and Prof. Yves Weinand, director of IBOIS, provide an overview of innovative wood-based construction practices and their impact on the housing market, while examining the role of construction systems in an industry that prioritizes aesthetic appeal over structural efficiency. They explore the intrinsic link between the forest environment and Patrick Bouchain’s wooden theaters, and highlight the adaptability and capacity of the built landscape to reinvent itself. A photo essay by Tadashi Ono showcases the role of wood within the natural and built ecosystem of the Pays d’En-Haut, and finally, Jean-Pierre Neff, mayor of the commune of Rossinière, sketches out with Prof. Weinand the hypothesis of a renaissance of the timber industry based on a new building for the forestry services of the Pays d’En-Haut, which finds itself at a pivotal moment between tradition and the future.
This second issue builds upon and expands on the discussions and challenges regarding the political, cultural, structural, and social potential of wood as a building material, which were addressed in the first issue. These discussions are part of the search for new paradigms in wood construction—a pursuit that IBOIS has been leading for several years—and offer a fresh, interdisciplinary perspective on the challenges associated with these topics.
