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by Sean Hill on Jun 4, 2025
What if the buildings we lived and worked in didn’t just reduce their impact on the planet—but actively helped heal it?
This is the question at the heart of Dr. Pablo van der Lugt’s mission. As a leading voice in sustainable construction, van der Lugt sees a future where we “grow” our homes using high-performance bio-based materials like engineered timber and giant bamboo. Materials that don’t just minimise carbon emissions—they store them.
At RISE Design Studio, this vision resonates deeply with our own. We believe buildings should be more than structures. They should be living, breathing systems—designed with purpose, built to last, and rooted in the natural world.
Interior view of a timber-framed building designed by RISE Design Studio—where natural materials, daylight, and biophilic design work in quiet harmony.
A New Material Mindset
Van der Lugt’s work challenges the assumptions many still hold about wood: that it’s flammable, weak, or only suited to quaint cottages. In reality, modern engineered timber is stronger than steel by weight, seismically sound, fire-resistant, and capable of scaling to skyscrapers.
But it’s not just about strength. It’s about sense.
Compared to concrete or steel, timber is astonishingly low in embodied carbon. In fact, when responsibly sourced and carefully detailed, it becomes a carbon sink—locking away CO₂ absorbed by trees during their growth. Van der Lugt estimates that by 2050, bio-based building materials could contribute up to 25% of our global climate solution.
At RISE, we’ve already seen the quiet power of these materials. In homes. In community projects. In the way people feel when they walk into a space wrapped in wood. There’s a warmth—both physical and emotional—that concrete can’t replicate.
More Than Materials: A Philosophy of Building
We’re not just talking about swapping out steel beams for glulam. This is a shift in how we think about construction, consumption, and even comfort.
Van der Lugt’s advocacy is not simply technical—it’s emotional, architectural, and cultural. He points to cities like Amsterdam where this change is already underway, where whole neighbourhoods are rising with timber’s rhythmic grain and breathable beauty.
We believe London—and the UK more broadly—can follow suit. But we need to move quickly. The climate clock is ticking, and the construction industry holds one of the biggest levers for change.
Building with Purpose
At RISE Design Studio, we design low-energy homes that reflect not just where people live, but how they want to live. Spaces shaped by light, air, and texture. Materials that speak softly but powerfully. And a philosophy that puts the planet first.
Van der Lugt’s TEDx talk and bestselling book, Tomorrow’s Timber, remind us that sustainability isn’t a bolt-on feature—it’s the foundation. It’s not about compromise; it’s about opportunity. Beauty, comfort, and climate action can co-exist. In fact, they must.
Building with what grows back
At RISE, we see timber not just as a material—but as a mindset. A way to build that gives back more than it takes. That stores carbon instead of releasing it. That feels good to live in, and even better to pass on.
Designing with timber is not just a technical choice—it’s an ethical one. A chance to shape homes and spaces that are rooted in nature, crafted with care, and resilient enough for what’s to come.
Thinking of designing a low-energy home with timber at its core?
Let’s talk about how your project could grow from the ground up—and help shape a more sustainable future.
→ Email us at architects@risedesignstudio.co.uk
→ Or call the studio on 020 3947 5886
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