Wood appeals to our senses: it is fragrant, warm, calming, tactile and organic. Many people feel closest to nature and to themselves in the forest. The forest as a home, wood as mediator of a sense of home. Wood has long since shed its cosy, rustic image. As a sustainable building material, it is very much in vogue in environmentally conscious, progressive urban societies.
Wooden architecture knows virtually no structural limits. Currently the tallest wooden building can be found in Brumunddal, Norway. Opened in 2019, the 85.4-metre-high Mjøstårnet comprises 18 floors. The japanese wood processing company Sumitomo Forestry plans to break this record just for its 350th anniversary with the skyscraper named W350 plan. With 350 metres in height is set to be more than four times as high.
Contructive wood protection
Modern buildings demonstrate that wood is ideal for outdoor use and is not inferior to other materials. The durability of wood depends on the type and age of the tree, as well as the direction in which the trunk is cut. Constructive wood protection can help reduce or even eliminate the need for chemical treatment.
Wooden roller shutters are ideal for new buildings and are the first choice for renovating listed historic buildings.
Those who choose wood consequently also choose it for sun and wind protection. Wooden roller shutters are suitable for modern buildings and historic buildings alike. Regazzi roller shutters fulfil the classic protective function, and they also influence air circulation and thermal insulation. Since heating and cooling emit a considerable amount of CO2, it is important to prioritise optimising the indoor climate using natural means.
The pine trees for the wooden roller shutters come from Finland. Strict environmental standards only allow trees of 180 years and more to be felled.
Impeccably crafted roller shutters
Regazzi uses pine trees that are more than 180 years old for its wooden roller shutters. These trees have fine growth rings and a high proportion of white wood. Their low resin content ensures consistent colouring. The trees are felled in winter, when they contain the least amount of water. Therefore, the wood only needs to be dried for a short time before being quickly processed. This prevents the growth of microorganisms that cause the wood to turn blue or grey. While this blue stain does not affect the wood's structural properties, it does affect its appearance.
The key is the right cut: if the planks have vertical growth rings, the grain will be uniform.
The trunks are cut into planks showing vertical growth rings. This offers the visual advantage of uniform lines, which is particularly important if the wooden roller shutters are only slightly glazed. Another benefit of this cutting method is that the longitudinal sides of the wood absorb up to ten times less water than the end grain sides, enabling them to withstand rainy weather.
Increasing value through sustainability
As a durable and sustainable building material, wood is becoming increasingly prestigious in an ecologically oriented society. According to a study, people who live in wooden buildings are more satisfied than average. Since the construction industry is a key sector due to its high CO2 emissions, buildings with a balanced CO2 footprint will increase in value. Wooden roller shutters from Regazzi contribute to this, representing an increase in value for sustainable properties.