Wooden Building Fair 2008 in Ostrava

Wooden Construction Salon 2008, the third edition of the largest Czech exhibition of wooden architecture and buildings using wood, will take place in the second half of April at the Center of New Architecture in Ostrava.

The Wooden Construction Salon is a unique non-competitive showcase of architecturally interesting wooden buildings realized over the past year in the Czech Republic. Its concept transcends the traditional exhibition framework and offers a unique opportunity to see the selection of the best from Czech wooden architecture in one place. It strives to be an open and attractive presentation of modern architecture, which introduces this dynamically developing sector of architecture and construction to visitors in an engaging manner. The Wooden Construction Salon will take place from April 24 to June 15, 2008, at the Center of New Architecture in Ostrava.
The event is intended not only for those interested from the general public, who have the opportunity to gain an overview of wooden architecture here, but also offers an expansion of horizons and perhaps even inspiration for professionals in the field. So, what exactly will the Wooden Construction Salon 2008 offer? This year, a total of 24 quality wooden constructions from across the Czech Republic have been collected. The majority of the presented realizations are family houses, but the exhibition also includes other types of buildings. Visitors will have the chance to familiarize themselves more closely with, for example, the new building of the Czech Post Office on Sněžka by architects Martin Rajniš and Patrik Hoffman. Other participating architects include Markéta Cajthamlová, Štěpán Valouch with Jiří Opočenský, Vladimír Balda, Ludvík Křeněk, and the studios Olgoj Chorchoj, Archteam, and Prodesi|Domesi.

The opening will take place on Thursday, April 24, at 6 PM. The exhibition will be inaugurated by Ing. arch. Pavel Horák, the director of the Salon, and Ing. arch. Radim Václavík, the chairman of the CNA.
The exhibition will also feature thematically focused publications for sale, including the Yearbook of Wooden Buildings, which summarizes the exhibition and serves as a comprehensive guide to interesting wooden constructions realized last year in the Czech Republic.
Wooden constructions are currently gaining increasing popularity due to their specific properties, which make them an interesting alternative to brick buildings. Among their main advantages are excellent thermal insulation properties, high construction speed, and environmental friendliness. Wooden constructions have an unbeatable position among low-energy and passive houses.