09.01.2026
A new reference book on timber construction has just been published: The Timber Truth – Busting the Myths About the Real Potential of Timber Buildings, written by Dr. Pablo van der Lugt. The book was launched on November 18, 2025, at Houtdag, the annual timber industry event in the Netherlands.
At a time when wood is increasingly being promoted as a solution to climate change and decarbonization challenges in the building sector, The Timber Truth offers a factual, rigorous, and nuanced approach. The book seeks to debunk sixteen persistent miscconceptions about timber construction, drawing on recent scientific data and international feedback.
Structured around four main themes—building performance, environment and climate, forests and resource availability, and economy and markets—the book addresses key topics such as fire safety, acoustics, forest management, carbon storage, and the economic conditions for the development of wood in construction.
Aimed at architects, public decision-makers, and industry professionals, The Timber Truth is positioned as a decision-making tool, enabling construction policies and strategies to be informed by facts rather than perceptions. With a foreword by architect Andrew Waugh, the book highlights the importance of linking the development of timber in construction with sustainable forest management.
The book is available in English at a price of €23.50 via thetimbertruth.com and books.materialdistrict.com.
