Regional design patterns in high-rise timber towers: a comparative study

This paper investigates cross-regional design patterns and space-efficiency characteristics in high-rise timber towers, a rapidly emerging building type that addresses sustainability challenges in high-rise construction. Timber’s renewable qualities, carbon storage capacity, and suitability for prefabrication make it a viable alternative to conventional materials. This study analyzes a dataset of 79 towers across three regions (Europe, North America, Asia-Pacific), evaluating architectural form, structural system, and spatial efficiency. Rather than focusing solely on geographical comparison, the study examines how design and construction approaches associated with tall timber buildings vary across regions and how these variations relate to space-efficiency outcomes. The methodology combined dataset compilation from verified sources, typological coding of function, core type, form, structural system, and material composition, and measurement of spatial efficiency ratios. Comparative synthesis and visual analysis were applied to identify both convergences and divergences across regions within the existing population of tall timber residential buildings. The findings indicate that: (1) Europe leads with policy-driven adoption, dominated by residential towers, prismatic forms, central cores, and a balance between timber-only and hybrid systems; (2) North America shows market-oriented diversification, favoring hybrid timber–concrete structures, greater functional variety including office use, and the highest spatial efficiency, often above 90%; (3) Asia-Pacific demonstrates cautious but diverse experimentation, with reliance on hybrid systems shaped by seismic and fire regulations, producing moderate efficiency outcomes. Overall, the results highlight that tall timber buildings exhibit regionally differentiated design and construction patterns, reflecting varying regulatory environments, market conditions, and construction practices. For stakeholders, this study provides evidence of competitive space efficiency, documented design tendencies, and regionally distinctive pathways for the further adoption of timber high-rises.