Some thirty students were trained in the assembly of wooden structures on September 29 and 30 at the ETS de Ingeniería de Edificación of the University of Granada by the large and experienced technical team of the Italian company Rothoblass. In the words of the company’s manager in Spain, Manuel Hernandez, the course has been a total success in terms of its reception, far exceeding our expectations, in a community where wood construction has not yet reached the levels of other Spanish communities. With almost 40 applications, it has been necessary to limit access to the course, which demonstrates the growing interest in the sector in southern Spain.

All this under the umbrella of the European project LIFE Wood for Future and the local organization of the UIMA-UGR (Structural Wood Research Unit of Andalusia). According to its coordinator, Professor Antolino Gallego, this activity serves to cover an important link in the business ecosystem based on wood construction that the project wants to promote and implement in Andalusia, to respond to the need to manage and give value to the existing forest masses through the wood of proximity, as well as using more environmentally friendly materials in construction.

The profile of the students was varied, ranging from carpenters to architects, including builders, researchers, building engineers and vocational training and university teachers.

Under the title “From Theory to Practice” the students received and put into practice on scale models important concepts about joints, metallic elements for fastening, elastic bands for acoustic insulation, membranes and laminates for waterproofing and durability and installation of carpentry.

Training and innovation, as a basis for promoting a sustainable local bioeconomy that allows a better relationship between the forest and housing. The forest as a habitat of an essential biodiversity, and housing as a home for human beings increasingly demanding well-being and health at home, less energy consumption and less environmental impact.