The conceptual design changes triggered by timber boards

After the introduction of timber boards as diaphragms in light-frame construction opened the way to modern timber construction, three major design changes would follow: the elements become multifunctional, they can work structurally in two directions, and they can be prefabricated as surface components in a non modular way. In other words, the multifunctional panel becomes the design unit of modern timber architecture. This work looks at various types of composite timber panels with a view to show the evidence of typological and tectonic changes caused by the new design unit.