"We want to make building with wood very common," says architect and concept developer Jurrian Knijtijzer. Just as the invention of Lego revolutionized the toy world early last century, Knijtijzer wants to revolutionize the construction industry with his company Finch Buildings. Ten years ago, he developed a durable wooden building module, which you can switch and stack - like life-size Lego blocks - into buildings of all shapes.'

Among other things, he used it to build his own house in Amsterdam North, composed of three stacked modules enveloped by a glass greenhouse. A little further on, he realized a striking seven-story building with 22 apartments and a facade of unpainted wood, which is slowly aging. The largest project built with Finch modules to date is currently rising in Haarlem; it comprises three residential blocks with 179 apartments and office space, and was designed by FARO around a communal courtyard garden.

Acceptance of wood construction

Finch Buildings now has 16 employees and operates three factories, producing 1,100 modules in ten years, completing 14 projects, and: 25,000 tons of CO₂ has been stored and saved. Knijtijzer: 'I am immensely proud of that, even though we have built less than I thought we would ten years ago - and I think ten steps ahead now. At the same time, I realize that we have done more than build: Finch Buildings has helped shape the acceptance of timber construction in the Netherlands.'

Until after World War II, building with wood was the norm, with buildings - thanks to wooden mortise and tenon joints - being naturally dismountable and reusable. With the advent of industrial construction, steel and concrete came into vogue; with them, buildings could be built faster, taller and bigger. That the production of these materials has an enormous - negative - impact on the climate only became clear later.

With Finch Buildings, Knijtijzer wants to turn the tide, working with modern techniques and certified cross-layer lumber. With which you can build fast, big and tall, while reducing CO₂ is stored rather than emitted. 'Construction must take that step quickly now if we are to meet the climate goals of the Paris Agreement; the goal is to reduce CO₂-emissions by half in 2030 compared to 1990. Knijtijzer shows a graph of the targeted reduction along with the current CO₂-emissions from construction: a line that is only very slowly tapering off. 'If the sector continues on its current footing (and it does), by 2027 CO₂-budget already exceeded.

Sustainable dream

What drives this passionate entrepreneur, who sets the sustainable bar exceptionally high and seems to take the hurdles on the way there for granted?

He had an interest in nature and the built environment even as a child. 'I was into critters, a member of the World Wildlife Fund - and I come from a family of architects,' Knijtijzer says. 'My grandfather was an architect, my father a builder and interior designer. I initially set myself against that, by visiting the open day of an economics school. But I didn't like that, so I went on to study architecture at the HTS and then at the Amsterdam Academy of Architecture.' During that time he worked at various architectural firms, while dreaming of his own firm, with which he would realize sustainable projects.

In 2006, he saw the documentary An Inconvenient Truth by Al Gore, which made a deep impression. A few years later, the film Waste = Food on the Cradle to Cradle concept of American architect William McDonough and German chemist Michael Braungart. 'It gave me insight into how the construction industry contributes to climate change, and - vice versa - can help find solutions to it,' Knijtijzer said.

The idea to do so using a modular building system came about when, in 2007, working as a project manager at architectural firm HVDN, he was commissioned by housing corporation De Alliantie in Hilversum to design a residential care building using a modular building system of steel, wood, and concrete. It was a bold plan, Knijtijzer explains. 'The building modules had been developed for temporary housing, and were applied in a care building for a vulnerable target group. I saw more possibilities for this; the building system worked quickly, was relatively cheap, and the units could be reused and moved.'

Staying naive

A few years later - Knijtijzer had decided he was going to start his own business - he called De Alliantie's client, Marinus Knulst, to visit the building for a reality check. "I was shocked by the poor structural condition, and knew: if I want to continue with module construction, the quality has to be better. He approaches several module builders to present his ideas for innovation, but gets zero response; they don't want to question their product. The eureka moment comes when he stumbles upon a new building material: cross-layer timber (CLT). 'That is not only of much higher quality than traditional modular building systems, but also sustainable, because in wood CO₂ is stored,' Knijtijzer explains. 'Wood is also a healthy, breathable material, which is pleasant to the touch and smells good.'

Unhindered by ambition, he devises to develop his own building modules with CLT in order to use them - with a corporation that he will set up himself - to build housing. Knijtijzer: "I saw college friends leaving Amsterdam because they couldn't find affordable housing; I wanted to do something about that. But I had no idea what was involved. The common thread throughout my career is that I deliberately set myself up to be quite naive. Marinus Knulst taught me that, above all, I should stay that way; otherwise you'll never start anything new. But he also said that I wanted too much at once.'

Using reference projects, Knijtijzer shows the variation that is possible: gallery, corridor or core access, extra-high or wide modules, coupled to form a straight and angular structure, or with sloping facades, such as the iconic live/work building that Finch will build in Leeuwarden together with Achterbosch Architects. 'We can serve multiple target groups with different uses; the starting point was to use one module to build homes as well as offices, healthcare buildings and hotel rooms.'

Piloting role

In response to increased demand for fast, affordable housing, more construction companies have turned to module construction. 'What sets Finch apart is the expertise we have built up over ten years,' says Knijtijzer. 'We have already done many projects and gone through many processes; we don't need to reinvent the wheel. What is unique about this is our independent position; we do not operate from our own factory, but seek smart cooperation with existing parties. What we offer is a modular system and advice on the design and construction process. The client chooses the architect, the factory and the builder.'

'Many clients want to make the switch from concrete to wood construction, but find that quite a puzzle. We help them lay it out, as a link between contractors, module producers and architects.' Knijtijzer makes the comparison with a seagoing ship where a pilot boat brings a pilot on board, who guides the ship safely to port. 'That is our role: to guide building parties to feasible timber construction projects. In doing so, we - inspired by Darwin's theory of evolution - continue to develop the module, responding to the needs of the place and possibilities of technology.'