Sara Kulturhus

Skellefteå, Sweden, is home to schools, bridges—even a parking garage— made of wood, and now the burgeoning Arctic Circle city has unveiled one of the tallest timber towers in the world. Designed by the Swedish firm White Arkitekter, Sara Kulturhus was made without the use of cement or steel, constructed almost entirely of timber sourced from trees within 40 miles of the city (all of which have since been replaced).

The 20story Sara is proof not only of timber’s structural capabilities but also its potential as a green building material. Over its lifetime, the $110 million center is poised to become one of the world’s