New National Forestry Headquarters in Czech Republic Designed With Mass Timber

CHYBIK + KRISTOF is advancing timber architecture in Central Europe with its latest project, the new headquarters for Czech National Forestry, according to a feature by designbloom (3-13-25). The building will be the Czech Republic’s largest wooden structure in an effort to shift industry norms and position timber as a viable material for large-scale development.

The complex is envisioned as a cluster of five elongated timber volumes—each serving a different department—connected through a central hall. While wooden buildings are common in Northern and Western Europe, the Czech Republic has been slow to adopt timber on this scale, largely due to regulatory constraints. CHYBIK + KRISTOF’s use of timber here, aligned with the Lesy sobě (Forests to Yourself) ethos embraced regionally, seeks to challenge that hesitation.

The structure makes use of a combination of timber construction methods combined with a pragmatic yet functional program to demonstrate wood’s capacity to deliver efficient, durable, and engaging design solutions.

“The walls are constructed in the two-by-four system; the ceilings, horizontal slabs, built-in subcenters and railings are made of CLT panels; and for the large-span structures wooden glued trusses are used,” says Jan Stolek, Design Director at CHYBIK + KRISTOF.