Wooden highrises
Higher is not by definition better (think of steeling solar power from the neighbours, or increased weight per m2 floor ) but wooden towers becoming higher and higher surely proofs that there is no reason not to build with renewable material . Embodied energy is far lower as for other construction materials. The wooden tower building I wrote about earlier has opened last month. With 14 levels the highest residential full wooden building in the world.
http://www.tu.no/artikler/i-dag-apner-verdens-hoyeste-trehus/276298
Its predecessor were a few 8 buildings reaching 8 levels, in Skandinavia, and the most well known can be found in Londen: Stadthaus.
http://www.waughthistleton.com/project/murray-grove/?img=1
The next level is already under way: construction has started for a 18 level residential wooden building, in Vancouver Canada. Though it must be said that this one has a concrete core…
and
http://www.globalconstructionreview.com/news/worlds-tallest-timber-tower-going-van8co8uve8r/