Photo: Deutsche Messe
LIGNA.Builds: The future of timber construction comes to life at LIGNA showcasing innovation, technology, and craftsmanshi from digital planning to a completed building.
Construction is coming to LIGNA.27 – and not just any construction. From May 10-14, a full-scale residential building will be erected step by step on the open-air-site of the world's leading trade fair for the woodworking and wood processing industry. Built using modern wood-frame construction, the project will take shape from the foundation slab to the topping-out ceremony. The new LIGNA.Builds format is being realized in partnership with holzbau.tech of Rosenheim, which brings many years of expertise in modern timber construction to the project. Rosenheim Technical University of Applied Sciences will provide scientific oversight.
Located adjacent to the expo roof, the live construction site will give visitors a front-row view of the entire building process. What makes the project unique is that the structure being built during the trade show is not a demonstration model, but a full-scale, fully functional home. After LIGNA concludes, it will be carefully dismantled, transported to its permanent location, and reassembled on the homeowner's property.
“The idea of building a house during LIGNA emerged early in the planning process for LIGNA.27,” says Stephanie Wagner, Head of LIGNA at Deutsche Messe AG. “As we explored which themes and highlights would be most relevant for LIGNA.27, the idea of building a house quickly evolved from an ambitious concept into a clear vision. We wanted to create something that every LIGNA exhibitor and visitor could relate to. It needed to have a tangible, highly visible connection to the industry while also leaving a lasting legacy. That led to the idea of constructing a house live during the trade show, bringing together the expertise of multiple technology and material partners. We call the project LIGNA.Builds, and with the team around Prof. Andreas Heinzmann at holzbau.tech in Rosenheim, we have found the perfect partner to bring this vision to life,” Wagner concludes.
Timber construction is emerging worldwide as one of the most important solutions for meeting the demands of sustainable building. Short construction timelines, a high degree of prefabrication, resource-efficient materials, and digital manufacturing processes are making modern timber construction a key driver of innovation across the construction industry. With LIGNA.Builds, LIGNA is introducing a new live format that brings this transformation to life in a unique and compelling way.
“We are very pleased to be a project partner of LIGNA.Builds. The initiative impressively demonstrates the capabilities of modern timber construction today. It combines digital processes, industrial prefabrication, and skilled craftsmanship into a holistic experience that visitors can directly follow and experience on-site during LIGNA at the exhibition grounds,” says Prof. Andreas Heinzmann, Managing Director at holzbau.tech in Rosenheim. “We are already in discussions with the end customer, the prospective building owner, as the structure will be dismantled after LIGNA, transported to the customer’s site, and reassembled there, allowing subsequent construction phases such as roofing, building services installation, and interior finishing to be completed. LIGNA.Builds is therefore a highly sustainable project. For us at holzbau.tech, this represents full-circle project delivery, which aligns perfectly with our core corporate philosophy,” Heinzmann adds.
LIGNA.Builds showcases the full value chain of wood-frame construction
LIGNA.Builds brings the entire building process to life. From initial concept development – including the definition of structural elements and the selection of materials and components – to production planning and engineering, industrial prefabrication, and on-site assembly, visitors will experience firsthand how modern timber construction works in practice. The focus is not only on the machinery and technologies provided by exhibiting LIGNA participants, but above all on how they interact across the entire value chain.
“With LIGNA.Builds, we are demonstrating just how closely interconnected the entire process chain of modern timber construction really is,” Wagner says.
“In addition to the machinery and products showcased at exhibitors’ booths, visitors will experience the complete journey from raw timber to a finished building – live and in action. It is precisely this level of integration that makes LIGNA unique worldwide. Another key aspect that sets this project apart is that LIGNA exhibitors are actively involved on-site throughout the trade show. They supply materials, tools, and even manufacture individual components on their machines in the exhibition halls. Depending on the size of the elements, they are either transported to the construction site overnight for safety reasons or, where feasible, moved live during the daytime show hours. The assembly of all components and the construction of the building take place throughout all exhibition days during regular opening hours,” explains Stephanie Wagner.
“LIGNA.Builds is far more than a live construction site. It is an experience and an event for both exhibitors and visitors alike. There will be guided site tours, live assembly demonstrations, and interviews on selected topics. The topping-out ceremony – expected on the Thursday of the show – will be another highlight, as the building will be officially handed over to the owner and end customer at that point,” Wagner adds.
Modern timber construction is considered one of the most dynamic growth markets in the construction industry. Key drivers include the ability to use serial and modular prefabrication, significantly reduced construction timelines, and the strong environmental benefits of wood as a renewable material. At the same time, digitalization – through BIM, CNC manufacturing, robotics, and automated production processes – opens up entirely new opportunities in terms of quality, precision, and productivity. This is precisely where LIGNA, the world’s leading trade fair for the woodworking and wood processing industries, has positioned itself for many years. It brings together the technologies, machinery, materials, and expertise required for modern timber construction.
LIGNA.Builds serves as a bridge between mechanical engineering, industrial manufacturing, skilled trades, and the rapidly growing timber construction market, demonstrating how innovations in wood processing directly contribute to sustainable building projects.
LIGNA.Builds is complemented by two additional formats in the open-air-site. With the LIGNA.Builds Village, an exhibitor space with a village-style concept is being created. In compact nine-square-meter wooden pavilions, technology providers and service companies present their solutions, products, and services related to modern timber construction. This village format fosters direct exchange between construction professionals, architects, planners, investors, and all trades involved in timber construction, extending the live construction site into a platform for networking, inspiration, and business development.
Adjacent to LIGNA.Builds is LIGNA.TruckStop, which is taking place for the second time following its debut in 2025 and is specifically geared toward the skilled trades. Manufacturers showcase power tools, hardware, fastening technology, and wood-based materials directly from show trucks and vans. Live demonstrations, technical presentations, and networking opportunities create a highly practical meeting point for carpenters, joiners, and timber construction professionals.
Together, LIGNA.Builds, the LIGNA.Builds Village, LIGNA.TruckStop, and the action and show truck stage form the new central hub in the open-air-site. While a building is taking shape at the live construction site, companies in the village present complementary solutions across the value chain, and the TruckStop showcases tools and applications directly from everyday trade practice. This creates a fully integrated trade fair experience that uniquely connects technology, application, and professional exchange.
With LIGNA.Builds, LIGNA is expanding its portfolio with an event format that not only explains the transformation of construction, but also demonstrates it live – clearly, practically, and in collaboration with the key players shaping the future of timber construction.
About LIGNA
LIGNA is the world’s leading trade fair for the woodworking and wood processing industry and has been held every two years since 1975, in odd-numbered years, jointly organized by Deutsche Messe and the VDMA Woodworking Machinery Association at the exhibition grounds in Hanover.
