Holzbeton

Holzbeton, or wood-concrete, is a composite building material that combines wood elements with a cementitious matrix to form a single structural or functional element. In Holzbeton systems, wood acts together with concrete to provide load-bearing capacity, fire resistance, and mass, while the cementitious component protects the wood from moisture and mechanical damage. Common variants include wood-wool cement blocks or panels (Holzwollebeton), in which long wood fibers are embedded in cement to create lightweight, insulating building blocks, and timber-concrete composites in which a concrete layer is cast onto or around timber substructures to form a reinforced assembly.

Production methods vary. In wood-wool cement products, wood wool fibers are mixed with cement and water, compacted, and cured to form panels or blocks. In timber-concrete systems, sawn timber joists or panels are placed in a mold and a cementitious matrix is poured to create a continuous cross-section, bonding the wood and concrete into a single element. The resulting material offers good thermal mass, sound insulation, and fire resistance relative to plain timber, and it can provide improved dimensional stability when properly protected from moisture.

Drawbacks include moisture sensitivity of the wood, potential durability issues if moisture is not controlled, and sometimes limited structural capacity compared with pure concrete or steel for high-load applications. Historically, Holzbeton gained popularity in parts of Europe in the early to mid-20th century as a lightweight, affordable construction option and remains of interest in niche applications, retrofit projects, and heritage preservation.

See also: wood-concrete composite, Holz-Beton-Verbund.