The Internationales Holzbau-Forum (IHF) is a three-day professional conference for the timber-construction sector, held under the motto “From practice—for practice.” It gives timber builders, planners, engineers and architects a platform to present experience, projects and objectives involving timber structures, while enabling project managers, public authorities, craftspeople, practitioners and educators to learn and exchange knowledge.12 The event is organised by FORUM HOLZBAU, and the 2026 meeting is its 30th edition.11
The programme opens with “Quartiersentwicklung – Holzbau findet Stadt” (“Neighbourhood development—timber construction comes to the city”), examining timber’s role in urban development, including housing density and multi-storey construction.13 The opening session covers climate change and health, sustainable neighbourhood planning and timber-hybrid developments, and is moderated by Sandra Burlet of Lignum – Holzwirtschaft Schweiz.13 Other named speakers include Dr Andrea Nakoinz and Professor emeritus Kees Christiaanse.13
Further sessions address architecture, industrialised construction, renovation of existing buildings, connection technology and research, as well as timber structures, engineering, multi-storey buildings, healthcare facilities, robotics, materials and public construction.911 The closing session considers timber-frame construction through examples from Europe and Japan.9 The programme is aimed at professionals and researchers across design, engineering, construction, public administration and education.12
The forum’s 25th edition took place in 2019, documenting a history back to 1995; the available sources do not specify the exact founding date. Its audience and subject matter are international, with a strong European timber-construction focus.11