In Scandinavia, eco-conscious architects are building towers with pine and spruce supports.

Brumunddal is a small town in Norway, on the north-eastern shore of Lake Mjøsa. For most of its history, it has not been a notable attraction for passers-by. The town lacks the picturesque streets with cafés and shops found in the nearby ski resort of Lillehammer, which is about thirty miles to the north. Industrial buildings, mainly for timber processing, occupy the area closer to the lake, and the waterfront is cut off by a motorway. The town, with eleven thousand inhabitants, was until recently better known to Norwegians for a series of attacks on immigrants three decades ago, which triggered street clashes between anti-racist protesters and far-right supporters. However, since 2019, Brumunddal has acquired a much more welcoming identity – it is the world's tallest timber building – Mjøstårnet (Lake Mjøsa Tower). (...)