COP26 Mass Timber Monuments: Sustainable Architecture and Climate Hope

How Glasgow’s COP26 monuments showcase timber’s promise, low-carbon design, and the future of sustainable construction.

By Sneha Tete, Integrated MA, Certified Relationship Coach

Created on Sep 27, 2025

How Glasgow’s COP26 monuments showcase timber’s promise, low-carbon design, and the future of sustainable construction.

COP26: A Monumental Stage for Timber Construction and Climate Action

The COP26 climate summit in Glasgow was not just a gathering for policy makers—it transformed the city into an open-air gallery for sustainable construction and showcased how architecture can inspire climate hope. At the heart of this transformation were three striking monuments made predominantly from mass timber and other low-carbon materials, designed to serve as tangible symbols of environmental stewardship, innovation, and a vision for net-zero communities.

The Vision Behind Glasgow’s COP26 Timber Monuments

The concept for these monuments originated from artist and designer Steuart Padwick, working in partnership with industry leaders, architects, and sustainability organizations. Their objective: create enduring, visible reminders of the solutions that can help address the climate emergency, using locally sourced, sustainable materials and collaborative design. Over 50 companies participated, highlighting the power of collective action in the construction industry to drive progress toward carbon neutrality and beyond.

Three Monument Locations:
Glasgow Central Station: The “Beacon of Hope”
Cunningar Loop Park: The “Hope Sculpture”
Rottenrow Gardens, University of Strathclyde: The “Power of Coming Together” figures

Timber’s Role in Sustainable Construction at COP26

Timber emerged as a material of choice at COP26, demonstrating its potential to capture carbon, reduce emissions, and revolutionize construction. According to sustainability advocates, timber buildings can help lower the environmental footprint of the built environment, especially when sourced from well-managed forests and when paired with other innovative materials.

Timber structures installed for COP26: MultiPly Pavilion, HomeGrownHouse, and Beacon of Hope
Existing timber buildings highlighted: Theatre Royal, Anderston and Yoker housing projects
Interactive educational maps: Visitors guided to sites of innovative timber use across Glasgow

Beacon of Hope: Central Station’s Timber Monument

Located in Glasgow Central Station, the Beacon of Hope is a layered, contoured artwork crafted from FSC-certified Scottish Sitka Spruce—a celebration of Scotland’s growing timber construction sector. It stands as a public symbol of optimism and urgent climate action, seen by more than 15 million annual passengers. The monument’s design and materials reflect the impact and promise of the Transforming Timber project.

Constructed with locally sourced, low-carbon materials
Achieved over 70% reduction in embodied carbon compared to traditional alternatives
Collaborative effort spearheaded by BE-ST (Built Environment – Smarter Transformation) and Ramboll

Technical Features of Beacon of Hope

Material: Scottish-grown Sitka Spruce, sourced under Forest Stewardship Council guidelines
Carbon impact: More than 70% lower embodied carbon than typical concrete and steel monuments
Design inspiration: Contoured, layered form symbolizing community and growth
Legacy intent: Permanent installation inspiring daily travelers

Hope Sculpture: Art Installation for Community and Carbon Reduction

Sited in Cunningar Loop Park in Glasgow’s East End, the Hope Sculpture is both a gift to the city and a lasting legacy from COP26. Artist Steuart Padwick envisioned it as a monument not just to hope, but to the technical advances required to reduce emissions from the construction industry.

Material innovation: Features 100% cement-free concrete, recycled glass aggregate, reclaimed steel gas pipes, and recycled rebar
Carbon savings: Achieved a massive 75% reduction in carbon emissions compared to conventional methods
Community focus: Offers a space of reflection, acting as an enduring reminder of Glasgow’s climate ambitions

Urban Union’s Managing Director Neil McKay emphasized, “Using sustainable and reclaimed materials to create this piece of art… provides a legacy from COP26 which can be enjoyed by the local community and visitors for decades to come.”

Rottenrow Gardens: Power of Coming Together

The third major monument, located at the University of Strathclyde, comprises three colorful figures crafted from reclaimed sheet steel and stands on a foundation of cement-free concrete. These figures represent unity and cooperation—an allegory for climate action through collaboration.

Material innovation: Reclaimed sheet steel and cement-free concrete foundation
Symbolism: Embodies the theme of “coming together” for collective climate solutions
Visibility: Engages the university community and demonstrates the intersection of art, engineering, and activism

Mass Timber: Carbon Sequestration and Embodied Impact

Beyond the monuments, timber construction took center stage at COP26 due to its capacity for carbon sequestration. Historically, the construction industry has contributed a large share of the world’s carbon emissions, with buildings responsible for up to 40% of global emissions annually. The use of mass timber presents a compelling alternative:

Carbon capture: Trees absorb CO₂ during growth; when harvested and used for construction, much of this carbon remains stored in timber products
Reduced emissions: Timber requires less energy to process and install compared to steel or concrete
Renewable resource: When forests are sustainably managed, timber is perpetually renewable

Timber Conference and Knowledge Sharing

The Wood for Good Conference held at the Construction Scotland Innovation Centre during COP26 aimed to teach architects and policymakers about best practices and the climate potential of timber. Speakers included construction innovators, policy advocates, and sustainability experts who addressed:

The story of the Transforming Timber modular home, made from Scottish mass timber
Engineering advances for mass timber structures
Scaling timber construction into the mainstream
Managing forests for climate and community benefit
Building net-zero communities with timber as a core material

Virtual Exhibitions: Shaping Sustainable Cities

Parallel to the physical installations, the UK Green Building Council’s Build Better Now exhibition ran as a virtual showcase. This immersive online experience presented 17 exemplary sustainable building projects from around the world:

Largest Passivhaus building in the Southern Hemisphere
Mass timber market in East Africa
Energy-positive office buildings in Norway

The virtual reality format enabled global audiences to explore how sustainable buildings and cities can drive climate solutions, with particular emphasis on material innovation and architectural impact.

Architectural Visions: From Carbon Neutrality to Carbon Absorption

The future of urban development was also addressed by leading architecture firms at COP26, with Skidmore, Owings & Merrill’s Urban Sequoia vision offering a blueprint for cities that actively absorb carbon instead of merely offsetting it.

Feature	Urban Sequoia Vision	Conventional Building
Main Materials	Timber, bio-brick, hempcrete, biocrete	Steel, concrete
Carbon Impact	↓ 50% less than steel/concrete	Higher embodied emissions
Carbon Sequestration	Up to 1,000 tons/year/building	Usually none
Technologies Used	Biomass, carbon-capture façade, algae for biofuel	Standard HVAC, insulation
Long-Term Impact	Absorbs more carbon than emitted during lifetime	Net emitter

“Our proposal… makes buildings part of the solution by designing them to sequester carbon, effectively changing the course of climate change,” said Chris Cooper, SOM Partner. The concept envisions entire forests of carbon-absorbing buildings, transforming urban centers into engines for climate restoration.

Challenges and the Road Ahead

While Glasgow’s COP26 monuments and exhibitions underscore the promise of timber and low-carbon materials, several hurdles remain for mainstream adoption. These include:

Ensuring sustainable forest management and traceable supply chains
Scaling up timber construction for larger buildings and infrastructure
Integrating emerging carbon absorption technologies into standard practice
Educating architects, builders, and communities about new methods
Securing policy incentives and market support for low-carbon innovations

Experts at COP26 agree: the climate crisis demands a rapid shift from incremental improvements to transformative change across all facets of the built environment.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Q: Why was mass timber chosen for the COP26 monuments?

A: Mass timber was selected for its ability to capture and store carbon, reduce emissions, and provide a renewable building material that highlights Scotland’s forestry and manufacturing potential.

Q: What is embodied carbon, and why is it important in construction?

A: Embodied carbon refers to the total greenhouse gas emissions associated with the manufacturing, transport, installation, and disposal of building materials; reducing embodied carbon in materials like timber is crucial for meeting climate goals.

Q: How do the COP26 monuments benefit the Glasgow community?

A: They provide lasting public art installations that inspire climate awareness, offer educational value, and serve as permanent legacies of the summit and the city’s environmental leadership.

Q: Are these timber monuments part of a larger trend in sustainable construction?

A: Yes, they reflect growing global momentum toward innovative, low-carbon building practices, with timber as a major material in new projects from schools and housing to large urban developments.

Q: How can cities adopt the lessons of COP26 for their own built environments?

A: Cities can encourage green building standards, invest in sustainable materials, promote education and community engagement, and support policy measures that reward innovation and carbon reduction in architecture and urban planning.

Conclusion: Glasgow’s COP26 Monuments—Symbols of Sustainability and Collective Hope

The mass timber monuments of COP26 represent much more than aesthetic achievements; they are beacons for a future where the built environment plays a vital role in tackling climate change. By fostering collaboration, embracing innovative materials, and inspiring public engagement, these installations point the way to cities and communities that absorb carbon, create beauty, and leave a legacy for generations to come.

References

Author

Sneha TeteBeauty & Lifestyle Writer

Sneha is a relationships and lifestyle writer with a strong foundation in applied linguistics and certified training in relationship coaching. She brings over five years of writing experience to thebridalbox, crafting thoughtful, research-driven content that empowers readers to build healthier relationships, boost emotional well-being, and embrace holistic living.

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