At the next edition of LIGNA, the world’s leading trade fair for the woodworking and wood processing industry, timber construction will move from theory to practice as a full-scale residential building is erected live on the open-air site in Hannover. Under the new LIGNA.Builds format, a modern wood-frame house will rise step by step from the foundation slab to the topping-out ceremony over the five days of LIGNA 2027, held from 10 to 14 May.
The project is being realized in partnership with holzbau.tech of Rosenheim, bringing long-standing expertise in modern timber construction, with scientific oversight provided by Rosenheim Technical University of Applied Sciences. Located adjacent to the expo roof, the live construction site will give visitors a front-row view of the entire building process. Crucially, the structure is not a demonstration model but a full-scale, fully functional home that will be dismantled after the trade fair, transported to its permanent location, and reassembled on the homeowner’s property.
Live show house anchors new LIGNA.Builds format
The idea of building a complete house during LIGNA emerged early in the planning process for LIGNA.27 and quickly developed into a central highlight of the show’s timber construction focus. “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 sustainable building. Short construction timelines, a high degree of prefabrication, resource-efficient materials, and digital manufacturing processes are driving innovation across the construction industry. With LIGNA.Builds, LIGNA introduces a new live format that turns this transformation into a tangible experience, demonstrating the capabilities of industrialized wood construction under real trade fair conditions.
Digital planning and prefabrication on display
LIGNA.Builds is designed to showcase the entire value chain of modern wood-frame construction. From initial concept development – including the definition of structural elements and the selection of materials and components – through production planning and engineering, industrial prefabrication, and on-site assembly, visitors can follow the complete process on the live construction site. The focus lies not only on the machinery and technologies provided by LIGNA exhibitors, but also on how these elements interact across the process chain.
“With LIGNA.Builds, we are making visible just how closely interconnected the entire process chain of modern timber construction really is. 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.
Sustainable showcase and full-circle project delivery
For holzbau.tech, the live project embodies both innovation and practical implementation of timber construction. “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.
Modern timber construction is considered one of the most dynamic growth markets in the construction industry. Serial and modular prefabrication, significantly reduced construction timelines, and the environmental benefits of wood as a renewable material are key drivers. At the same time, digitalization – including BIM, CNC manufacturing, robotics, and automated production processes – is opening up new levels of quality, precision, and productivity. LIGNA, as the world’s leading trade fair for the woodworking and wood processing industries, brings together the technologies, machinery, materials, and expertise required for this development. LIGNA.Builds acts as a bridge between mechanical engineering, industrial manufacturing, the skilled trades, and the rapidly growing timber construction market, demonstrating how innovations in wood processing directly contribute to sustainable building projects.
LIGNA.Builds Village: compact hub for timber solutions
Complementing the live construction site, LIGNA.Builds is flanked by the LIGNA.Builds Village in the open-air area. In compact nine-square-meter wooden pavilions, technology providers and service companies present solutions, products, and services related to modern timber construction. This village-style concept creates a focused exhibitor space that encourages 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.
LIGNA.TruckStop: tools and know-how for the trades
Adjacent to LIGNA.Builds, LIGNA.TruckStop returns for the second time following its debut in 2025 and is specifically geared toward 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 turn the area into a practical meeting point for carpenters, joiners, and timber construction professionals, connecting everyday applications with the technologies and processes highlighted across the fairgrounds.
New central hub for modern timber construction at LIGNA
Together, LIGNA.Builds, the LIGNA.Builds Village, LIGNA.TruckStop, and the action and show truck stage form a new central hub in the open-air site for modern timber construction. While a building is taking shape at the live construction site, companies in the Village present complementary solutions across the value chain, and TruckStop showcases tools and applications drawn directly from trade practice. The result is a fully integrated trade fair experience that connects technology, application, and professional exchange in a single cohesive area.
With LIGNA.Builds, LIGNA is expanding its portfolio with an event format that not only explains the transformation of construction but demonstrates it live – clearly, practically, and in collaboration with the key players shaping the future of timber construction.
