From pedestrian bridges to education centres, and from music pavilions to bird towers, wooden constructions are popping up in commercial outdoor spaces all around the globe. Thanks to the combined genius of architects, designers and the timber suppliers who support them, timber-frame structures are turning commercial outdoor spaces into areas where we all love to spend our time.

The beauty of working with wood in construction is that it is strong, durable, and extremely versatile, allowing designers and architects to let their creative juices flow. This holistic approach has produced a string of iconic and captivating outdoor structural designs that look more like wooden works of art than actual buildings.

Here are 10 stunning examples of how timber can have a dramatic effect on commercial outdoor spaces:

1. Anaklia-Ganmuhkuri Pedestrian Bridge, Georgia

At more than 500 metres in length, the Anaklia-Ganmuhkuri Pedestrian Bridge is one of the finest wooden structures ever made. Opened in 2012, it was constructed of laminated timber combined with steel, timber trusses joined by wooden dowel joints, and slotted plates. It is the longest footbridge in Europe and spans the river Enguri, connecting the Georgian town of Ganmuhkuri and the resort of Anaklia.

2. Earth Lab, Oxfordshire

The award-winning Earth Lab is an eco-friendly, timber-framed learning and resource centre that seamlessly blends in with the natural surroundings. Created for the environmental charity, Earth Trust, sustainable construction methods were used through the award-winning project which includes a glulam timber frame and cedar shingle casing. The walls of the wooden structure were made using condensed earth and straw bales were used for the insulation panels.

3. Grotto Sauna, Ontario

The multi award-winning Grotto Sauna is a prime example of the endless design possibilities wood can provide. This sleek, curvaceous, private waterside sauna is sculpted into Canadian rock so it beautifully merges with Georgian Bay which sits right outside. The rectangular-shaped exterior is covered in around 300 Northern white cedar planks which were given a unique carbon colour using a traditional Japanese wood charring process so the structure blends in with the surrounding rock façade.

4. Metropolis Parasol, Seville

Imagine a place adorned with giant wooden mushrooms and you have the Metropolis Parasol in Seville. Measuring 150 x 70 x 26 metres, it is the largest wooden construction in the world and a unique, innovative design that was inspired by the ancient vaults of the Spanish city’s cathedral. Six giant timber parasols give the strong lattice structure its funky mushroom appearance, while projecting shadows that shimmer across the Plaza de la Encarnació below and move throughout the day. As well as a walkway and terrace on top of the parasols, the ingenious community structure also provides a cover for a site of Roman remains.

5. La Cabotte, Drôme

This small, superbly-designed wooden structure is a pavilion and office space at a wine producer in Southern France. La Cabotte consists of several angular timber spaces joined together, the building overlooks vineyards to the famous Mont Ventoux in the distance. Clad in untreated larch wood, the structure revolves around a triple-pronged floor plan that shoots out into different directions. Designers accommodated for the slope on which it is built by using wooden feet to raise the building off the ground.

6. Children’s Fireplace, Trondheim

It looks like a large, wooden meringue, but the Children’s Fireplace in Trondheim, Norway, is actually cosy space and shelter for storytelling and other educational projects. The sustainable structure was made from timber and other natural materials recycled from a nearby building site. Designers took their inspiration from traditional Norwegian turf huts, and the igloo-shaped building consists of 80 circular layers of timber that form a unique and practical geometric shape.

7. Finish Tower Rotsee, Lucerne

The Finish Tower is a public viewing gallery like no other. Constructed from treated pinewood sourced from sustainable forests, it is located on the finishing line of a Swiss rowing centre and provides a unique vantage point for spectators. The three storey, prefabricated wood construction sits on a concrete platform above the water’s surface. It only becomes an active building a few times each year during rowing regattas, the rest of the time it’s an enigmatic structure in the wild. The tower’s appearance and colour change in line with the seasons so it blends in with the natural surroundings.

8. UniCredit Pavilion, Milan

When designing the futuristic UniCredit Pavilion, architect Michele De Lucchi wanted to provide a public building that doubled as a natural open space for the people of Milan. Inspired by the shape of a seed, his award-winning creation combines larch beams with glass and has become a landmark in the Italian city. Powered by solar energy, the UniCredit Pavilion has no foundations and was built on reinforced concrete above a car park. The wooden structure is used for conferences, exhibitions, concerts, and other events and can accommodate up to 700 people. Not only that, but there are also two huge 12 metre-long panels which open and close like wings, displaying two giants screens towards the adjacent park and plaza.

9. Bird Observation Tower, Graswarder

This ingenious, wooden Bird Observation Tower in Germany even looks like a sitting bird from side on. Made of Siberian larch beams and ledgers, it has a light and elegant appearance with a glazed viewing room 15 metres above ground that can accommodate large groups of visitors. The vantage area provides glorious views of the unspoilt environment and local wildlife around, making it hugely popular with ornithologists and wooden architecture enthusiasts alike.

10. Music Pavilion, Bad Ischl

The Austrian town of Bad Ischl unveiled its contemporary wooden Music Pavilion in 2014 to high acclaim. Located adjacent to a large indoor theatre, this functional, open-fronted outdoor facility provides an informal, casual setting for public concerts and performances. Made from silver fir, the pavilion blends in harmoniously with its surroundings, while the roof slopes from front to back to enhance the acoustics.