Latin American pioneers in sustainable construction looked to Finland for inspiration
The 16-member delegation brought together architects, construction industry developers, forestry sector representatives, and sustainable urban development experts from Costa Rica, Chile, and Uruguay.
Pioneers in timber construction from Latin America visited Finland and the Netherlands in April 2026 as part of the Sustainable Timber Cities program. The visit was organized by Niina Fu Oy, a Finnish company specialized in international collaboration projects.
The 16-member delegation brought together architects, construction industry developers, forestry sector representatives, and sustainable urban development experts from Costa Rica, Chile, and Uruguay. The participation of the Costa Rican delegation was carried out in cooperation with LuxDev — Luxembourg’s development cooperation agency — as part of the Project ALC/001 initiative.
The objective of the visit was to explore advanced solutions in timber construction, urban planning, and low-carbon building practices in Finland and the Netherlands.
Latin America’s construction sector is undergoing transformation
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Latin America is one of the world’s most important forestry industry regions, and interest in timber construction continues to grow across the continent.
At the same time, Latin America is one of the most urbanized regions in the world — more than 80% of the population lives in cities. Rapid urban growth is increasing the need for sustainable construction, energy-efficient solutions, and low-carbon urban development.
According to Niina Fu, Finland could play a significant role in this ongoing global transformation in construction:
"Low-carbon construction, timber building, and the circular economy are currently reshaping the entire construction industry worldwide. Many compare this transition to the massive disruption once caused by the rise of concrete construction."
"Finland is globally recognized as a pioneer in forestry and the bioeconomy. Now we have a once-in-a-generation opportunity to become an international leader in timber construction and low-carbon building as well."
During the trip, participants found it particularly interesting that the Netherlands — a country with virtually no domestic forestry industry — is already actively developing timber construction concepts and guidelines.
"This demonstrates how fast the transformation is moving forward. There is no time to wait," Fu noted.
Participants valued direct interaction with experts
According to participants, one of the program’s greatest strengths was the opportunity to engage directly with leading experts in Finland and the Netherlands.
"The most impressive part was hearing directly from architecture firm owners and professionals responsible for urban planning and regional development in both Finland and the Netherlands. What made it especially valuable was how generously people dedicated their time to discussions," said Uruguayan architect Flavia Lorena Rocha.
Another participant, Victor Montero-Dien, leader of the Costa Rican delegation, highlighted the importance of Finnish work culture. Montero-Dien is the founder of REGENBE and a founding member of the international mass timber collaboration network AMTC (Alliance for Mass Timber Construction). He is considered one of Latin America’s most recognized advocates for timber construction and regenerative building.
"The discipline and high-quality execution of timber construction projects are aspects I want to apply even more in my own work," he said.
Montero-Dien also sees significant opportunities for collaboration between Finland and Latin America in sustainable construction:
"There is a strong movement toward sustainable construction across Latin America. Green financing, energy efficiency, and carbon neutrality are rapidly transforming the building industry. Finland’s expertise in industrial timber construction, circular economy solutions, and innovation creates highly interesting opportunities for collaboration."
According to him, the functionality of Finnish society made a strong impression on the delegation:
"In Finland, trust, long-term planning, and high technical expertise come together."
"The combination of functional cities and timber construction demonstrated that sustainable solutions can be both aesthetically appealing and economically viable."
Excellent feedback from participants
The program received outstanding feedback, with an average rating of 4.9 out of 5.
- 90% of participants established new professional connections.
According to Victor Montero-Dien, 2027 will offer new opportunities for collaboration between Finland and Latin America, particularly in Mexico, Costa Rica, Colombia, Chile, Ecuador, and Peru in the fields of timber construction and sustainable building development.
Watch the video from the visit: