SUNDBYBERG MUNICIPALITY, FOLKHEM and Wingårdhs Arkitektkontor are leading the way when it comes to building high-rises in wood. The Strandparken housing development, with its two eight-storey buildings made entirely from wood, has already attracted 4,000 visitors from 150 countries.
Now the municipality is aiming to reach 22 storeys. The foundations of the new building will be concrete, but the rest of the structure will be built around a frame of conifer wood. Erik Serrano, Professor of Structural Mechanics at the Faculty of Engineering, Lund University, outlines the challenge:
“Building 22 storeys in wood requires a construction system that is adapted to lightweight materials, so the building remains stable and doesn’t move too much in high winds. One solution is to use heavier beams to increase stability. This technique is being used in Bergen, Norway, where they’re building a 15-storey structure in wood,” he explains.
Building high-rises in wood is fast and eco-friendly, while also ensuring quiet construction sites. What is more, research shows that living in wooden buildings makes people happier and healthier. Construction is planned to begin in 2016.«
w| wingardhs.se
