Increased use of wood in urban areas

The primary aim of the Wood Be Better project has been to produce and publish knowledge which may facilitate increased use of timber in urban areas. This would contribute to development of an important, biobased industry. Project participants - The Oslo School of Architecture and Design (AHO), project owner and -leader, - The Norwegian University of Life Sciences (NMBU) represented by The Faculty of Science and Technology (RealTek) and The Faculty of Environmental Sciences and Natural Resource Management (MINA), and - The Norwegian Institute of Bioeconomy (NIBIO). Research institutions in Sweden, Scotland and USA have participated, in addition to Norwegian forest owners, timber industries and architects´ offices. Urbanism and Architecture Forecasts of future population and building stock in Oslo and Akershus counties confirmed that urban buildings in 2 - 8 stories - well suited for timber use - constitute a major part of new buildings toward 2030. By substituting steel and concrete with timber, emissions related to materials may be reduced significantly. Compared to Norway´s total emissions the calculated effect will however be limited. Timber competence and timber industry as part of a green economical shift should therefore be emphasized. Researchers from NMBU-RealTek, NMBU-MINA and NIBIO took part in AHO´s series of six master studios that were integrated in Wood Be Better. Timber industries and Architects´offices also took part. This joint supervision improved the teaching and the quality of the student projects. In exhibitions, media coverage, and conferences, the works were used as illustrations of how timber can be used in urban areas, buildings, structures and details with a high technical and architectural quality. Coordinated diploma projects were integrated in the PhD project associated to urbanism and architecture. Constructions "Palisaden"student housing, then Norway´s tallest CLT structure, was under construction at the start of the Wood Be Better project. NMBU-RealTek measured fluctuations in the 8 story building during wind exposure. The unexpectedly small movements were attributed to interaction of a large number of floor slabs and walls. This accumulated stiffness was studied further in digital models and analyses of typical eight-story CLT buildings. The PhD project on timber constructions found shear stiffness in CLT walls to be much higher than estimated according to standard calculation. The redundant strength may allow a wider spectre of timber qualities to be used in CLT elements. Alternatively, the stiffness may be utilized, e.g. by using CLT walls as cantilevering beams in large buildings. Building envelopes This sub-project aimed to develop simulation tools that combine models for micro-climate at building facades with models for mould growth and colour changes in climate-exposed wooden cladding. NMBU-RealTek led the development of the surface microclimate model. It was validated through measuremens of temperature and moisture on existing buildings. NIBIO in cooperation with NMBU-MINA developed the model for mould growth and colour changes in cladding of different species. This model was validated through test series in the field and in climate chambers. Finally, combined simulations of micro-climate and changes in cladding were carried out. Promising correlations were found between the visualizations created by the models and the measured, observed and photographed conditions in the facades. Information and processes NMBU-MINA led a broad preference study among residents in Oslo and Akershus counties that confirmed scepticism towards timber in structures and cladding of large, urban buildings. The study showed that knowledge of timber increase acceptance. Young and environmentally engaged residents are positive to timber materials. A sub-study of preferences among dwellers with different ethnic background showed no significant differences. Four years after completion of "Palisaden" in 2013, more than 4000 students´ dwellings in CLT structures were built or under construction. AHO interviewed key participants. A vital factor was found to be that in most cases, a pre-project was carried out where both consultants and contractors were updated on products, solutions and costs related to large timber buildings. Only then was the bidding process initiated. In this way insecurity was overcome. The willingness to apply new materials and solutions increased. New, interdisciplinary patterns of cooperation. The Wood Be Better project established a new and broad, interdisciplinary cooperation between AHO, NMBU-RealTek, NMBU-MINA and NIBIO. Contact and cooperation has been developed with Oregon State University, The Harvard Center for Green Buildings and Cities, Edinburgh Napier University and Reserarch Institutes of Sweden (RISE). At AHO the project initiated the forming of a permanent group for teaching and research in structures, materials and ecology.

Increased use of wood in the building industry is a positive contribution to carbon sequestration. The effect will be enforced by using local wood sources. This project will focus on construction systems and envelope designs that are safe, robust, adaptab le and easily integrated into architecture of a high and sustainable quality. Key wood knowledge needs will be defined, and will be subjected to interdisciplinary research. A dominant category of new buildings in the urbanizing regions is believed to hav e two to eight storeys and be located in areas with high density. The aim of the project is to produce and publicise knowledge that will facilitate increased use of wood in this group of buildings. The urbanization process will be analyzed to be able to v erify the assumed distribution of building categories. Based on integrated principal solutions realistic and attractive examples of area plans and integrated architectural designs will be tested systematically. Practical solutions and calculation tools fo r joining wooden components of frame- and module based building systems will be developed in order to optimize the wood construction systems. Durable wood-based building envelopes are crucial for a successful increase in use of wood. A combined model and tool that simulate and predict future service life of wood in urban architecture will be developed and will enable a knowledge-based decisions regarding design and material selection. Also cultures attitudes and cooperation patterns that restrict well-des igned wood projects will be analyzed in the project.