Within the conservative Dutch building climate the structural application
of timber for multi-storey residential buildings has been debated a long
time. However, investment in a higher rate of prefabrication and a new
opinion on sustainable constructing have been the incentives for pioneer
projects using the timber frame system for multi-storey housing.
Internationally, this positive progress in the competitiveness of timber is
also noticeable through the development of new and innovative timber
building systems.
In the last decennia, the 'Massive Timber System' has proved to be
successful in Sweden through the development of individual massive timber
elements forming a complete building system, that is suitable for multi-
storey residential housing. Characteristic for this development is the
recent realization of an eight-storey residential building in Växjö,
Sweden. All the more reason for a research to the possible application of
this 'Massive Timber System' for the Dutch building market.
The aim of this research is to introduce the 'Massive Timber System' on the
Dutch building market through the design of a multi-storey residential
building. Hereby is the applicability of this building system defined by a
judgment on the design to the Dutch Building Decree, in which technical
specifications are mainly based on the building system itself. Production,
as well as building costs are only briefly considered where relevant.
The intended building design is based on a thorough pre-research of the
properties of the 'Massive Timber System', knowledge has also been gained
springing from expertise in Sweden: by the main producer of this
system 'Martinsons Byggsystem AB' and the independent research
institution 'SP Trätek'. A comparison between the obtained knowledge and
the experience in The Netherlands is obtained by the study of two reference
projects: one project represents current Swedish knowledge and a Dutch
project. Besides are the most important Dutch regulations recorded.
Insight in the worked out final design concept, with a preceding determined
Program of Requirements, is been given through a phased illustration of the
design process. Hereby, an iteration between the professions of
architecture, structural engineering and constructing leads to a detailed
specification of a multi-storey massive timber house: that is structurally
founded and that satisfies the Dutch Building Decree.
From holistic understanding of the gained experiences it can be concluded
that the 'Massive Timber System' can guarantee a good comfort and good
structural possibilities, by systems building physical performances and an
efficient st...
