Sweden’s Tallest Timber Building, Västerås High-rise, Swedish Tower Images

Sweden’s Tallest Timber Building

Kajstaden Residential Tower in Lilludden, Central Sweden high-rise design by C. F. Møller Architects

6 Feb 2020 + 2 Mar 2019

Västerås High-rise Building

Design: C. F. Møller Architects

Location: Öster Mälarstrand, Västerås, Sweden

The Tall Timber Building residence has become a landmark and, during construction, became Sweden’s tallest solid wooden building in the new district of Kajstaden at Lake Mälaren in Västerås. All parts of the building consist of cross-laminated wood, which includes the walls, joists and balconies as well as the lift and stairwell shafts.

Kajstaden – Tall Timber Building is an important landmark for sustainable construction and a refer-ence project that shows that conversion to climate conscious architecture is possible. Through research projects and several active wood projects, C.F. Møller Architects has focused on innova-tion as well as developing and implementing multi-storey buildings with solid wood frames.

In Kajstaden, an active decision was made to prioritise industrial timber techniques for the building material to influence and take responsibility for the impact of the construction industry on the environment and climate change. A crucial advantage of wood, unlike other building materials, is that the production chain for the material produces a limited amount of carbon dioxide emissions. Instead, it is part of a closed cycle, where carbon is retained in the frame of the building.

Research also shows that buildings with a wooden frame make a positive contribution to human health and well-being- thanks to better air quality and acoustic qualities.

The Kajstaden – Tall Timber Building is nine floors high with an elevated ground floor and a top floor with a double height ceiling. The high precision technology involved in CNC-milled solid timber with glulam elements results in air-tight and energy-efficient houses without other unnecessary materials in the walls.

The low weight of the material means fewer deliveries to the construction site and a more efficient, safer and quieter working environment during construction. It took an average of three days per floor for three craftsmen to raise the frame.

Mechanical joints with screws have been used, which means that the building can be taken apart so that the materials can be recycled. The total carbon dioxide saving is estimated to be 550 tonnes of CO2 when using solid wood instead of concrete.

The apartment building was inaugurated, and tenants moved in during February 2019.

Photography: Nikolaj Jakobsen

Sweden’s Tallest Timber Building in Västerås

High-rise Building in Västerås by C. F. Møller Architects

Kajstaden is a central residential neighborhood near the water in the Öster Mälarstrand area of Västerås. The new neighbourhood is designed as a city block and is a natural extension of Västerås city centre.

photograph © Nikolaj Jakobsen

The area includes Mälarparken and Notuddsparken, which link together to form a cohesive green area. The neighborhood has a generous view of Lake Mälaren and is located directly adjacent to the square and the quayside promenade. The concept includes an electric boat sharing scheme and a special chilled room in the lobby for food deliveries from MatHem.

photo © Nikolaj Jakobsen

The housing being constructed is comprised of 99 flats with the first stage estimated to be complete by the spring of 2018. In its entirety, the local plan for Öster Mälarstrand contains about 700 flats with marinas for recreational boats, which will be connected and integrated with new residential developments.

photo © Nikolaj Jakobsen

The neighborhood includes amongst other things a 9-storey apartment building constructed with a frame made entirely of massive wood. The load bearing walls, beams and elevator/stairwell shafts have been built with cross-laminated wood. With renewable and sustainable timber construction, the quarter manages to have a positive impact on the environment and in time the overall life-cycle perspective.

photograph © C.F. Møller Architects

Research shows clear health benefits and qualities for people living in homes with wooden frames. Kajstaden is one of the tallest buildings in Sweden with a solid wood frame and the ongoing construction process clearly shows the advantages of building with modern wood technology. C.F. Møller Architects is developing the project in close collaboration with Slättö Förvaltning and Byggbolaget.

photo © C.F. Møller Architects