C.F. Møller create benchmark for sustainable construction

The first tenants are moving into Sweden’s tallest timber building, which was designed by C.F. Møller Architects to serve as a landmark for the city of Västerås and as a benchmark for sustainable construction. The architects have focused on the use of wood in recent years in order to explore its potential for creating a positive indoor climate for residents, as well as taking advantage of the CO2 savings.
 
“Wood technology facilitates a value-adding lifecycle perspective in all stages of construction and is crucial to the goal of a bio-based circular economy. The total carbon-dioxide savings from use of solid wood instead of concrete are estimated at 550 tonnes of CO2 over the building’s life,” says Rob Marsh, sustainability manager at C.F. Møller Architects.

Kajstaden Tower is 8.5 storeys high, providing residents with attractive views over Lake Mälaren. Use of CNC-milled solid timber and glulam constitutes a high-precision technology and provides an airtight and energy-efficient building without adding other materials to the walls. The low weight of timber also means fewer deliveries to the construction site, which provides a safer, quieter and more efficient working environment during construction. Each floor took three craftsmen an average of three days to put together. With an eye to the future, mechanical joints and screws were used so that when the time comes for the building to be taken apart, the materials can be recycled.

Ola Jonsson, associate partner at C.F. Møller Architects, explained how the company approaches its current timber projects, stating: “The building in Kajstaden constitutes a new chapter in the history of construction, as it is currently Sweden's tallest solid-timber building. Through research projects and our other timber projects we have focused on innovation and contributed towards developing ways of realising high-rise buildings made of timber. Industrial timber technology also provides architects with better tools for designing beautiful houses that boast a high degree of detail.”

Lucy Nordberg
TenderStream Head of Research

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