Norwegian Wood - Egenes Park

Construction and Materials

Timber technology:
Combination of massive timber, laminated timber and prefabricated timber frame construction in the apartment block, row houses and kindergarten.
Prefabricated and pre-coated timber cladding panels.

Apartment Block:
Primary load-bearing structure of laminated timber beams and columns (ground floor). Transverse load bearing shear walls and floor decks made from massive timber. Double massive timber shear walls act as party walls between apartments. Laminated timber roof construction. Prefabricated timber frame external walls and roof (manufactured in tent on site). Gable walls made from massive timber with external mounted insulation. Massive timber stairs. Concrete lift shafts to provide stiffness.

Row houses:
Primary load-bearing structure of laminated timber beams and columns (ground floor). Transverse load bearing shear walls and floor decks made from massive timber. Double massive timber shear walls act as party walls between apartments. Laminated timber roof construction. Prefabricated timber frame external walls and roof (manufactured in tent on site). Gable walls made from massive timber with externally mounted insulation.

Kindergarten:
Laminated timber structure. Prefabricated timber frame external walls and roof (manufactured in tent on site).

Environmentally friendly materials:
Pine roofing, with environmentally friendly timber treatment.
Untreated larch terrace. Untreated massive timber elements in roof and walls. Untreated timber panelling used internally in kindergarten. Timber cover plates instead of sealant.  Environmentally certified windows and decking boards (Swan mark). Eight products with environmental documentation approved by Norwegian Wood.

Energy

Energy target: class A
Relatively compact building form. Careful positioning of windows. (apartment block has a closed elevation to the north, and is open to the south). Moderate amount of glazing and use of passive house standard windows. Moderate to well insulated building envelope. Predominantly timber structure reduces cold bridging. Reduced air leakage. Central ventilation system with high efficiency heat recovery. Heat pump to meet heating requirements (air-water) as well as condensing gas boiler for peak loads on cold days. Heat pump positioned in parking area to make use of heat gains from recently parked cars. 

Roof: 0.13 W/m²K
Floor: 0.08 W/m²K
External walls: 0.20 W/m²K
Windows: 0.8 W/m²K

Universal Design

Relatively level external areas linked by low gradient ramps and paths. Guidelines (natural and man-made) along access routes to main entrance. Edge marking in external ground finishes. Level access and entrances with level and spacious landings (minimum 150x150mm). All entrances are clearly visible with contrasting colours between door leafs and walls. The row houses and the majority of apartments have whole life standard.  Short distance to lifts (one lift serves 2-3 apartments on each floor). 10% disabled parking. Continuous poured rubber surface in kindergarten external play areas (provides wheelchair users with a better internal environment as less dirt and dust is brought inside). Environmental materials specification and good ventilation provides good conditions for asthma and allergy sufferers.