Most modern timber construction towers have a concrete core for stability. Wingårdhs' Fyrtornet office tower, however, reaches an impressive height of 51.5 metres without the need for concrete. In doing so, it further emphasises the sustainable potential of timber construction.
Fyrtornet (Swedish for 'lighthouse') stands in Malmö, Sweden. Structurally, it consists of laminated beams and diagonals and CLT (cross-laminated timber) floor slabs. The core, which provides structural integrity and houses the stairs, is also made of CLT. Some concrete was used in construction, but only in the foundation.
Delivery by train
The facade combines red-painted wood, spruce rafters and glazing with integrated solar panels, reducing energy consumption. The building was largely prefabricated elsewhere in Austria and then transported to Sweden by train to reduce CO2 emissions. In addition, a large tent was erected on site to manufacture the partition walls locally, further reducing CO2 emissions.
Choosing rail instead of conventional delivery via trucks saved 100 tonnes of CO2 emissions. A major additional advantage of delivery by rail is the storage spaces offered by local train stations. In this way, the delivered material could be stored temporarily in an economical way and the construction site could be continuously supplied with wooden building components, ensuring trouble-free assembly.
Natural heat
Inside, Fyrtornet measures 9,020 square metres, spread over 11 floors. The ground floor houses a café, bakery and bistro, with a library above. The upper floors offer office space, while a roof garden crowns the building. The interior cleverly highlights the natural warmth of the exposed wood, rather than hiding it.
Constructively safe
Fire is always a concern for some people in tall timber buildings, but modern timber is no match for old-fashioned timber structures. The laminated timber and CLT used in this project consists of many layers of wood glued together to form a much stronger wooden beam that performs even better than steel in case of fire. This is because modern timber slowly carbonises on the outside instead of igniting completely, maintaining its structural integrity.
