Wood's sustainable nature is making it an increasingly attractive material for high-rise developers. A new office tower was recently built in Australia, which is a fine example of this. It is the tallest timber building erected in the country. The timber frame was tastefully finished with a glass facade, leaving the timber construction clearly visible on both the inside and outside.
The new office tower was designed by Australian architectural firm Bates Smart. The building has 10 floors and a height of 45 m. According to the developers, it is the tallest timber building in Australia and is considered groundbreaking when it comes to timber construction for commercial buildings.
Whereas normally concrete and steel are often used for the realisation of high-rise office towers, the architectural firm opted for wood. The firm chose glued laminated timber and cross-laminated timber whose production results in significantly lower CO2 emissions than that of steel or concrete. By choosing these timbers, many parts of the building could also be prefabricated elsewhere. Material wastage and loss of valuable construction time are thus minimised. The entire construction stood in a period of 15 months. The basis is a lattice structure of V-shaped columns stacked on top of each other to support the floors. Besides their structural function, the columns also fulfil an aesthetic role.
The bottom floor consists of a shaded colonnade with cafés and restaurants. The nine floors above are used as open office spaces. The load-bearing columns are strategically arranged to maximise visibility and take advantage of maximum space flexibility. According to the architecture firm, the construction method drastically reduces energy consumption while having a much smaller carbon footprint. Other sustainable features include rainwater harvesting, energy-efficient lighting, a green-covered wall in the central hall and aluminium sun blinds to keep the interior cool.
The new building, popularly known as 25 King after the street on which it is located, is thus not only inviting and warm but also sustainable at the same time. With its design, the architecture firm responds to the demand for buildings that reflect nature and make people feel more at ease.
