Tratoppen, Stockholm
Conceptual designs for a timber skyscraper in Stockholm were released in April 2016 by Anders Berensson Architects. Commissioned by the Stockholm Center Party, Tratoppen (‘the tree top’) is intended to stand on top of the existing Parkaden car park, leaving the façade intact.
At 133 m, the building would be the tallest in Stockholm. According to the studio: ‘If we want to reduce the amount of cars in the city center of Stockholm, and at the same time make space for more housing without building on green areas, then replacing car parks with housing, shops and restaurants feels obvious.’
The 40-storey tower will be built out of cross-laminated timber (CLT), the façade being patterned with large numbers corresponding to the floor number. This will also create a sun screen, keeping the building cool and energy efficient.
The architect said: “Today in Sweden, CLT is a rather new technique and is mostly used for low buildings, but we wanted to show its potential especially since Sweden has a big wood industry.”
The concept is that the tower will be built on top of the 1960s Parkaden car park, designed by Hans Asplund, but stepped back 6 m from the existing façade so as not to interfere with the car park’s character, and to create a large public terrace on the seventh floor. The car park structure itself wil be used for retail and restaurant space.
While there are no immediate plans to realise the project, the Center Party may commission the building in one form or another if they are voted into government at the next election. At the least though, it provides further evidence of architects viewing the use of timber as an increasingly promising and viable construction material, with recent projects proposed for London and Hyperion in Bordeaux.
Content and images courtesy of Anders Berensson Architects
[edit] Find out more
[edit] Related articles on Designing Buildings Wiki:
Featured articles and news
Part of Designing Buildings Wiki, BREEAM Wiki will advance knowledge sharing for the BRE family of sustainability tools.
Iron, glass and wood underfoot
From the decorative to the utilitarian, and from the photographed to the forgotten.
New BRE book considers the progression from project-based knowledge creation to whole-life urban knowledge management.
This CIOB article explores the concept of value in building design and construction.
BREEAM and Measurabl announce integration to improve the financial performance of commercial real estate.
Rogers Stirk Harbour + Partners' release new images of soon-to-open 3WTC tower in New York.
A document can be called a bond or a guarantee. Does the name matter and what is the difference between them?
New briefing note is launched focusing on increasing knowledge of housing that promotes health and wellbeing.
Arbitration is a private, contractual form of dispute resolution used in the construction industry.
The European Parliament has approved a revised Energy Performance of Buildings directive.
One in six MPs supports the ring-fencing of retentions as proposed in the 'Aldous Bill'.
A stakeholder is anyone who has an interest in the process or outcome of a construction project.