Construction of multi-storey residential buildings with cross laminated timber panels is increasing worldwide. In Finland, famous for its modern wood architecture, the construction of such a residential building according to the project of the studio OOPEAA has been completed.
The country's tallest wooden residential complex Puukuokka, located in the city of Jyväskylä, consists of three 6-8 storey buildings: the first of them has been completed so far, and the rest will be completed within the next two to three years. This complex will house 150 apartments with a total area of about 10,000 m2.
Building construction with CLT panels has many advantages: pre-assembled under optimal timber conditions, modular elements reduce delays associated with inevitable construction errors on site and minimize the weather dependence of timber construction. These modules are lightweight, dry, precisely fitted and ready to install upon arrival at the construction site. Compared to the usual timber frame buildings, they are more moisture resistant, which reduces the draft, serve at the same time as a load-bearing structure, a stiffening frame, vapor barrier and partial thermal insulation; in such a module there are fewer connections - the most complex elements - and it requires less consumption of building materials.
The building faces the courtyard with an untreated wooden cladding of the facade, revived by protruding balconies, while on the opposite side, covered with dark paint, glazed loggias to the full height form a strict "street" plane.
Spacious staircase and elevator halls and corridors are painted white, and rhythmically located window openings fill them with natural light and open a view of the surrounding buildings, forests and hills. This solution reflects the main idea of the project - the creation of a healthy and high-quality living space. The residential interiors are also white with exposed wooden elements.
For future tenants, the cost of purchasing an apartment will not be very burdensome, since a special financing model will be implemented here. At the conclusion of the contract, a contribution is paid, which is 7% of the total cost of housing, and the rest is covered by a bank loan with a state guarantee; this loan is paid off through a monthly lease over the next 20 years, after which the tenant becomes the full owner of his apartment.
The approximate cost of building the complex is about € 28 million, which, per apartment, exceeds the cost of building a 124-apartment complex in Milan, but much cheaper than all the other multi-storey wooden buildings that we talked about earlier. Judging by this trend, it can be assumed that construction from CLT panels will continue to fall in price, and the popularity of wooden multi-storey housing will only increase.
