Wisdome Stockholm is a forward-looking extension of the National Museum of Science and Technology in Stockholm, Sweden (known in Swedish as Tekniska museet). Designed by Stockholm-based Elding Oscarson, the 1,325-square-metre extension has a sweeping and sculptural dome-shaped roof. This timber gridshell structure is the first known gridshell built from flat, standard laminated veneer lumber (LVL) panels.

An immersive interior and sculptural exterior

The Wisdome Stockholm extension includes an immersive spherical dome, with high-resolution visual and audio technology that takes visitors on an exploration of the galaxy. The building also houses an exhibition hall and cafe.  

The extension weaves museum functions into the formerly disused courtyard. Its prominent dome structure is respectful of the surrounding vaulted hall and the lower buildings that currently define the courtyard. 

A more conventional programme would result in a low volume with a protruding spherical dome. Elding Oscarson’s approach embraces the unique spatial potential by positioning the spherical dome as a focal point beneath the sweeping, free-form timber roof. This defines both the building’s immersive interior and its sculptural exterior.

An innovative gridshell

The Wisdome Stockholm timber gridshell is the first known gridshell built from flat, standard LVL panels, with the upper layers bent into shape on-site.

Spanning 26 by 48 metres, the free-form roof acts as a mediator between the soaring height of the dome and the modest scale of the surrounding single-storey facades. The result is a dramatic, immersive interior, while the distinctive vaulted silhouette on the exterior expresses the building’s unique purpose. 

The gridshell roof is constructed from five layers of LVL, comprising 2,500 parts. These parts are joined together using 3,600 wooden dowels. The inner spherical dome is built from 277 custom-cut cross-laminated timber (CLT) triangles.

“The timber gridshell ‘Wisdome Stockholm’… is constructed out of five crossing layers supported by pre‑tensioned timber columns. The lower layer acts as falsework and is assembled from pre‑curved, CNC‑machined beams, while the upper four beam layers are bent on‑site from laminated‑veneer‑lumber (LVL), a planar sheet material, held in place by wooden dowels and screws enabling loads to be transferred via contact. This innovative construction method was developed due to a central prerequisite: the mandatory usage of LVL as [the] main material due to sponsorship" (Slabbinck et al., 2023).

An experimental project

From the perspective of Elding Oscarson, sustainable construction should make space for experimental projects, where the long-term benefits lie in innovation as opposed to more immediate, conventional applications. This spirit of forward-thinking experimentation is very much alive at the National Museum of Science and Technology.

Reference

Slabbinck, E., Blumer, H., Rick, S., Riggenbach, D., Antemann, M., & Scheurer, F. (2023, July). (PDF) integrative approach to a timber gridshell formed on-site. ResearchGate. https://www.researchgate.net/publication/372250063_Integrative_approach_to_a_timber_gridshell_formed_on-site