Cross-laminated timber

Hotel Bauhofstrasse is a consistent sustainable building with eyes on the future. Due to sensitive urban integration next to historic buildings the hotel contributes to the revitalization of the surrounding district.   By choosing the trendsetting construction principle of wooden room modules it sets standards regarding ecology, efficiency, construction period and quality. The modules were produced in Austria, transported to Ludwigsburg and installed on site within five working days. The shingling with white fibre cement plates does not reveal that this is a wooden building. The surfaces in the interior remain visible in their inherent construction and thus provoke a special atmosphere.   The four-storey building adopts the he... More

Self-confident solitaire What exactly makes for a good house is not laid down anywhere. The question "How do we want to live?" is too personal, as is the answer. All the more astonishing is the fact that in modern residential areas, single-family houses are as alike as two peas in a pod. In a new residential quarter being built in Neuffen, a town in Württemberg, Stuttgart-based architect Henrik Isermann has implemented an ensemble of two residential buildings for his wife's family that self-confidently demonstrates how to creatively deal with the provisions of a regulatory development plan. In the context of the neighbouring buildings it gives the owners their own architectural expression, and although both buildings share the same de... More

CLT House is a bridge between architectural thinking and sustainable construction methods. It is a poetic and pragmatic balance between architect and builder, whose relationship developed from the concept design to ensure a highly considered outcome. The project encompasses a reconfiguration of the existing building as the base with a new upper floor addition which spans the established gardens on the site and replans the home with a new central core for this multigenerational family home. Diana Snape The rhythmic quality of the sawtooth roof to the new bridge structure is both lyrical and rational. The pitched roofs to the north integrate an extensive solar array with high level windows at its peak to capture the changing light throu... More

Another row house, another four-person family, another set of parents, and another two children. Another challenge to take on. The design deals with an issue that is characteristic of this kind of project: is it better to refurbish the original building or tear it down and build something new? In this case, the answer is unclear. On the one hand, the structure at the back of the house has been damaged due to a lack of maintenance on the roof. The stairwell also needs to be torn out to make room for a parking area (one of the client’s non-negotiable requests). That requires a rather large surface area of new construction. On the other hand, the original building has the charm of a 100-year-old house, and the rest of the structure and... More

The company GAB contacted us because they were in need of a new showroom next to their other showrooms. GAB is the official distributor in Belgium and Luxembourg of Pepe Jeans, Scotch & Soda, Hackett London, Karl Lagerfeld, Façonnable, McGrego and so many more. The need for this showroom was quite urgent so they decided to look for a modular concept which can be made as fast as possible. Brand image was also very important and they were immediately convinced that our Shelters would perfectly fit with their brands. For the showroom they were in need of a big open bright spaces with a lot of natural incoming light within a two storey building of 200 m2.   The location for us was very interesting because on one... More

Set in Oxford, this new build dwelling splits functions over three distinct levels whilst offering a striking addition to its immediate surroundings. The key to finalising the final concept was a comprehensive analysis of the proposal's materiality, concluding with a solid state mass which acts as an anchor to the more lightweight box cantilevering on top of it. This arrangement offers a flexible living space while providing views and a high penetration of natural light, both of which can be enjoyed from all areas of the dwelling.   Internally, the proposal has a more traditional living arrangement, with the kitchen and open plan living/dining area located on the ground floor and the bedrooms and bathrooms above. The internal stairca... More

Task: To design a small cottage using prefabricated cross-laminated-timber (CLT) to minimize costs.   Design Challenge:The site for this project is a remote, private lake beside which for more than seventy years existed a family’s cottage.  When the land passed from mother to son, the decision was made to reinvigorate the home; ultimately, because the home had already reached such an advanced state of decay, it was decided to have it removed and to build a new cottage. For sentimental reasons, the new home was to be the exact dimensions of the former and it was to sit in the exact same location.  Aside from those requirements though, a far more open spatial arrangement was desired.  The cottage was only intended... More

A housing grant from the from the Governor’s Office of Economic Development (GOED) was obtained for the purpose of designing a single family, “case study house for the 21st century,” capable of meeting the high performance Passive House (PHIUS) standard and being net-zero energy ready. In a state that will not adopt energy codes, the design responds to showcase and demonstrate sustainable development to the region’s public, contractors, and building officials through site selection, systems, and assemblies.   A long-vacant infill site was chosen to serve as a catalyst for revitalization within an established neighborhood, a short walk to both the South Dakota State University campus and Main Street. The reside... More

Villa Korup is an experimental steel clad villa in the Danish countryside by Jan Henrik Jansen Arkitekter with Marshall BlecherVilla Korup was designed for a young family of six on the Danish island of Fyn after a fire destroyed their previous home. The characteristic ‘three legged’ plan was developed in order to delineate the different aspects of the landscape, accentuating their qualities and creating three characteristic courtyard like spaces; a sunny south facing sloped area to the south, a protected kitchen garden to the east and an orchard cum playground to the west. Internally, the plan provides central communal spaces for the large family to gather as well as more private, secluded spaces at the ends of the wings.  ... More

A BREEAM excellent re-imagining of historic buildings in Islington.   A former 1850s sorting office in Islington, we transformed the space into a high-quality, single occupancy workspace. The building, on a prominent corner site in Essex Road close to Camden Passage.   The project radically adapts and extends the locally listed Merchants Hall to include a new reception front­ing Essex Road, a new four-storey extension in the rear vacant car park, and a new two-storey roof exten­sion. In addition the refurbishment of a former coach house to the rear of the building on Packington Street to create two units of affordable workspace and two new residential units.   A contemporary material palette includes white o... More

A Multiple Architecture Revealing The Cultural And Natural Filipino Heritage In the heart of East Asia, Cebu, in Cebuano Sugbo,is one of the largest islands in the Philippines. The eponymous capital of the Visayas province - Cebu City - is the oldest city in the archipelago. It was the first Spanish colony and was previously discovered by Portuguese explorer Fernando de Magellan in 1521. Cebu City is now the main maritime shipping port and the main economic business center specializing in the New Information and Communication Technologies (NICT) sectors.   On October 31, 2019, the United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) designated 66 new "Creative Cities". Among them is Cebu, awarded for its innova... More

Within Blackheath’s cherished Cator Estate, a new home sits comfortably beneath the branches of an enormous cedar. The bar is rightly set high for development in the South East London conservation area, and this cross-laminated timber-framed building is a fine addition to the landscape. Designed and positioned to echo the site’s gently sloping contours, the low energy home (CSH level 4) appears both strikingly contemporary and timeless. We like to think John Cator, the wealthy timber-merchant who planned the estate in the late 18th century, would have approved. More