Upon Valle Wood's completion, it became the largest commercial building of solid timber in Norway. Timber was selected due to its low carbon footprint and for providing a stable, energy-saving indoor climate
The building spans seven floors and is located in Hovinbyen, a rapidly developing area that is one of the hubs in Oslo’s next major urban development project. The building comprises common functions such as meeting rooms and a conference center, as well as restaurants and shops on the lower floors.
Posts and beams throughout the project have been left visible for better indoor climate and acoustics. The facades were inspired by wood fibers and annual rings, and show through variation of density, with open and closed sections, depending on sun conditions and views. The dynamic facade with wood cladding will, over time, fade and change with the weather and seasons, taking on a silver patina.
Lund+Slaatto, the project’s architects, used SketchUp in concept development, exploring site logistics, buildability, detailing, facade design, interior and furniture layouts, as well as materiality. Valle Wood is certified BREEAM excellent with 40% less energy consumption than equivalent office buildings.
Related Stories
Office Buildings | Jul 19, 2017
James Corner Field Operations, designers of the High Line, creates rooftop amenity spaces for three Dumbo office buildings
The new spaces range from about 8,500 to 11,000 sf and were added to Two Trees Management’s anchor office buildings.
Reconstruction & Renovation | Jul 18, 2017
Mortenson Construction incorporates 100-year-old barn into new Portland office space
Mortenson deconstructed the barn and repurposed it for the new space.
Codes and Standards | Jul 10, 2017
New mass plywood panel project moves ahead with federal grant
New material is substitute for concrete and steel in multi-story projects.
Wood | Jul 10, 2017
University of Idaho Arena plans to make timber a focal point
The project received a Wood Innovation Grant that will help spur construction of the Hastings + Chivetta-designed project.
Wood | Jun 13, 2017
The first timber high-rise in the U.S. set for construction in Portland
The building’s design, building materials, and commercial tenants are all focused on the key aspect of sustainability.
| Jun 13, 2017
Accelerate Live! talk: Next-gen materials for the built environment, Blaine Brownell, Transmaterial
Architect and materials guru Blaine Brownell reveals emerging trends and applications that are transforming the technological capacity, environmental performance, and design potential of architecture.
Wood | Jun 6, 2017
Shigeru Ban-designed residential structure poised to become world’s tallest hybrid timber building
The wood, concrete, and glass building will rise approximately 233 feet when finished.
| Jun 5, 2017
Fire-rated frames deliver the natural look of wood
The TimberLine Series pairs a high-strength steel subframe with a wood-veneered metal cover cap to produce a slender fire-rated frame.
Multifamily Housing | May 17, 2017
Swedish Tower’s 15th floor is reserved for a panoramic garden
C.F. Møller’s design was selected as the winner of a competition organized by Riksbyggen in Västerås.
Sponsored | Ceilings | Apr 4, 2017
Wood ceilings and walls help convey energy of college football
Real wood veneer panels evoke warmth, texture, and color of a football.
