More wood, fewer layers

DTU in Lyngby (Denmark) has now started using its first building where wood is the load-bearing material in all structures. This is a suitable office area for the Climate Laboratory, which was built together with the Climate Challenge Laboratory in building 313.

The six-storey building has an open entrance floor with space for socialising and informal meetings. The floor is notable for its robust natural slate flooring, which has been used across several DTU buildings, and looks out onto one of the building's atria. The laboratories are grouped on one side of the building, while the office facilities are located on the upper floors. An atrium connected to the main staircase unites the floors, while there are also double-height spaces on each floor that alternate between the two outer facades.

The area around the atria is furnished with kitchenettes, meeting tables and informal, soft furniture. In this way, the room invites employees from different functions to come together. The wooden structures are impressive and their authentic appearance is enhanced by wooden stairs and Troldtekt on the ceilings and selected walls. By using fewer layers of materials, CCO Arkitekter have worked with Sustainable Development Goals 3 and 12, which aim to minimise material consumption and facilitate disassembly and recycling. 

Muted sound and colour choice

Despite the many challenges with wooden structures, Sustainable Development Goals and certifications, the building feels very straightforward and inviting with an architectural edge. A fine balance has been created between exciting spatial complexity and homogeneity in materials and colours.

Troldtekt in natural wood has been used on all ceilings in both the atrium and the individual offices, ensuring good acoustics. On the concrete wall facing the laboratories, Troldtekt is also used in larger areas or formations, but in the warmer colour clay. This is an attractive and simple solution.

By constructing a building using wooden structures as well as climate-friendly materials, the use of large amounts of concrete has been spared and consequently so have carbon emissions. This positions DTU 313 as a strong source of inspiration for builds that use circular principles and are also aesthetically pleasing.