Our Way 1
THE EXTERIOR HAS TO MATCH THE SURROUNDING BUILDIN
GS IN VASASTAN. Christer Nilsson Project Developer Wallfast OUR TWO Why At first glance, it’s almost impossible to grasp that Modellen 4 is a building made of wood. But beneath the surface, a wooden frame is hidden. “Even if you don’t see it, I think you can feel a certain calmness when you enter Modellen,” says Christer Nilsson, project developer at Wallfast. C ross-laminate timber (CLT) is a durable and solid material used for the frame and walls of Modellen 4. It’s then covered with plaster on the outside and boards on the inside. “The exterior must match the surrounding buildings in Vasastan, therefore plaster is the only alternative. The interior is covered over, for different reasons. In some places, such as the stairway, it’s because it has to comply with fire safety requirements,” says Christer Nilsson. THERE ARE BOTH financial and environmental benefits to using wood for the construction. WOODEN PILLARS ENVIRONMENTAL BENEFITS Wood is a renewable material that is energy efficient to produce and it stores carbon dioxide in the finished buildings. All the wood used in Modellen 4 comes from sustainable production in Sweden. Being much lighter than concrete also makes for more efficient transportation and a better work environment, reducing both noise and dust. FINANCIAL BENEFITS Wood is lighter than concrete and therefore quicker and easier to raise, saving time in the production phase. Another time saver is that wood doesn’t take as long as concrete to dry. Faster production isn’t necessarily cheaper, but with shorter production times the tenants can move in sooner . For Modellen 4, where all the materials had to pass through a small portico, it was also easier to transport on site. “That’s one of the reasons why we chose wood for this project. The construction company were able to use low platforms on tracks to bring the different parts in from the street,” says Christer. HE WAS AN early adopter when it comes to multistorey houses built in wood and he is confident we will see more such buildings in the future. “I might be indoctrinated, but I truly think this is a good thing. Trees grow back, while cement leaves a big hole in the ground and contributes to greenhouse gas emissions,” says Christer. February 2024 The roof is installed. March 2024 The construction crane is dismantled and removed. September 2024 The first tenants move in. OUR W Y1/2024A 1/2024 27 OUR WAY