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.
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