High-Rise Residential Timber Buildings: Emerging Architectural and Structural Design Trends
Hüseyin Ilgın
Abstract:High-rise residential timber buildings (≥8 stories) are an emerging and promising domain, primarily owing to their capacity to deliver notable environmental and economic benefits over the entire span of their existence. However, it is worth noting that the current body of scholarly work falls short in providing a thorough examination of the key aspects related to architectural and structural design for these environmentally sustainable towers. In an effort to bridge this knowledge gap and deepen our comprehens… Show more
The fundamental research inquiry in this study revolves around wood materials’ diverse facets, including structural identities, contextual considerations, interior and external spatial applications, and their user experiences. To address this research, a comprehensive literature review, case study, and survey were conducted. The objective being to elucidate technical, functional, sensory, perceptual, and psychological impacts of wood in a sample structure where it is the primary material in the overarching user experience. The Odunpazarı Modern Museum (OMM), conceptualized by architect Kengo Kuma and inaugurated in 2019 in Eskişehir, stands as a testament to the historical significance of the timber trade in the region. The deliberate choice of wood as the primary construction material serves as a tribute to this historical narrative. The conspicuous incorporation of wooden lath materials into both the external and interior spaces signify a conscious reference to the region’s historical heritage and aligns with sustainability principles in design. Factors such as form characteristics, dimensional distinctions, spatial arrangements, and the extent of surface interactions collectively contribute to the compelling effect of this integrative approach. Within the confines of the museum, unconventional partitioning is implemented, and the strategic arrangement of masses results in multiple facades, even in the absence of overt wooden surfaces. The exterior impact of the wooden shell complements its interior application. For this reason, OMM enabled the understanding and explanation of all dimensions of the wooden material, including physical, technical, and psychosocial.
High-rise office structures constructed using timber material (with a minimum of eight stories) signify a burgeoning and favorable sector, mainly owing to their ability to offer substantial environmental and economic advantages across their lifespan. However, it is crucial to recognize that the current corpus of scholarly literature lacks a thorough investigation into vital aspects concerning the architectural and structural planning of these sustainable structures. In an effort to fill this gap and augment the understanding of advancing international tendencies, this paper delved into data originating from 27 high-rise offices on a worldwide scale. The primary findings were: (i) Central core arrangements were the most popular, accounting for 67%, followed by peripheral types at 22%. (ii) Prismatic designs were the most frequently used at 85%, with free forms making up 11%. (iii) Material combinations involving timber and concrete were widely prevalent, making up 70% of composite constructions, which were 74% of the sample group, with pure timber constructions at 26%. (iv) Structural systems predominantly utilized shear walled frame systems, comprising 85% of the total. This article serves as a valuable resource for architectural designers, offering guidance on planning and executing future sustainable developments in the domain of high-rise timber office.
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