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Advances of Technology Transfer: A Medium Height Timber Construction

Part 2 Project 2012
Natalia SpöRke
Pontifical Catholic University of Chile | Chile
The Project originates from the material, valuing the use of timber as a noble construction material, taking advantage of the availability of wood in Chile, its thermal properties and the quality of being a renewable material.

The main objective is to implement new construction systems in the design of high-rise timber building based on a study of national and international benchmarks: Advances of Technology Transfer.

The construction system was implemented in an apartment building aiming to change the stigma of timber construction in Chile, and to encourage the use of timber as a construction material. The study cases are: “BIP Computers”, Alberto Mozó; “MFH Holzbau”, ARGE Architekten; “Stadthaus e3 Berlín”, Kaden Klingbeil Architekten.

The structural elements taken from the study cases are the inclined plywood pillars proposed by Alberto Mozo, the hollow box floor of the MFH Holzbau, and the isolated concrete stair cases of the e3 Stadthaus Berlin. The dimensions and cross sections of the structural elements used in the case studies were recalculated to reach the structural requirements of this specific project and reformulated to a housing building.

The project is located in Osorno, X Region, a region of Chile with abundant forest, where there is also a tradition of building with timber. Osorno is characterized by its cold, rainy and humid climate and most of the vernacular architecture responds to these conditions.

The project site is in a wasteland in Osorno´s downtown, which in the present time breaks the typical commercial galleries and continuous façade. The project aims to continue the façade and commercial galleries, providing public spaces to the city´s downtown.

The structural timber construction is protected from the rainy weather by a double glazed facade with movable panels which also improves the thermal performance of the building since it acts as a buffer zone and a greenhouse during cold months.

By designing an energy efficiency project with different quality spaces and uses, the project aims to change the actual Chilean stigma of associating timber constructions with emergency social housing or second houses and demonstrate that quality timber buildings can be constructed.

Natalia SpöRke

Tutor(s)

2012
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