Low-rise high-density prefabricated timber housing

AUTUMN 2016

Course description:
As Oslo’s urban planning for the coming decades is based on densification, a broader range of typologies than traditional blocks of flats and single-family houses needs to be considered. Low-rise high-density housing with 3 to 4 floors could fill this gap and will be the topic of this course. In the context of increasing focus on a building’s environmental impact, timber as a construction material is of great relevance. Additionally, new building codes and updated production methods enable an extended use of timber in urban areas. We are going to explore the opportunities that prefabricated timber solutions can offer to low-rise high-density housing. The project development will span from a conceptual approach via an urban strategy to an architectural project with technical solutions and key details. Collaboration with OBOS, lectures by various experts and reviews by recognized architects will contribute to the learning results and to a practice-oriented framework in the studio. The course is integrated in Ute Groba's Phd project. 

For further background, aims and results of the course are described in this report: 

Titel, titel, link

Tutors: Ute Groba, Sissil Gromholt, Marius Nygaard (Colm O’Brien, Lars Hamran)
Students: Prommanas Amatayakul, Jon Erik Dybedal Brekken, Marie Krafft Bruland, Kaja Strand Ellingsen, Sigurd Nøsterud, Ingri Heggebø, Mina-Matilde Håøya, Edward Gunnar Nesse, Oda Frøyen Nybø, Marius Hauland Næss, Helene Offer-Ohlsen, Ragnhild E Osbak, Dag Ulrik Pettersen, Ingeborg G Svalheim, Silje Træen, Ragnhild Marie C Østern 
External examiner: Minna Riska, MDH Arkitekter



 

Selected student projects: 

MORTENSRUD ENG - by Marie Krafft Bruland and Kaja Strand Ellingsen
The project creates a neighbourhood with connections both
to the surrounding situation and within itself to create smaller, social communities. The project uses a combination of CLT and gluleam beam and  column system on the first floor and a gluelam beam and column structure on the second floor
DOWNLOAD PROJECT DESCRIPTION HERE (pdf)

MORTENSRUD URBAN BELT - by Oda Frøyen Nybø and Ingeborg Svalheim
The project combines public and residential functions in a  4floor volume. The upper two floors are primarily residential and the lower floors make up a flexible volume that can be adapted for  public functions or residential units according to need. The project combines systems of CLT and glulam post and beam frameworks. 
DOWNLOAD PROJECT DESCRIPTION HERE (pdf)

PEGGED IN POSTS AND PILLARS - by Marius Hauland Næss and Sigurd Strøm Nørsterud
The housing units in this project explore a modular concept of living in vertically stacked spaces. The construction consists of 16 columns in a grid of four 3x3m areas spaced 1m apart. The load bearing columns allows flexibility in the vertical positioning of slabs, providing clear boundaries between spaces and a variety of ceiling heights. 
DOWNLOAD PROJECT DESCRIPTION HERE (pdf)


 

To order high resolution of project descriptions:
The above project descriptions have been reduced in size for ease of upload and accessibility. This may in some cases have affected the overall quality and resolution of images or drawings. You can request high resolution copies of the original documents by contacting the WBB using the email wbb@aho.no. Please stipulate the title of desired project and intended purpose and/or use of project material.