The Netherlands faces a considerable challenge in terms of the construction sector. The housing shortage is high. About 1 million good and affordable houses are demand until 2030. At the same time, building requirements are becoming increasingly stringent. CO2 and nitrogen emissions combined with stricter legislation and environmental regulations create great complexity in project development.
Besides, it is necessary to create a healthy living environment by developing buildings that have a positive impact on the entire ecosystem, people and nature. To this end, it is important to focus on nature-inclusive construction during the development process, in addition to architectural appearance and user-friendliness. A key question in the development is therefore how nature-inclusive living, living and working can be designed.
Oosterhoff, together with the Noordereng Group, has developed the HoutKern Construction Method as a solution to the Dutch construction problem. This sustainable modular timber building block is built in short time, in a sustainable manner and with low emissions.
The building concept is a combination of two sustainability concepts:
- The use of bio-based materials
- A modular construction technique
The HoutKern Construction Method is a circular concept, and a particularly sustainable and flexible way of building.
The HoutKern Construction Method consists of 2D or 3D timber modules. The modules are adaptable in size and suitable for homes, offices, schools. Each module consists of a CLT floor, timber columns and a timber ceiling. The modules are linkable and freely dividable. The modules are connected with the special connection node. Everything comes together in this node: construction, acoustics, fire resistance, flexibility, manufacture and assembly.
The development of the modules was taken up by Quake. Acoustic measurements were made on the modules, measuring airborne noise and impact noise between modules side by side and on top of each other. Vibration measurements were carried out on the CLT floors. The integral coupling was further developed. A fire concept has been set up for timber modules. Standard details have been developed for building with the modules.
The Natural Pavilion is the first project realized using the HoutKern Construction Method. For this temporary building, the technical requirements were lower and a simplified node and module were used.
Website HoutKern Construction Method
https://circlewood.eu/
Website The Natural Pavilion:
Videos:
The Making of The Natural Pavilion:
Circlewood:
