Wood is increasing in popularity in the Swedish building industry and, moreover, for ever larger constructions.
"In five years we are going to build the world's first wooden building with over 20 stories," predicts Mikael Lindberg, MD for Martinsons Byggsystem.
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| Mikael Lindberg, president of Martinssons Byggsystem |
The building industry has seen a 15 per cent increase in the use of carcassing timber in ten years.
"From the building industry's perspective this is a rapid development," says Niclas Svensson, Head of the Träbyggnadskansliet, an organisation that works to promote the use of wood in the Swedish construction and housing sectors.
Wood is used in support structures in just over half the housing built in Sweden. There were limits as to how high it was permissible to build in wood, but when Sweden joined the EU, new rules were adopted which opened opportunities for increasing its use.
Short construction time
Niclas Svensson emphasises the advantages of building in wood, saying that speed is the biggest.
"Construction time is exceptionally short. Our suppliers erect a five storey building from ground level up in eight and a half weeks, compared to the year required with conventional on-site construction. I can't understand why the method used today by the wood construction companies to build a five story building is not the only method in use," he says.
Niclas Svensson explains that when building with wood, the building site is actually more of an assembly site since the components have already been pre-fabricated in the factory. Weight is another factor. Ever larger wooden bridges are being constructed, and the low weight enables short assembly times. And then there is the environmental aspect: cement production causes large emissions of carbon dioxide.
"Through using wood in larger building projects, emission of carbon dioxide is reduced in the construction stage by almost 90 per cent compared to conventional methods," says Niclas Svensson.
Hopes of doubling the market
Another person very knowledgeable in the possible uses of wood is Mikael Lindberg, MD for Martinsons Byggsystem, a company that has been involved in a large number of constructions in wood, for example, the new arena in Tierp with 1 600 cubic metres of laminated wood and the 55 metre long road bridge over the Nätraån river outside Örnsköldsvik.
"Putting wood to good use is important for many people. Certainly, some goes to mass production, but it can also become a bridge in Spain or an energy efficient, eight storey building in Växjö," says Mikael Lindberg.
He feels that the market could be doubled through improved marketing, among other things.
"My dream is to construct the world's highest wooden building with over 20 stories in one of our large towns. And I know I'm sticking my neck out somewhat when I say that in five years' time we'll do it!" Mikael Lindberg concludes.