Next year, the tallest wooden skyscraper in the world will be built in Vienna, Austria.
Called the HoHo Project, the building will be 84 meters (276 feet) tall and will be located in the Seestadt Aspern area in north-eastern Vienna. The 24-story building will house residential units, offices, a hotel, restaurant, and wellness center. The project is estimated to cost 60 million euros.
Austrian architects who are behind the project wanted the skyscraper to be environmental friendly. Wood was chosen as the primary material because of its ability to absorb CO2 from the air instead of emitting it. According to an article by the Daily Mail, the architects stated that the building has the potential to save 2,800 tonnes of CO2 emissions. More than 70% of the building will be made out of wood, although it will be based around a concrete core.
According to the article, the architects explained, “Wood composite floors are secured to the central concrete supporting cores, and extend out to the building edge. These floor panels are supported by a wooden column system around the outline of the building. This structure then supports pre-fabricated external wall modules that combine solid wood panels with an “earthy” concrete shell to form the building’s facade.”
Although concerns about the safety of the building have been expressed by some, the performance of a wooden skyscraper under credible fire scenarios is actually very good and there is extensive research demonstrating safety in these buildings. The project is planned for completion in 2017.
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Images belong to Rüdiger Lainer and Partner