At the Dutch Design Week 2019, Studio Marco Vermeulen constructed the Biobasecamp, a pavilion that showcases the architectural potential of 'building with trees.' This approach aims to reduce CO2 and nitrogen levels in the atmosphere by replacing conventional building materials such as concrete and steel with wood.
The Biobasecamp served as a starting point for expeditions by designers and clients to explore the possibilities offered by this 'concrete of the future.' Through this initiative, the Biobasecamp contributed to ushering in a new era: 'The Wooden Age.'
The Biobasecamp served as a starting point for expeditions by designers and clients to explore the possibilities offered by this 'concrete of the future.' Through this initiative, the Biobasecamp contributed to ushering in a new era: 'The Wooden Age.'
2019
Dutch Design Foundation
programme
exposition
roof park
roof park
team
in cooperation with
Arup
Lüning
Derix Laminated Timber
BLC de Kruijff
Brabantse Populieren Vereniging
Blok Timmeratelier
Lüning
Derix Laminated Timber
BLC de Kruijff
Brabantse Populieren Vereniging
Blok Timmeratelier
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The construction industry is responsible for 40% of global CO2 emissions.
Wood holds the CO2
The construction sector is responsible for a significant portion of global CO2 emissions. Additionally, the global demand for natural resources is high, with 40% used in construction. In the Netherlands, this amounts to 250 million tons of raw materials per year for infrastructure, residential, and commercial buildings.
To meet climate goals, the construction sector must drastically reduce CO2 emissions. But can we also remove CO2 from the atmosphere simultaneously? We learn early in school that trees convert CO2 into glucose, or wood, under the influence of sunlight. When trees die and decompose, this CO2 is released back into the atmosphere. Similarly, burning wood for electricity and heating releases stored CO2. However, if we use wood to create building materials, we can sequester CO2 for decades or even centuries.
In other words, building with wood effectively removes CO2 from the atmosphere. Unlike expensive storage solutions like carbon capture and storage (CCS) under the North Sea, this form of CO2 storage creates value in the form of buildings. The construction sector can play an active role in combating climate change, especially as the Netherlands is on the verge of a massive housing challenge; one million homes need to be built in the next 20 years. Additionally, many existing homes must be made energy-efficient. Both tasks can drive the transition to a biobased economy.
The deck of the pavilion is made of large, modular, and demountable floor panels of Cross Laminated Timber (CLT). These panels can be reused as floor elements in new homes after the Dutch Design Week.
To meet climate goals, the construction sector must drastically reduce CO2 emissions. But can we also remove CO2 from the atmosphere simultaneously? We learn early in school that trees convert CO2 into glucose, or wood, under the influence of sunlight. When trees die and decompose, this CO2 is released back into the atmosphere. Similarly, burning wood for electricity and heating releases stored CO2. However, if we use wood to create building materials, we can sequester CO2 for decades or even centuries.
In other words, building with wood effectively removes CO2 from the atmosphere. Unlike expensive storage solutions like carbon capture and storage (CCS) under the North Sea, this form of CO2 storage creates value in the form of buildings. The construction sector can play an active role in combating climate change, especially as the Netherlands is on the verge of a massive housing challenge; one million homes need to be built in the next 20 years. Additionally, many existing homes must be made energy-efficient. Both tasks can drive the transition to a biobased economy.
The deck of the pavilion is made of large, modular, and demountable floor panels of Cross Laminated Timber (CLT). These panels can be reused as floor elements in new homes after the Dutch Design Week.
By building with wood, we kill two birds with one stone. We prevent the CO2 emissions associated with the use of fossil materials, and the CO2 absorbed by the tree during its growth is stored in the building.
Dutch Wood
The wood used in the Biobasecamp was manufactured in a German factory from German softwood. But why is there no Dutch cross-laminated timber (CLT) yet? If wood were to gain more economic value, more trees could be planted. Thus, the construction challenge could contribute to combating climate change and improving the quality of the Dutch landscape. This is potentially true for the Brabant poplar landscape, originally developed for the production of clogs and matches. For example, the deck of the Biobasecamp is supported by poplar trunks that stood along the A2 near Boxtel, which had to be felled due to their age and associated risk of toppling.
The use of solid wood as a material for the structural frame—the walls, floors, stairs, and roofs—of buildings holds great potential. Fast-growing wood can be cross-laminated into large panels of various thicknesses. These panels can be prefabricated into large building elements in the desired shape and fitted with openings for windows and utilities using CNC milling. These elements are then 'dry' assembled on-site. In the Netherlands, this construction method is still in its infancy, but its application in countries like Austria and Germany demonstrates its benefits for construction speed, costs, and working conditions for construction workers.
Solid wood construction offers tactile quality and promotes a pleasant indoor climate. Wooden building parts can also be connected modularly and dry, making them relatively easy to replace, dismantle, or reuse in another building. When these elements eventually no longer meet standards, they can be recycled into low-grade wood products such as veneer, particleboard, and insulation material.
The use of solid wood as a material for the structural frame—the walls, floors, stairs, and roofs—of buildings holds great potential. Fast-growing wood can be cross-laminated into large panels of various thicknesses. These panels can be prefabricated into large building elements in the desired shape and fitted with openings for windows and utilities using CNC milling. These elements are then 'dry' assembled on-site. In the Netherlands, this construction method is still in its infancy, but its application in countries like Austria and Germany demonstrates its benefits for construction speed, costs, and working conditions for construction workers.
Solid wood construction offers tactile quality and promotes a pleasant indoor climate. Wooden building parts can also be connected modularly and dry, making them relatively easy to replace, dismantle, or reuse in another building. When these elements eventually no longer meet standards, they can be recycled into low-grade wood products such as veneer, particleboard, and insulation material.
In our Dutch forests, enough wood grows each day to build 60 homes.
60 Houses a Day
Where will we get all this wood from? The Netherlands has a total of 365,000 hectares of forest, more than half of which were originally planted for purposes such as firewood and timber to support mine tunnels. Of the Dutch forests, 225,000 hectares are now protected nature reserves. The remaining 140,000 hectares can be used for sustainable wood production, similar to practices in Scandinavia. This involves selective and limited harvesting of trees, which are then replaced by young specimens of the same or different species. This results in an average wood yield of 8m³ per hectare per year, and up to 15m³ per hectare per year for poplars. In total, this translates to an annual production of 1.12 million m³ of wood.
By diversifying forest planting in terms of size and species, we can simultaneously enhance the ecological, landscape, and recreational value of the currently often monotonous (coniferous) forests. This also benefits soil life, which suffers from nitrogen emissions from traffic, industrial agriculture, and conventional construction.
On average, 50m³ of wood is needed to build a house. This means that we can construct 22,400 homes annually from Dutch wood, requiring 45 years to realize 1 million homes 'from our own soil.' In other words, 60 homes 'grow' daily in Dutch forests. If demand increases, more forests could potentially be planted. This could provide a boost to areas in the Netherlands struggling with poor soil quality, low spatial quality, and/or a declining agricultural economy. Perhaps we could even live in these new forests. Building with wood makes the Netherlands more beautiful!
By diversifying forest planting in terms of size and species, we can simultaneously enhance the ecological, landscape, and recreational value of the currently often monotonous (coniferous) forests. This also benefits soil life, which suffers from nitrogen emissions from traffic, industrial agriculture, and conventional construction.
On average, 50m³ of wood is needed to build a house. This means that we can construct 22,400 homes annually from Dutch wood, requiring 45 years to realize 1 million homes 'from our own soil.' In other words, 60 homes 'grow' daily in Dutch forests. If demand increases, more forests could potentially be planted. This could provide a boost to areas in the Netherlands struggling with poor soil quality, low spatial quality, and/or a declining agricultural economy. Perhaps we could even live in these new forests. Building with wood makes the Netherlands more beautiful!
