Fasanenhof Apartment Building, Frenkendorf
2021
The first four-story timber post-and-beam structure was built in Frenkendorf. Thanks to TS3, the building—which was originally planned to be constructed of concrete—can now be built using wood. The design process for cross-laminated timber panels, which provide multi-directional structural support, is similar to that for reinforced concrete.
The Project
The four-story residential complex with 15 comfortable apartments is located in Frenkendorf in Basel-Land. This sustainably constructed timber building remains the tallest structure to date in which TS3 technology has been used. This means that the floor slabs consist of large-format cross-laminated timber panels joined end-to-end using TS3 technology. This provides building occupants with a comfortable indoor climate as well as maximum flexibility in use.
Thanks to the prefabricated components and precise planning, the entire building was erected in just three weeks.
The Construction Method
The Fasanenhof is a column-slab construction similar to that found in reinforced concrete—but made simply from cross-laminated timber panels and round wooden columns. This allows for a faster construction timeline, as no curing period is required. Only the stairwell core was poured with concrete. Here, however, the usual sequence was reversed: the timber structure was erected first and later served as permanent formwork for the liquid concrete.
The Challenges
The cold temperatures during the pouring of the CLT panels required winter construction measures. To this end, the building was temporarily wrapped and heated. This ensured the necessary temperatures during pouring and curing.
Construction data
- Number of floors: 4
- Floor area: 1,222 m²
- Cross-laminated timber: 293 m³
- TS3 technology: 567 m¹
Architecture
Scherer Architekten AG, Liestal
Timber engineer
Timbatec Timber Engineering Switzerland AG, Bern
Construction management
Scherer Architekten AG, Liestal
Photography
Nils Sandmeier, Biel
Images
Trade press
The wooden ceiling becomes presentable
Wir Holzbauer, Issue 5.2022 – The beam ceiling is becoming flat: Researchers and engineers have found a solution for optimally replacing the concrete ceiling with wood. The first residential buildings have thus been realized and those involved are enthusiastic. (Report in German)
Wood instead of concrete, very simple
BlickPunkt, Issue 2/2021 - TS3 enables large areas to be made of wood. This means that wood can replace traditional reinforced concrete in many projects. In Frenkendor, the first four-story column-and-slab construction using TS3 technology is under construction. The people involved are enthusiastic.
"Design as in reinforced concrete, but build in wood"
Holz-Zentralblatt, Issue No. 1/2021 - The "Timber Structures 3.0" technology (TS3) of Timbatec Holzbauingenieure Schweiz AG enables biaxial load-bearing flat slabs made of wood with a column grid of up to 8x8m. This means that wood can be used in many construction projects in the same way as reinforced concrete. The special feature here is the blunt, face-side bonding of the timber components used. In Frenkendorf in Basel-Land (Switzerland), the first four-story building using TS3 technology is currently being built, the Fasanenhof apartment building with 15 apartments. (Report in German)
