SUSTAINABILITY WAS A KEY FOCUS IN THE DEVELOPMENT OF BESTSELLER’S NEW DISTRIBUTION CENTRE. THE AIM WAS CLEAR: TO CREATE A BUILDING WITH THE LOWEST POSSIBLE ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT. ALTHOUGH CONSTRUCTION INEVITABLY LEADS TO CO₂ EMISSIONS DUE TO THE PRODUCTION, PROCESSING AND ASSEMBLY OF MATERIALS, THIS PROJECT DELIBERATELY SOUGHT SOLUTIONS TO ACTUALLY STORE CO₂ WITHIN THE BUILDING.
Bio-based materials play a key role in this. In addition to timber, straw has been chosen as an insulation material for the façades. Straw is a by-product of the grain harvest and is normally often burnt, causing the CO₂ stored within it to be released back into the atmosphere. By incorporating straw into the building envelope, this CO₂ remains stored for the long term.
PREFABRICATED STRAW MODULES
Prefabricated straw modules from Ecococon in Lithuania were used for the façades. These modules consist of a wooden frame into which straw has been compressed under high pressure. Each module is 400 mm thick and, due to production constraints, has maximum dimensions of 800 × 3,000 mm. Contractor Van de Ven assembled the straw modules into complete façade elements. To achieve this, a structural framework was constructed from CLT and LVL timber, into which the modules were incorporated as building blocks. The elements were fitted with fire-resistant cladding on both sides and then prefabricated on site.
STRUCTURAL CHALLENGE
For Pelecon, this innovative façade presented a number of specific challenges. The relatively thick, bio-based façade elements required careful coordination between structural engineering, façade construction and production. Not only the supporting structure, but also the detailing of the connections, the fixings, the deformations and the prefabrication had to be precisely coordinated. It is precisely with innovative construction methods that an integrated approach is essential to reconcile structural safety, feasibility and sustainability.
THE RESULT
A total of approximately 40,000 m² of Ecococon cladding has been installed. Due to this exceptional scale, the production of the modules took over a year. The result is an innovative cladding system in which an agricultural by-product has been transformed into a high-quality building material that simultaneously sequesters a significant amount of CO₂ for the long term.
GOING THE EXTRA MILE
For Pelecon, this project demonstrates that structural consultancy goes far beyond simply dimensioning a load-bearing structure. By actively contributing ideas on material choices, manufacturability, detailing and collaboration between the various disciplines right from the initial design phase, Pelecon contributes to innovative and future-proof construction solutions. It is precisely in bio-based projects that the strength of integrated structural design really comes into its own.
Impression: Henning Larsen Architects