Data publicării
21 October 2023
Sustainability is a buzzword in modern architecture – and not just when building the world’s tallest wooden skyscraper. According to the Green Building Council, the built environment accounts for almost 40% of “global energy-related carbon emissions”, with materials and construction alone accounting for 11% of this global total. However, it is often the case that one has to delve into the technical details to see what exactly makes a building sustainable.
But once a recently approved residential block goes up in Perth, Australia, there will be no mistaking how important sustainability was to the project. Why? Because it would be the tallest wooden skyscraper in the world.
Envisioned by Australian architecture firm Fraser and Partners, C6 (the project’s name, which derives from its location at 6 Charles Street) aims to incorporate hybrid wood not just for floor paneling, but as an essential structural element in all 50 of stories and 627 feet. Cross laminated as well as glued laminated (or “Glulam”) lumber will be used for joists, joinery, studs and more, accounting for 42% of the project’s total materials.
According to the project’s website, the 79,652 square meters of timber required translates to just 580 pine trees from sustainably managed forests, all of which can be “regrown in 59 minutes from a single forest region.” As a result, Fraser and Partners claims the C6 will use “approximately 45% less concrete than a traditional building of a similar scale”.
This would not only translate into a project that is carbon neutral upon completion, but can also be net carbon negative over the life cycle of the building. Fraser and Partners say the building is capable of sequestering nearly 23 million pounds of carbon, although a sustainable building expert who spoke to The Guardian points out that wood’s tendency to end up in landfill at the end of its natural life cycle may eventually reduce this.
In addition to the construction of the 200 residential units, sustainability will feature prominently in other facets of C6’s design, from the basement to the roof. The building will be powered by an embedded grid that runs 100% on renewable energy. Instead of a traditional parking garage, residents will have access to a fleet of 80 Tesla Model 3s that can be shared, with electric vehicle charging ports available in each parking lot. In addition to space for entertainment and dining, the roof of the C6 will also have 5,382 square meters of edible and floral gardens.
Once completed, the C6 would surpass the world’s current tallest wooden skyscraper, the Ascent Building in Wisconsin, which stands at just under 285 feet. It would also surpass the height of another hybrid timber project currently under construction in Sydney, which will rise to 590 feet, while positioning the land below as a leader in tall timber construction.
Despite this recognition, Fraser and Partners is not so much focused on setting records for tall timber construction as it is on helping others follow in their footsteps. The firm plans to open source all of the project’s technical materials, with architect and director Reade Dixon telling the Guardian that “our big hope is that [C6] challenges the industry to make better future designs”.
There is no timeline yet for the completion of C6. But don’t be surprised if this iconic wooden project inspires other sustainability-minded architects to eclipse their benchmark by the time tenants move into their new home.
