HiT - Health in Timber

Timber construction can be further developed and become more resource-efficient, sustainable and competitive if one utilizes the strength of different frame systems that are joined and optimized when larger and more complex buildings are to be built. It would mean a new toolbox for architects and designers to start from, which provides new opportunities for designing and optimizing the load-bearing frame.

Traditionally, today's hospitals are built in concrete and steel. Using timber in the frame is still a challenge as there is a lack of both familiarity and established guidelines. Demands to change towards more sustainable construction are increasing, but still cannot be justified to use unproven technology in hospital projects.

The project evaluates the requirements that exist for different types of operations in a hospital from a timber construction perspective. Possibilities and challenges for timber construction are mapped in parallel with the cases where it is not possible to use timber. Based on the challenge of building a hospital with a timber frame, a fictitious and limited design exercise is carried out to test the design and construction of a hospital by combining different existing timber building systems.

The title of the application at Vinnova The Optimized Complex Wooden Structures of the Future.  The project working title in progress HiT - Health in Timber.