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As wood-frame highrises gain popularity around the world, the Department of Architecture at the University of Cambridge has partnered with PLP Architecture and engineer Smith and Wallwork to imagine a would-be record-breaking skyscraper. The trio has presented their ambitious vision for London's first wooden skyscraper to Mayor Boris Johnson. Thinking outside the traditional steel and concrete box, the 80-storey Oakwood Tower would consist of a structural timber frame wrapped in a predominantly glass facade.
At a proposed 300 metres, the tower would be London's second tallest building, falling just six metres short of The Shard's height. It would however easily dwarf both the current tallest wooden structure in the world — a 14-storey apartment block in Bergen, Norway — and a planned 84-metre development in Vienna, Austria. The project comes at a time when contractors, developers, and architects are taking notice of the benefits of wood-frame construction. Not only is timber a renewable resource, its lightweight design usually results in lower costs and faster construction. Once sealed from the elements, wood-frame buildings comply with the same fire regulations in place for concrete and steel structures.
Renderings for the conceptual design show two adjoined towers, connected to mid-rise terraces, each marked by sloping rooflines. It's possible that up to 1,000 units could be included in the development, adding more residences to the famous Barbican housing estate which has been hailed as one of the best examples of Brutalist architecture.
PLP Architecture is behind a number of other groundbreaking projects that promise to redefine their landscapes. The two-tower Nexus project in China's Pearl River Delta visualizes a mixed-use program of interlocking blocks that pushes elevators and servicing shafts to the perimeter, freeing up interior floor space in the process.
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