Timber iQ August - September 2019 // Issue:45 | Page 35

FEATURES iconic house shape with references to a widely spread type in Swedish post-war architecture. The Norwegian town of Brumunddal is home to Mjøstårnet, the tallest timber building in the world. At 85.4m high, the building was opened in March 2019 and holds the record for the world’s tallest timber building. Mjøstårnet has a combined floor area of around 11 300m². The building has 18 storeys that include apartments, a hotel, offices, a restaurant, a rooftop terrace and common areas. Peaking between 80 and 90m high, the structure boasts intriguing anti-fire features. According to Even Andersen, a fire consultant with Sweco Norge AS, glulam, or glued laminated timber, was used in the construction as glulam beams don’t burn. The structure was first assembled at the factory in Moelv before being transported to the building site for final assembly. During construction, several hundred glulam beams were hoisted into place in the structure over the course of a 10-month period. The height of the top part of the building of the building – with the pergola beams – was increased by 4.4 metres. To achieve this, the pergola beams at the top had to be rounded off to reduce wind loads. They were initially planned to be rectangular. MJØSTÅRNET Mjøstårnet is the tallest timber building in the world. Cape Town: [phone] Knysna: [phone] [email protected] www.rarewoods.co.za We supply a wide range of decking products Suppliers of South Africa’s widest range of local and imported timbers – from Ash to Zebrano, and everything in between A market-leading stockholding of 165 species and 8000m 3 of stock Operating for over 30 years, with branches in Cape Town and Knysna Extensive showrooms, full of inspiration Offering friendly, knowledgeable, passionate and professional service Attractive discounts available to trade and bulk customers A treasure trove for wood lovers! WE SHIP NATIONWIDE FOR BULK ORDERS www.timberiq.co.za RareWoodsSA @RareWoodsSA // AUGUST / SEPTEMBER 2019 33