A wooden tower-house as a contemporary and sustainable answer to the traditional farms

The clients of this wooden tower-house commissioned Firm Arkitecten for their new residence within the family plot. The original building was dismantled, and in its place stands the new three-story wooden villa with a patio and carport. Ecological and economic sustainability were the cornerstones of the project: the structure made from trees on the property replaced with new plants, the untreated wooden facade, and the sourcing of materials from sites near the lot all contribute to the ecology

In contrast to the wealth of ornate farmhouses, the new building was designed with smaller dimensions and a simpler, more regular form. Firm Arkitecten say it is a contemporary response to the farms of the past. The building's square footprint emphasizes its simplicity. The combination of the wooden cube of the upper floors with the massive concrete base form the tower

The upper floors, made of solid wood, rest on three wooden columns, allowing the creation of a ground floor with a panoramic view of the outdoors from both the kitchen, dining room and living room. In contrast to the openness of the ground floor, the upper floors feature strategically placed windows to strategic outdoor focuses. The concrete structure of the patio and carport acts as a link to the existing building. The organically shaped roof connects the new tower house to the old house and garden

As mentioned, the house was built entirely of wood from private forests that, through reforestation, in a time continuum provide generations of the family with material for their homes. Walls and ceilings are made of 24 cm thick solid fir wood, as is the facade. Fir was used for windows, furniture, and the acoustic ceiling; beech for floors and stairs; and elm for furniture and the outdoor patio seating area