In Sweden's first wooden city, buildings will be fire resistant: The city will be built on 2.5 lakh sq. Rs 11,500 crore will be spent, the carbon footprint will be reduced by 40%

 In Sweden's first wooden city, buildings will be fire resistant: The city will be built on 2.5 lakh sq. Rs 11,500 crore will be spent, and the carbon footprint will be reduced by 40%

In Sweden's first wooden city(Reddit)

A unique frenzy has erupted worldwide—building wooden skyscrapers. Initially, the record for such buildings was held by the Mjøstårnet Tower, an 85-meter-tall structure near Lake Mjøsa in Norway. It features apartments, a hotel, and a swimming pool. In 2022, the title was snatched by the Ascent, an 87-meter-tall tower in Wisconsin, USA. Currently, plans are underway for a 90-meter tower in Ontario, Canada, and a 100-meter skyscraper in Switzerland.

This week, Sweden has captured global attention by announcing the construction of the world's largest wooden city, called "Stockholm Wood City." It will be built in the Sickla district and span a 250,000-square-meter site. Along with restaurants and shops, the project will include 2,000 residential units and 7,000 offices. Estimated to cost around 11.5 billion rupees, the project will be led by Sweden's city development company, Atrium Ljungberg, and is set to commence in 2025.

Buildings will be green and lightweight. The company's CEO, Annika Anas, states that like modern projects, the homes in Wood City will use some concrete and steel in their foundations, but the quantity will be minimal. Wooden buildings are lightweight, allowing for smaller foundations. Additionally, engineered wood has aligned wooden components, such as floors, walls, cross braces, and beams, to provide them with exceptionally high strength.

Their construction is possible in a factory where their strength and quality can be easily maintained. Anas says, "Wooden homes will be affordable, and the construction process will also be quieter." The biggest concern regarding wooden buildings is fire safety. To address this, several fire safety systems will be installed in the buildings of Wood City. Sprinklers and flame-resistant partitions will be present.

Engineered wood will be used, which will not harm nature.

Researchers claim that engineered wood is highly fire-resistant. Prior to the construction of the "Essent" building in the United States, sections of laminated wood, which would be used in the project, underwent rigorous testing by the U.S. Forest Service. They received a rating for fire resistance.

The company claims that with this project, they can reduce the carbon footprint by up to 40% compared to the construction of concrete and steel. Wood is a sustainable material and is abundant in Sweden. Additionally, it can be produced from renewable forests.

When this wood is used in construction, it effectively locks in carbon. Moreover, the project will utilize sections made of engineered wood. Engineered wood is stronger than ordinary plywood or particleboard. It involves laminating wood layers together in specific ways.