Developed by Baugemeinschaft Walden 48 GbR, a Berlin based building consortium with a strong sustainability agenda, the building is located between a quiet cemetery and a busy urban street offering tranquility in the heart of the city.

The application of Sylva™ CLT Walls and Floors solved several challenges in the construction of Walden 48. The prefabricated elements allowed for rapid assembly, reducing construction time and associated on-site labour hours.

The high level of prefabrication ensured precision and quality, contributed to the building's structural integrity and aesthetic appeal. Additionally, the elements provided excellent thermal and acoustic insulation, enhancing the living comfort for residents.

The two-layer cavity-insulated slate façade provides excellent heat and sound insulation. The ground floor, attic floor, and balconies were designed with larch wood formwork. The construction method also offers flexible floor plans, with ceiling spans of 7.20 m allowing for 13 m deep residential units without supports. This design provides residents with maximum creative freedom, with load-bearing walls and ceiling undersides fully exposed to wood, ensuring a healthy indoor climate.

For sound insulation, a controlled ventilation system with heat recovery was installed, which, combined with the highly thermally insulating building envelope, minimizes heating requirements. This can be covered with a brine heat pump and a supplementary gas boiler.

The ground floor and roof contain communal areas, while the ground floor and first-floor house maisonette apartments. As requested by the residents, a bicycle parking garage was planned in the basement. What is special is that not only the building itself was made of solid wood, but also the elevator shafts and stairs. The floors are separated by wooden composite ceilings, and only the stairwell and firewalls are made of reinforced concrete. The ceiling span of just over seven metres, and the room depths of up to 13 metres enable flexible living floor plans.

The outer walls are heavily insulated. Towards Landsberger Allee, special attention was paid to sound insulation.

Sustainability

The house is equipped with a geothermal heat pump and achieves the KfW 55 standard in terms of energy efficiency, an important aspect of sustainable construction.

The Sylva elements contribute to a pleasant and healthy indoor climate, (classified for M1).

To manufacture the CLT elements, only 35 tonnes of greenhouse gases (CO₂e), were generated and transportation from the mill generated an additional 13 tonnes of CO₂e. However compare this to the 508 tonnes of CO2 removed from the air and stored in Walden 48 or the 762 tonnes of CO₂e avoided by using Sylva instead of non-renewable construction materials. (Source: Carbon Calculator)

Awards:

DAM Prize 2022, Nomination for Architecture in Germany

BDA Prize Berlin 2021, Honorable Mention

Award Residential Buildings of the Year 2021, Recognition

German Sustainability Award Architecture 2021, Finalist

German Architecture Award 2021

HolzbauPlus Award 2020, Winner in the category "Residential Multi-Family Buildings - New Construction"

About the Architect: ARGE Scharabi | Raupach, the architectural firm behind Walden 48, is known for their low-emission approach urban development. Their work emphasizes the use of natural materials and energy-efficient designs, creating buildings that are both environmentally friendly and aesthetically pleasing.