This project shows how mass timber can be used not just for carbon savings, but to create restorative, human-centered environments for dementia care. Using prefabricated Sylva CLT elements, the four-storey structure supports both sustainability and wellbeing.

Key features include

-Non-institutional layout: Rooms are arranged around courtyards and shared spaces to encourage social connection and avoid isolating corridors.

-Balance of independence and support: Each apartment includes a kitchenette, while communal kitchens foster shared mealtimes and interaction.

-Strong nature connection: Residents enjoy views of the surrounding forest, access to terraces and greenhouses, and spaces that encourage movement and calm.

-Designed for dignity: Every detail—from wayfinding to light-filled interiors—aims to reduce confusion, support independence, and promote a sense of belonging.

Layout

The ground floor consists of a meeting hall, a large kitchen, offices, staff rooms and storage rooms. There is also a room for hair care and foot care as well as a "spa".

There are 60 apartments spread over three floors and six sections. The apartments consist of a combined bedroom and living room with a small sink with a fridge and a large bathroom. Each department has a common dining room/living room.

On each floor there is a space for larger activities or socializing in "activity rooms".

The centre has a patio adjacent to the assembly hall on the ground floor. There is a courtyard that is raised so that it ends up on the same level as the first living floor.

There is a greenhouse, cultivation facilities and seating facilities. There is also the opportunity to spend time outdoors in a grove that belongs to the business, where there is an accessible wooden ramp.

See images and video here for more details.

Carbon footprint

The Sylva CLT Floors, Roofs and Walls only generated 45 tonnes of greenhouse gases (CO₂e) to manufacture and six tonnes of CO₂e to transport.

Compared to the 649 tonnes of carbon dioxide that the trees removed while growing and will store in the building, this is a small fraction. Choosing Sylva CLT elements instead of non-renewables avoided 973 tonnes of greenhouse gases.

Source: Stora Enso Carbon Calculator based on third-party certified EPDs)

Hybrid thinking Concrete where it counts, timber where it heals

The structure rests on a concrete basement, with three timber-framed levels above. Concrete stairwells provide lateral stability and serve as safe access routes during erection. Above, Sylva™ CLT elements contribute to acoustic comfort, indoor air quality, and a warm material palette-critical for car facility design. Engineering with evidence LCA as a design tool, not a footnote ByggPartner conducted a life cycle assessment (LCA) during the design phase, giving the client a data-driven basis for material selection. The result? A timber-first structure that aligns with Sweden's push toward circular construction.

Solar panels and swedish pine - Not just a roof, but a resource

The rooftop is fitted with solar panels, and the building envelope features thermally treated pine-further enhancing its low carbon footprint. The generous courtyard adds biophilic value, supporting both residents' wellbeing and the building's passive design strategy.

Would you like to learn about more care facilities built with a Sylva kit? Check out:

John Morden Centre

Youth Care - OPZ

EHPAD La Résidence de la Pévèle

Alder Hey Children's Hospital: Catkin Centre and Sunflower House

Linden Farm Autism Supported Living

OPZ

Curated by Louisa Russell