FEELING WOOD

Budapest University of Technology and Economics

Project idea

Feeling Wood provides high-quality housing that gives a natural and healthy living environment in the heart of Budapest. The building is integrated into the historic fabric of the district.
The living area and the courtyard are elevated half-storey above the street level whereas the basement is half-storey under the street level.
The building has 30 flats from 57.1 to 142.1 m2, community area, gym and laundry zone, 25 parking lots and storage for every flat.

Project description

Feeling Wood provides high-quality housing that gives a natural and healthy living environment. The use of modern timber technology (CLT) significantly reduces the carbon footprint of the building in terms of both material production and on-site time and energy consumption.
To keep fire regulation laws, the sprinkler system is integrated. Stability of the building provided by RC cores (that also provides safe escape routes in case of fire) and CLT panels. To keep acoustics requirements, special connections and separated walling structures are used.
Semi-private courtyard bounded by L-shape and Tower parts of the building that has a common basement level with parking and storage for every flat. The courtyard is elevated half-storey above the street level to keep it mostly for residents avoiding the fence installation. The basement is located half-storey under the street level, designed to provide parking lots, storage spaces and allocate needed services and utilities.
The building has 30 flats from 57.1 to 142.1 m2, community area, gym and laundry zone, 25 parking lots and storage for every flat. Courtyard level flats have private gardens.
Vertical and horizontal connectivity is provided by a system of stairs, elevators and paths between two raised parts.
Tower height and stepped elevation of the L-shape part correspond in scale with varied roof heights of the neighbour buildings, generating common and private terraces. During the design process, the windows' grid was developed. It provides a chaotic elevation form, yet keeping the order. Every flat designed to provide sunlight to living zones.
The program of Feeling Wood brings a large degree of variation of the housing units. Many different sizes are desired to cater for a wide range of future inhabitants for cross-generational and accessible housing.

Technical information

Basement. Structural system.
The basement of the building is made of reinforced concrete.
It is situated -2.35m under the ground (top surface of the load-bearing slab). The basement area is unheated (except for the staircase which leads to the basement level). A slab foundation is a 50cm height with widening under the columns to prevent punch. The slab foundation thickness between A/1-D and 6-9 axis is 1.0 m to distribute the extra load from Sprinkler system water storage.
Vertical load-bearing structures. The enclosure structures are reinforced concrete walls with 20cm thickness. With a grid 6.0x6.0 m, the reinforced concrete columns are designed. The section is 30x30 cm (40x40 cm for those which bear CLT walls).
Horizontal load-bearing structures. The reinforced concrete slab 20 cm thick is designed above the basement level. Beams under the courtyard are 30x40cm. Where the load-bearing CLT wall structures will be constructed, the reinforced concrete beams 40x80 cm are designed.
Upper levels. Structural system.
The walling system with a 6m distance between the load-bearing walls is chosen. The load-bearing walls are made of timber (CLT panels). The slabs are also made of CLT panels. The slabs are calculated as 2-span structure. Walls are 2 x 100mm CLT panels. Slabs are 200 mm CLT panels.
Stability
Stability is provided by the walling system with two perpendicular directions of the action. It is enforced by reinforced concrete cores of the staircases.
Staircases
Staircase cores are made of reinforced concrete. The structures are the combination of reinforced concrete walls and reinforced concrete columns + beams. It provides safe evacuation in case of fire.
The flights and landings are separated from the walls next to the flats to avoid impact noise transfer. The floating floor solves the issue with impact noise. Special connection with Elastic Rubber bed to decrease transferring of impact noise
Elevator shafts
Elevator shafts are made of reinforced concrete. The thickness of the wall is 15 cm and it is separated from other structures to avoid the vibrations and Impact noise transferring. The gap is ~2cm.
Firewalls
All walls which are connected to the existing neighbour buildings are made of reinforced concrete 20cm thick. It fully responds to the fire regulation requirements. Next to existing buildings, the walls are designed with non-removable formwork of 6cm crust panels connected by reinforcement.
Firesafety.
The evacuation path goes by the stair. Distance from every flat to the stair does not exceed 50m.
For extra fire protection reasons, the automatic sprinkling system is integrated into the building. The sprinkling tanks are placed at the basement level with amount water for 30 minutes supply (approximately150 m3).
Pressurized staircase for the building over 14 m is organized. (25 -30 pa pressure)
Acoustics.
Airborne sound and Impact noise are solved according to national regulations. Special connections, structures and sub-structures are used.
Thermal insulation.
The external walls made of CLT panels provides U=0.203 [W/m2K]
The external walls made of RC provides U=0.238 [W/m2K]
Flat roof provides U=0.12 - 0.168 [W/m2K]
Basement ceiling provides U=0.293 [W/m2K]


The following documentation is provided:
Master plan
Floorplans 1:100
Facade renders
Floorplans 1:50 (Part of the building)
Section 1:50 (Part of the building)
Facade drawings 1:50 (Part of the building)
Technical details in 1:2...1:20
Exterior renders
Interior renders
Circulation scheme
2-level flat scheme

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