When wood becomes part of the city of the future

Timber construction has moved beyond niche projects. Today, it is no longer just about individual buildings, but about entire districts, new construction processes and a different view of how future communities can be built. Stockholm Wood City shows how wood can take its place in urban development at scale.

In Sickla, in south-east Stockholm, plans are taking shape for what is described as the world’s largest urban district built in wood. Here, Atrium Ljungberg aims to develop a further 25 blocks, comprising a total of 250,000 square metres of new space. The plans include around 7,000 workplaces, 2,000 homes, services, retail and restaurants.

The project is part of a broader transformation. When Atrium Ljungberg set new sustainability targets, the question of how to build for the future became more concrete. How can you develop a city at scale while also reducing climate impact?

“We have a very large project portfolio ahead of us and are facing investments worth tens of billions. At the same time, we know that the real estate

industry accounts for 40 per cent of global carbon dioxide emissions from production and operation. That means we also have to look at how we build,” says Håkan Hyllengren, Head of Business Development for Sickla at Atrium Ljungberg.

From material choice to urban structure

Constructing a building in wood is one thing. Planning an entire urban district where wood is a central part of the development is something else entirely. In Stockholm Wood City, homes, offices, public spaces, services and flows all need to work together over time.

That is why the work does not begin with façades or materials, but with the fundamental structure of the city.

“When we took on Stockholm Wood City, we started with how to build the urban structure of the area. How many squares there should be, the width of the streets and how to create a human scale in the city. That work comes before we decide what the buildings should look like and which materials we should use,” says Håkan Hyllengren.

This is where timber construction becomes particularly interesting for an industry in transition. When wood is used in larger projects, it affects not only the building itself, but also planning, logistics, design, production and collaboration between different stakeholders.

Technology, regulations and expertise have advanced

This development would not have been possible without major changes in both regulations and knowledge. Susanne Rudenstam, Head of the

Swedish Wood Building Council, works to create better conditions for building more, and higher, in wood. She points out that Sweden long had restrictions on high-rise residential buildings in wood.

“For a long time in Sweden, it was not permitted to build tall residential buildings in wood. In connection with Sweden joining the EU in 1995, we moved to performance-based building regulations, which made it possible to build in different materials as long as they met the requirements,” she says.

Once the opportunities opened up, much of the knowledge had to be rebuilt. Expertise in timber structures, fire safety, acoustics, moisture and design needed to be strengthened among architects, structural engineers, engineers and consultants. At the same time, the industry has invested in production capacity and developed solutions that make it possible to deliver wood-based building systems on a larger scale.

“The first thing is that we have solved the basic technical issues around moisture, acoustics and fire. At the same time, we have gained a regulatory framework and standardisation that make this work in practice,” says Susanne Rudenstam.

For the wood industry, this development brings new opportunities, but also higher demands. As more construction projects move from pilot schemes to larger volumes, the need for standardisation, industrial processes and expertise across the entire value chain increases.

Collaboration needs to start earlier

One of the clearest lessons from larger timber projects is that the process cannot look exactly the same as in traditional construction. It is not enough to switch materials late in the project. The right expertise needs to be involved from the beginning.

“The most important thing is to bring in consultants who have done this before. Architects, structural engineers, acousticians and fire consultants need to have experience of timber construction,” says Håkan Hyllengren.

When more questions need to be resolved early, collaboration between disciplines becomes crucial. Architecture, structural design, acoustics, fire safety and production are closely connected. If decisions are made jointly from the start, the risk of late changes and costly mistakes further down the line is reduced.

“We see closer collaboration, especially between architects and structural engineers. It helps us find better solutions and reduces the risk of errors later on,” says Håkan Hyllengren.

This development affects far more than construction companies. For sawmills, wood processors, suppliers, system developers and producers of building components, new business opportunities are emerging as timber construction becomes more industrialised and more integrated into urban development.

The next step: circularity, prefab and smarter construction processes

Looking ahead, Susanne Rudenstam sees several clear directions. Timber construction is expected to continue growing, but it will also be increasingly linked to circularity, reuse and more efficient use of existing buildings.

“I think we will build much more in wood. I also think we will work more with circularity. That we do not demolish, but instead use what has already been built,” says Susanne Rudenstam.

She also points out that more of the construction process will move from the building site to the industry. Prefabricated components can contribute to more efficient processes, better control and reduced dependence on work carried out on site.

“We will need to do more prefab. Partly to become more efficient, but also because we will face a shortage of construction workers. That means we have to find other ways of building,” she says.

For visitors to Wood Products & Technology, these questions are highly relevant. The event brings together stakeholders from wood processing, industry, construction, architecture and urban development to discuss how the role of wood can grow in practice, from production and technology to sustainable urban development.

“Wood Products & Technology is a place where we can talk about all dimensions of sustainability: economic, ecological and social sustainability together. That is why meeting places like Wood Products & Technology are incredibly important,” says Susanne Rudenstam.

As timber construction moves from individual projects to entire urban districts, it becomes clear that the development requires more than a change of material. It is about new ways of working, new collaborations and a wood industry ready to take a larger role in the communities of the future.

About Wood Products & Technology

Wood Products & Technology is the Nordic region’s largest meeting place for the wood industry. Here, the entire value chain gathers — from sawmills and production to architecture and urban development — to share knowledge, discover new technology and do business. The focus is on innovation, sustainability and the future of wood construction. Register for your free entry ticket »