UBM Development Czechia has completed the rough construction of the Timber Praha project of wooden apartment buildings, which are being built as part of the Arcus City residential complex in Prague-Reporyje. These modern chamber buildings made of solid CLT panels represent the first multi-storey timber apartment buildings in the modern history of the capital city. They include a total of 62 units with layouts from 1 + kk to 4 + kk, ranging in size from 39 to 110 sqm, and each of them has its own cellar, parking space in underground garages and a balcony, terrace or front garden. To date, a quarter of the apartments have been sold. The project is being built to BREEAM Excellent standard with an energy certificate in the most economical category A.
The Timber Prague project’s three- and four-storey apartment buildings were completed just seven months after the start of construction. Work is now moving to the interiors, with landscaping also underway. “We estimated the core and shell construction to take about six to seven months. It has been confirmed to us that wooden buildings bring a significant reduction compared to concrete construction, in this case by about a third,” explains Tomáš Krejčí, Director of the Design Department at UBM Development Czechia, adding: “The entire above-ground part of the Timber Praha apartment buildings is made of spruce wood. We chose larch for the exterior facade cladding. Wood will also be used in the interiors, not only as a visual element on the ceilings of the living rooms and corridors, but also on the staircases. The foundations, or more precisely the underground structure, are made of concrete. It is also used for the subfloor up to 20 centimetres above ground level and for the stair arms. Only one building has the entire staircase, including the elevator shaft, made of concrete, and that for fire reasons.”
The use of modern prefabrication technology also contributed to shortening the construction time and achieving even higher quality. ELK brought the robotically fabricated parts produced in the factory ready for construction and assembled them. UBM chose this method for the wooden load-bearing structures of walls and ceilings, and in some Timber Praha buildings also for bathrooms. The prefabricated bathrooms come from the specialist company SANIKA from Italy. The supplier of wooden structures is the renowned ELK company with many years of experience and know-how, and the subcontractor for CLT panels is the Pfeifer Group – both from Austria.
The current legislation is crucial for the design of wooden buildings in the Czech Republic. In addition to the strict fire regulations, it is necessary to take into account the standards for the design of timber structures, which are now gradually being modified on the basis of current European and international regulations. Currently in the Czech Republic, it is not possible to construct buildings of timber higher than four storeys, i.e. above 12 metres fire height. The parent company UBM Development AG, which plans to become Europe’s largest developer of ecological buildings with timber construction, is, for example, planning the construction of a 113-metre-high Timber Marina Tower office building with a timber-hybrid structure in Vienna. Following its example, the Czech UBM is committed to modernising existing regulations in order to increase the use of wood in the domestic construction industry. Among other things, it has participated in the establishment of the expert Platform for Sustainable Wood Construction and regularly participates in conferences at the Chamber of Deputies of the Parliament of the Czech Republic, etc.
Residential buildings in the most energy-efficient category A have a number of eco-friendly features, including blinds, geothermal boreholes and ground-water heat pumps for heating, cooling and hot water. Photovoltaic panels will be installed on the green roofs to harness electricity in common areas, including lighting and elevator operation. As part of the state-of-the-art technology, a Smart Home system will be installed to enable, among other things, video phone control, heating and cooling control and energy metering. The project aspires to obtain BREEAM Excellent environmental certification. Charging stations for electric vehicles are located in the underground garage.
“Interest in ecological and low-energy housing in the Czech Republic is generally growing,” says Josef Wiedermann, Managing Director of UBM Development Czechia, adding, “Those interested appreciate all the advantages of wooden buildings and realise their value and potential for the future. Future owners can expect low running costs thanks to the many ecological features already used as standard. At the same time, the apartments are comparable in price to conventional concrete construction.”
Wood is a renewable and fully recyclable material, and building with it is sustainable and less energy-intensive. In addition, it contributes to decarbonisation in the construction industry as it can absorb carbon dioxide emissions. In the Timber Prague project, UBM will use 1,800 m3 of wood, which will sequester 1,800 tonnes of carbon. Compared to traditional construction, greenhouse gas emissions will be reduced by around 60%.
Timber Praha is being built using solid CLT timber panels, which have high strength, load-bearing capacity and very good fire resistance. UBM also takes care of wood certification (PEFC, FSC), which guarantees sustainable management. Only increments are used for construction, and instead of cutting down one tree, the forest manager plants two to three new trees.
“Wood creates a healthy indoor environment. There are many studies proving its positive effects on human health and psyche. It reduces stress and increases productivity. It has good insulation and acoustic properties. It does not eliminate toxic substances, but has the ability to bind some of them. Naturally eliminates viruses and bacteria. Wood also naturally regulates humidity and prevents fluctuations,” says Josef Wiedermann.
The new Arcus City district, of which the Timber Prague project is a part, is characterised by a quiet family atmosphere, which is enhanced by the beautiful surrounding nature. At the same time, it has all civic amenities. Nearby are schools, kindergartens, supermarkets, restaurants, post office and other shops. A bus stop will be built in Arcus City connecting the residential area with the metro stations B – Stodůlky and Luka, which will provide residents with excellent connections to the center of Prague (about 20 min). For pleasant walks you can go to the nearby Prokopské and Dalejské valleys or to the Řepora Biopark.
