Highest hybrid building in Netherlands complete

At a height of 72 metres, HAUT has become the Netherlands’ highest timber-hybrid building.

Designed by British architect Arup, the Amsterdam building’s main components are timber, steel and concrete. The timber construction saves carbon emissions, as wood does not emit any CO2.

The architects at Arup collaborated with developer Lingotto, team V Architectuur and Brüninghoff timber specialists to construct this innovative residential building, which has a Building Research Establishment Environmental Assessment Method (BREEAM) certificate to show that it is sustainable and environmentally friendly.

The floors of the apartment building have a hybrid timber and concrete construction with cross-laminated timber anchored to concrete flooring. This method of flooring stops noise and vibrations affecting neighbouring apartments. Low-temperature underfloor heating is embedded in the floors. The rooftop garden collects and stores rainwater and has nest boxes for the use of bats and birds. The windows have triple glazing for maximum insulation and integrated photovoltaic (PV) panels. Rooftop solar panels generate enough electricity to supply all the building’s electricity requirements.

It is possible to construct buildings entirely from wood, but most large commercial timber-framed buildings also rely on other materials, including steel and concrete for the floors. This hybrid approach enables architects to exploit the benefits of each material. For example, concrete flooring is strong, durable, cost-effective and easy to maintain, and is suitable for timber-framed buildings. Steel is quick to erect, especially strong and dependable. Hybrid buildings made from timber, concrete and steel use the strengths of each material, while not forgetting environmental impact.