Learning from 20 realised timber residential buildings
Application in projects
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Amy Stuik
amystuik@ucarchitects.com
EN
This research clearly maps out the key improvements and optimisation opportunities in multi-storey timber construction. From smart timber detailing to carefully considered CLT design, the handbook presents 30 fully developed LoD 500 details that can be applied directly in both design and construction practice.
By analysing twenty realised timber residential buildings, Urban Climate Architects and MAATworks have developed an accessible and practice-oriented handbook that provides clear guidance for the scaling up of high-quality mass timber construction.
Interest in biobased and mass timber housing is growing rapidly. To truly scale up timber construction, design teams need to work with a shared language, common principles and a consistent quality level of CLT detailing. Standardisation provides clarity, speeds up decision-making and makes timber construction more predictable and scalable—exactly what is needed to accelerate both the housing challenge and our climate ambitions.
In multi-storey timber construction, performance is determined in the details: fire safety, acoustics, structural stability and services integration. When these aspects are properly resolved, projects can be delivered faster, with higher quality and less engineering effort.
With repeatable, high-quality mass timber details, architects, engineers and contractors can design and build with confidence. This is how timber construction truly comes of age.
In multi-storey timber construction, performance is determined in the details: fire safety, acoustics, structural stability and services integration. When these aspects are properly resolved, projects can be delivered faster, with higher quality and significantly less engineering effort.
With repeatable, high-quality mass timber details, architects, engineers and contractors can design and build with confidence. This is how timber construction matures—from bespoke experimentation to a robust, reliable building system.
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This research was initiated by Built by Nature and carried out by Urban Climate Architects in collaboration with MAATworks. By bringing together design, engineering and research, the study provides clear insight into the constructive detailing of multi-storey timber buildings in the Netherlands—and what is required to genuinely accelerate the scaling up of biobased construction.
The result is a concrete overview of proven solutions and recurring bottlenecks in CLT construction in the Netherlands, engineered timber buildings, and solid timber housing.This creates a valuable knowledge base for architects, developers and contractors aiming to deliver biobased buildings, apply circular materials, and achieve a healthy residential quality.Timber construction will only reach real scale when design, engineering and buildability are aligned from the very beginning. With this research, we bring that future closer—circular, Paris Proof and fully focused on decarbonisation.
This research is the result of close collaboration with a broad network of partners:
Built by Nature · MAATworks · TNO · TU Delft · European Network for Mass Timber Construction · World Green Building Council · BiodiverCities · Wood Works · Stichting HoutbouwNL · Biobased Creations · ESG Real Estate · Dutch Green Building Council (DGBC)
The findings of this research position timber construction for widespread application. Through shared references, technical clarity and an open-access handbook, a sector-wide foundation is created for high-quality mass timber housing.This supports both the construction industry and policymakers in accelerating biobased, low-carbon residential development—in the Netherlands and beyond.
Discover how we translate the research findings into practice.
Wood Architecture
Architectuur
Biobased construction with CLT: The Urban Woods, Delft (NL)
Urban Climate Architects designs cities where people can live healthy, comfortable lives. Through sustainable construction, biobased building and climate-adaptive urban design, we make the future tangible—from the very first urban decision.
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