Completed earlier this year, HAUT is part of the Netherlands’ commitment to becoming climate-neutral by 2050, in which the use of timber as a building material has been identified as one of the most effective ways to accelerate decarbonisation. Over 80 Dutch companies signed the Green Deal covenant Houtbouw of the Metropoolregio Amsterdam. With this, the nation's capital and most populous city is committing to the goal of building at least one in five buildings using primarily timber from 2025 onwards. 

HAUT was conceived in 2016 with the aim of being of both sustainable and high architectural quality. Situated near the Amstel river, the structure is one of the tallest hybrid-timber buildings in the world, incorporating 21 floors at nearly 73 metres tall. More than 2,000 cubic metres of timber were used in the construction of the building, which resulted in a total reduction of carbon emissions of 50 per cent when compared to conventional buildings. 

The building's façade consists largely of triple glasing and integrated PV panels. Sunlight supplies the building with natural heating and optimal lighting conditions. Combined with the rooftop photovoltaics, this energy-positive exterior generates enough energy to supply the entire building with energy. Other sustainable features include sensor-controlled installations, low-temperature underfloor heating, and a rooftop garden with rainwater storage and nest boxes for birds and bats.  As detailed by Arup, the design principle for HAUT was "timber where possible, concrete and steel when necessary." Thus, the foundation, basement, and elevator core were built using concrete, which gives stability to the main supporting structure and contributes to the fire safety of the building.

Arup also developed an innovative and cost-effective solution for the building's mezzanine floors. These consist of a 16-centimetre cross-laminated timber (CLT) deck mounted on 8 centimetres of concrete. To prevent vibrations and noise from travelling through adjacent apartments, the connection of the floors to the walls and façade are executed in solid concrete. The floor panels were manufactured offsite, transported to the site, and lifted into place.  Mathew Vola, Arup’s Property Business Unit Leader in the Netherlands, said; "HAUT proves that it's possible to develop truly sustainable residential buildings, following an integrated approach and working closely with all partners involved."

Source: Archinect News