The world's largest wooden city "infused with the serenity of a forest"
Swedish developer Annica Anas hopes Stockholm's wooden city - set to be the largest in the world - will open the floodgates for a different style of placemaking and urban design
Annica Anas is gearing up to make history.
The chief executive of Swedish urban developer Atrium Ljungberg, she is the woman leading the charge on the design, development and delivery of the largest wooden city in the world. Aptly called, well, Wood City. What else?
Set to cover a massive 2.5m sq ft of land in southern Stockholm and comprising 7,000 office spaces, 2,000 homes and swathes of restaurants, shops and public realm when completed in 2027, the project will be a feat of both urban design and sustainable innovation. The goal is to decrease the climate footprint of the project by around 40 per cent compared to one of a similar size and scale deploying more commonly used materials such as concrete and steel.
It is a bold move. While the benefits of mass timber construction are well-known and documented - aforementioned sustainability credentials, a faster and quieter construction process and increased well-being for the people who eventually spend time in the completed spaces and places to name a few – so too are the pitfalls.
For decades, mass timber use in construction and development has not been top of the list for designers and developers, particularly in the UK and Europe, despite the swathes of advantages. Apart from anything else, fear of getting caught up in lengthy, not to mention costly, insurance hurdles off the back of the potential for fire and water damage has proven to be a significant deterrent.
But, says Anas, times are changing. Perceptions that timber buildings are “uninsurable” are increasingly being recognised as inaccurate. Complex? Yes. Insurmountable? No. As has been proven by a wave of ambitious, new mass timber developments including Waugh Thistleton Architects’ The Black and White Building - the tallest mass timber building in London - and Bywater Properties’ Paradise SE11, also in London. And, of course, Wood City itself.
The hope, adds Anas, is that by taking a punt on an entirely wooden district, Atrium Ljungberg could open the floodgates for a very different style of placemaking and urban design in the not-too-distant future. One the world, and indeed our planet, so desperately needs. But she is well aware that all eyes are on her and her team as they embark on one of the most high-profile urban design projects in the world.
Can she deliver the goods? I caught up with her to find out more.
EW: There is a lot of focus on mass-timber development at the moment, but a project set to be "the largest in the world" is something different - a different league. It elevates your project to a totally new, never before seen scale of development. As well as the obvious benefits of developing and building this way, how does it feel to be setting this sort of example to the world?
AA: Good. Very good. The property sector plays a key role in the green transition, as buildings account for as much as 40 per cent of the world’s CO2 emissions. Although it's unfortunate, it also gives us opportunities to make a big difference. Our company has ambitious sustainability goals, including being climate neutral by 2030. To achieve these goals, it's not enough to do things at the margins, we must take bold and courageous steps. And we need more people who share the same goals. We hope that, with the Stockholm Wood City initiative, we can inspire other real estate companies, both in Sweden and globally.
Do you believe developments like this, on such a huge scale, will be emulated elsewhere?
Yes, absolutely. Building in wood is certainly not a new concept but doing it on this scale has not been done before. Now the technology to make it happen is in place and there is a high demand from tenants for innovative, sustainable solutions.
Now you are in the thick of it, have you noticed there are certain characteristics required for a design and development plan specifically related to using timber?
It has been necessary to have a detailed plan adapted for timber construction, allowing for slightly taller buildings. This is because timber structures require more space. Otherwise, we risk losing space and floor area, which is crucial for the overall economic viability of the building.
What about the support from the real estate ecosystem when it comes to designing and delivering this scheme? Are the knowledge and skills there to support it?
There is, of course, a challenge in finding expertise and relevant experiences considering that few or no similar projects have been done before. That's why we're working with leading experts not only in Sweden but also internationally. We're do also recognise that development is progressing rapidly; what may be the best solution today may not be so in a few years.
What about demand? Presumably occupier and investor demand is very high for this sort of project aesthetically and environmentally. But what about challenges including insurance and safety? How are you tackling those?
Safety requirements and other standards are always of the highest priority and this project will meet exactly the same high standards as our other projects. The wood used is tailored for purpose. Solid wood forms a protective char layer on the surface that retains much of its load-bearing capacity, contributing to a safer structure. We will, as always, adhere to all relevant building codes and safety regulations, and collaborate closely with local authorities throughout the construction process.
You have spoken in the past about how timber projects can result in quieter, faster construction compared to schemes deploying other, more commonly used materials. Can you give me a bit more information around that? How will a project like Wood City compare to standard construction in terms of time and noise?
Yes, building in wood means quieter construction sites because of a reduction in the amount of heavy goods transport over the course of the construction period. This is particularly important when constructing in existing environments where people already live and work.
Our calculations indicate that building in wood is cost-neutral compared to conventional construction. Shorter construction times are offset by more expensive materials. In short, these factors balance each other out. At the same time, it creates a fantastic environment that many people will want to be in, creating significant profitability potential.
Can you tell me more about the health and well-being aspect of this sort of development method and the material itself?
The benefits of wooden buildings are many and tangible, both in terms of the environment and for people’s health and well-being. As shown by various research studies, wooden buildings provide better air quality, reduce stress, increase productivity and store carbon dioxide throughout the time they are in use.
Emily Wright is a real estate and technology journalist contributing to titles including WIRED, GQ, The Spaces, The Evening Standard, The Times and The Telegraph. She spent 12 years of her career at EG where she worked as both tech editor and then head of content. She has interviewed major players from both within and outside the property industry including Zaha Hadid, Sidewalk Labs' Dan Doctoroff, Lord Richard Rogers, Daniel Libeskind, Donald Trump and Sir Terence Conran.
Emily is now head of content at CREtech where she specialises in curating content and interviewing speakers from across the built world with a focus on innovation and sustainability. She is also a freelance journalist, contributing editor, moderator and keynote speaker focussed on design, development, cities, innovation and ESG.
This is really an ambitious project that I have been tracking since the news came out about one year ago.
Amazed that it’s targeted for completion already in 2027!