The community housing block at Svartlamoen is part of a planning experiment: after decades of activism, this part of the city was designated a special urban ecology zone.
Svartlamoen housing, Trondheim.
Svartlamoen housing. External timber cladding covers the insulation. The loadbearing structure is solid timber elements.
Upper level flat with sloping front wall. The interior surfaces are formed by the untreated inside of the solid timber elements.
This housing complex, the result of an open architectural competition in 2002, is located in a test zone for urban sustainability. It consists of two buildings flanking a south-facing rear yard: a five-storey block of communal housing units with offices on the ground floor, and a two-storey block of six studio flats.
The main concerns of the project has been user participation, sustainable architecture, flexible planning and innovative use of timber. The aim of the house plans is to reduce the overall area whilst retaining quality of living. In the communal flats, half the area is shared, giving inhabitants access to a spacious kitchen, living area and balcony for the price of a studio flat. Room heights vary from 2,8 to 4,5 metres. The average area per person is 22 square metres.
The walls and floor slabs of the two blocks are constructed from compact timber elements, all exposed internally. Load bearing external walls give freedom to move internal partitions as required. External panelling, windows and doors are in untreated heartwood pine.
The inhabitants have been involved in all phases of design and construction and have partly completed the actual building works. This process of involvement and change will continue in the years to come.