Case Studies of Innovative Glulam Homes
Glulam timber, also known as glued laminated timber, is an innovative building material used by architects and builders for designing distinctive structures. Glulam’s structural wood can be formed into curves which would otherwise be impossible with other materials.
Glulam construction offers many advantages for beach and mountain homes, including innovative design features, sustainable approaches to healthy living spaces, reduced construction costs, and protecting the natural environment.
1. The Westend Apartment Complex
10 West End Avenue stands proudly on Manhattan’s Upper West Side and was designed specifically to offer luxurious living. Boasting two sculptural glass towers–a 41-story south component and 26-story north component–perched upon an irregular limestone base, each residence offers spacious floor plans and breathtaking views of New York City’s skyline and river from their private balconies. Custom Scavolini kitchens designed by Jeffrey Beers feature Calacatta marble countertops as well as Wolf and Sub-Zero appliances; master bathrooms feature heated Bianco Dolomiti marble floors as well as brushed limestone walls and Zuma soaking tubs – offering luxurious living space in luxury apartments designed by Jeffrey Beers himself!
Wood structures offer several environmental advantages over concrete or steel buildings by leaving a reduced carbon footprint, as well as providing an earthy material palette inspired by local ecology. Furthermore, they foster community spirit for residents by creating communal spaces on facades or through wooden ceilings that serve to bring people together.
Glulam’s versatility and strength were instrumental in creating the unique appearance of courtyard buildings at this complex, which feature varied facades and hidden stairwells. Multiple lengths and depths of beams were utilized to achieve an unmistakably modern aesthetic; download Designers Circle’s full case study to gain further insight.
2. The Glulam House
Architecture Discipline’s Akshat Bhatt designed this modern Glulam house, boasting open spaces and structural stability in perfect balance. As it sits within Seismic Zone III, using both glulam and mass timber construction techniques was required in order to meet seismic compliance. At Artius Engineering Services we used knee plates and rib plates for optimal strength while still keeping aesthetic appeal in mind when engineering our Glulam members for maximum aesthetic value and optimal strength simultaneously.
Glulam is an ideal material to use when designing large, open-concept living spaces due to its inherent structural strength and aesthetic beauty. Glulam’s durability makes it suitable for roofs or other heavy load areas in a home, and the material’s versatility means it can meet design specifications of nearly any shape or dimension.
Gulam offers many environmental advantages beyond its structural capabilities. As a renewable resource that requires less energy to produce and transport than materials like steel and concrete, glulam requires significantly less energy during production and transport than these alternatives. Furthermore, its lightweight construction reduces costs and waste during building. Glulam insulation makes for more comfortable indoor spaces for residents to live, work, and play in.
Gulam, often used for commercial and public buildings, is also becoming an increasingly popular choice for beach houses and mountain retreats. With its natural wood finish offering warmth and invitingness, glulam can easily adapt to fit into its surrounding environment; Verstas Architects used it at Saunalahti School in Finland which features this form of construction to form an inconspicuous structure within its forested surroundings.
Glulam is an eco-friendly material with innovative design options and provides a healthy living environment. Studies have revealed that those living in wooden homes experience less health issues than their concrete counterparts, including lower blood pressure, heart rates and stress levels as well as more restful sleep. Given these advantages, architects and builders across the nation are turning increasingly toward glulam to build their projects.
3. The Glulam Home
Glulam is an extremely strong yet lightweight construction material capable of creating structures of almost any shape or size. Not only is Glulam durable and aesthetically appealing, it has many other advantages over traditional building materials like steel and concrete; production costs are far lower, transport and installation needs less energy, waste generation is reduced significantly, plus its flexibility allows architects to design structures with open spaces impossible with traditional framing methods.
Artius Architecture of Goa recently used glulam to build a residential structure of 6,500 sq ft in Vagator that boasts modern open floor plan and high ceilings, outdoor kitchen and dining area, yoga room and large glass facade. Their team used spruce-pine-fir timbers along with western hemlock timbers in creating their design for this project.
LVL or laminated veneer lumber was also utilized in this structure, created by bonding thin wood veneers together using heat and pressure. LVL beams are engineered for strength and consistency, so it may be more suited for coastal-style homes or indoor/outdoor living areas where beams will be highly visible.
Like its glulam counterpart, LVL comes in various appearance classifications and can be cut to meet any project’s requirements. Furthermore, LVL tends to be cheaper than its glulam counterpart and is suitable for framing projects of all kinds.
No matter the type of Glulam structure employed, all timbers must be selected carefully in order to produce both functional and visually appealing final results. Therefore, architects should gain an extensive knowledge of both construction processes and wood species available before committing to one design in particular.
4. The Glulam Loft
Glulam is a structural system composed of lumber that has been fused together using adhesives into larger sections, creating dramatic configurations not possible with other construction materials. Glulam can be easily formed into various shapes and dimensions to produce dramatic configurations not possible with other building materials such as steel and concrete; its lightweight nature and high load-bearing capacity makes glulam an attractive choice when designing buildings without being constrained by concrete or steel supports that limit access for maintenance purposes.
Architects often combine glulam with other construction materials in order to achieve their desired aesthetic or functionality. For instance, in wedding chapels it can be used to form stunning arches that add drama and beauty. Furthermore, its strength enables it to support large open spaces without blocking views through columns or supports obstructing views.
Construction with glulam can also help minimize its environmental footprint. Unlike concrete and steel buildings that require enormous energy input to produce, glulam is made from renewable material that can be reused or recycled after its service life has ended. In addition, its manufacturing process sequesters carbon dioxide from the atmosphere while sequestering additional amounts during its lifespan as part of a building.
Lastly, manufacturing, transportation and treatment of glulam require far less energy than that required for steel and concrete structures. This is especially true when timber comes from Scandinavian forests where environmental concerns take precedence.
Overall, glulam is an innovative construction material with the potential to transform our approach to building. Pound for pound, it is stronger than steel and can be bent into intricate arches or domed roofs which would otherwise be impossible with traditional materials. Plus it is cost-effective and environmentally-friendly – making glulam an increasingly popular choice among residential and commercial projects across North America.