Switzerland's first cellar made of wood

Survey as part of a diploma thesis
There is great interest in the project, which is why a research project is now underway at the Bern University of Applied Sciences. After the project has been completed, a start-up will be founded from among the business partners, which will appear on the market as a system owner and guarantor. Now we need your opinion on basements in timber construction. As part of the diploma thesis of Richard Wüthrich, the technician trainee of TS3, a survey is carried out to find out the needs of the users of basements in wood and the project participants.

Click here to access the survey.

The survey will take a maximum of 10 minutes. The information you provide will be treated confidentially. Personal information is voluntary. Thank you for your participation!

Executive Summary Research Project

With the coming into force fire regulations 2015, it is possible to build basements in wood. build. The new area of application was created with the abolition of the non-combustibility requirement for structures below ground level. The system of basements in wood revolutionizes the current, concrete-heavy construction method and uses the existing possibilities of the current waterproofing technology for Flat roofs and pond construction. Skillfully combined with the expertise of progressive timber construction companies, wood can literally be given more depth. depth can be given to the wood.

Compared to the prefabricated concrete basements offered on the market, the system basements in wood does not require a floor slab in in-situ concrete, but is offered as a complete system. The interface between master builder and timber constructor is eliminated in favor of a gain in efficiency. Furthermore, the substitution of concrete with wood significantly reduces the gray energy of a building. By using a robust and prefabricated waterproofing system and prefabricated timber panel elements, the construction of a basement for a single-family house is possible within a few hours. This time saving is further increased by the dry construction method compared to systems poured on site.

Basements made of wood meet the nerve of the time. To date, Timbatec and TS3 have already received numerous inquiries. Until the new start-up is founded, such inquiries will be managed and planned by Timbatec.

Business model
From the circle of business partners, a start-up is to be founded after completion of the research project, which will appear on the market as a system holder and guarantor. The company is expected to become part of Timbagroup Holding and will be operational from 2023. From it will offer basements in wood in the range of up to four storeys in the terrain with different uses as a system. The start-up will supply wooden basements as a general contractor from the preliminary project to the construction. By lending personnel and equipment, the client can and equipment, while at the same time eliminating a labor-intensive and error-prone labor-intensive and error-prone interface to the concrete basement. The risk is borne entirely by the newly formed company. At a secured pilot project, the assumptions will be checked and adjusted, and the implementation will be documented in a completely traceable manner.

The project in Thun

The 25-meter-long and eight-meter-wide timber structure stands on the basement with cross-laminated timber panels and is being accompanied as part of an Innosuisse research project together with the Bern University of Applied Sciences BFH AHB Biel.

TS3 monocoque construction
The basement is made entirely of cross-laminated timber. All components will be joined in TS3 construction to form large-area panels, thus forming a monocoque. In the interior, non-load-bearing timber stud walls, basement compartment walls made of three-layer panels and load-bearing columns made of beech wood will be constructed.

Structural concept
In the basement, the vertical loads are transmitted are transferred via the exterior walls and the row of columns (5 columns at 2.20 m from the rear wall). The ceiling above the basement serves as a full-surface interception ceiling for the floors above. floors above. Horizontal forces are transferred via the exterior walls to the ceiling the ceiling and floor slabs, respectively. The floor slab is designed as a The floor slab is designed as a flat foundation without reinforcements.

Layered construction
The building envelope in contact with the ground consists of a insulation, several fleece and waterproofing layers, which are installed outside the outside the cross laminated timber panels. The cross laminated timber panels remain visible and accessible on the inside. To control the moisture content of the cross-laminated timber, a moisture monitoring layer was installed over the entire surface.