LUKS Wolhusen: A Facade with a Sense of Depth

Visualizations:
«PAIMIO» project by the design consortium Nissen Wentzlaff / LUDES Architekten, Basel

North of the existing hospital, a new three-story building is being constructed with an impressive length of 120 meters, a width of 50 meters, and a height of 16 meters. The low-rise structure is designed to facilitate efficient operational workflows with short distances and to provide clear wayfinding for patients and staff. Occupancy is scheduled for 2028.

Visualizations:
«PAIMIO» project by the design consortium Nissen Wentzlaff / LUDES Architekten, Basel

As the specialist planner, Timbatec was responsible for the design and detailed planning of the non-load-bearing facade structure. The prefabricated timber-frame elements are attached to the ends of the concrete slabs. They form the thermally insulated building envelope and meet the high standards for fire and weather protection.

The chosen materials are specifically tailored to the varying levels of stress: In the upper areas, which are largely protected by the canopy, colorless pressure-treated silver fir cladding is used, while in the structural canopy area, components made of spruce and fir are employed. Facade cladding, pilaster strips, window sills, and soffits are crafted from high-quality wood, giving the new building a warm and precisely structured appearance. In the base areas, which are more exposed to the elements, vertically arranged, granite-gray corrugated fiber-cement panels protect the structure.

The wraparound canopy consists of prefabricated wooden elements with cantilevers made of glued-laminated timber. These are firmly connected to the concrete slabs via steel components. The visible steel tube columns and other facade elements serve, in part, exclusively for architectural articulation and do not perform any load-bearing functions.

Special attention was required for the management of rainwater. Gutters, downspouts, emergency drainage systems, and the necessary openings were integrated into the canopy and façade in such a way that drainage, rear ventilation, and wood preservation work together reliably and effectively. The result is a finely tuned building envelope in which design and construction are seamlessly intertwined down to the finest detail.