Høyt Under Taket is a medium size climbing center in timber with a total size of approximately 1,500 square meters and a construction height of 15 meters, including a mezzanine for bouldering. The ambition is to innovate and explore the use of wood in the sports industry and deliver on several sustainability goals by choosing timber, reducing area use, and ensuring energy efficiency.
According to the architects, timber is an excellent material in terms of indoor climate and its carbon footprint and is extremely flexible for this use. Basically, you can fasten anything everywhere, play around and change climbing grips and via ferrata routes as you like. A central spine of structural timber frames makes up the architectural concept of the building, and out of this, you can add volumes according to different needs and situations.
The idea is based on the cave, of being immersed in timber from walls to ceiling. As a portal to a world that one naturally wants to explore further, the cave typically provides protection from the elements and has historically been both a residence and a meeting place. In the cave, the traditional distinction between ceiling and wall is blurred. Hence, the exposed wood is used extensively throughout the building to achieve a lightness and a feeling of being surrounded by natural materials, mimicking the experience of climbing inside a real cave – even getting a sense of being in nature.
The fact that the materials breathe is also appropriate in a building made for sport and activity. Large glass surfaces bring natural light into the building, providing extra airiness and a connection to nature. The same large surfaces allow passers-by to catch a glimpse of the activity inside, making the building an inviting landmark that inspires people to stop by and explore.
The material choice of using mainly wood offers a lower CO2 footprint compared to alternative conventional building methods, and energy efficiency in operations provides both environmental and cost benefits. Building with timber allows for a larger proportion to be prefabricated in places other than the construction site. This reduces the number and size of deliveries to the construction site, meaning less noise, better accessibility, and air quality as well as savings in fuel.
As a light material, timber is also suitable for shallow foundations, and therefore reduces the need for piling. The low weight allows components to be lifted near or over existing buildings, simplifying the construction process and enabling the development of small and narrow urban plots.
Overall the climbing center facilitates physical activity for all ages and is a meeting place where children and adults gather around a common activity. Høyt Under Taket in Skien is also collaborating with the non-profit organization Tyrilistiftelsen for recruitment and job training for people in treatment for substance abuse.
