The Australian capital is turning to mass timber with Passive Haus standards to increase its build-to-rent capacity and, crucially, develop a new model that could help solve its housing crisis—thanks to the support of the ACT government’s $60 million Affordable Housing Fund.
That is according to James Hetherington, technical director with DJAS Architecture, who has been working pro bono on a four-level scheme that could see the long-derelict Canberra Policy and Community Youth Club site converted into a 45-unit complex, which includes 35 below-market rate for essential workers, plus ten units for at-risk youth.
Key to the project’s viability is a cross-laminated (CLT) superstructure built to Passive House standards. For Mr Hetherington, CLT is a no-brainer in solving Australia’s housing crunch and has travelled to Canada to learn more about its role in social and affordable housing.
“If we can deliver social housing that is more comfortable to live in and cheaper to run than housing constructed with traditional methods, then there’s no reason CLT can’t be rolled out by private developers.”
James Hetherington, technical director with DJAS Architecture
In April, Wood Central reported that Japanese giant Sumitomo Forestry is expanding its “build to rent” capacity in the Australian market after announcing a new partnership with Australian-based Cedar Pacific to develop timber projects in Canberra, in addition to Brisbane, Melbourne and Auckland.
According to Mr Hetherington, CLT offers the basis for the robust thermal envelope necessary for Canberra’s variable climate. It also reduces air leakage and thermal bridging because it simplifies the build-up of external walls with less need for structure, improving thermal performance and lowering energy costs. Which, in effect, means year-round comfort for occupants.
For Cheryl O’Donnell, Canberra’s long-time PCYC CEO, the proposal is a “beautiful building” that “pays respect to the block which was the birthplace of the PCYC” and can be a source of pride for new residents.
Timber design is “visually stunning,” efficient and affordable: “Everyone who grows up in housing commission knows what a housing commission house is like. But this new building is classy.”
“When we started work on the design, our brief was to create an efficient, comfortable building that was sustainable and competitive in the market,” Mr Hetherington said, adding that “cross-laminated timber helps us tick all those boxes.”
Timber Construct to Tackle Australia’s Housing Fix
Kicking off in Melbourne next month, Timber Construct – Australia’s largest timber construction conference, will tackle how Australia can scale up its built-to-rent projects, now targeted as a major growth industry for mass timber-based construction.
Speaking to Wood Central, Andrew Dunn, Timber Construct organiser, said the Melbourne-based conference is “focused on materials and design, prefabrication, and building techniques.”
“On the first day, we have a session focused on tackling the housing shortfall, with a panel featuring Jeroen Weimar, Victoria’s Deputy Secretary of Housing Implementation,” Mr Dunn said.
Joining Mr Weimar is Peter War, Managing Director of Drouin Timber and Truss; Jeremy Church, General Manager of NeXTimber Technical and Sales; Tim Newman, General Manager of Timber Building Systems; Tim McDonald, Business Development Manager for Xlam Australia, and Nathan Benbow, Engineering Design Manager for Australian Sustainable Hardwoods.
- To learn more about TimberConstruct, including the programme, click here.
