The exterior of Lumber 4, a mixed-use building in Norway, showcases the potential of timber construction with its distinctive design by local consultancy Oslotre. The building, situated on the outskirts of Kristiansand, features commercial space on the ground floor and five office floors above. Oslotre served as the architect, interior designer, and structural engineer, employing a composite structure of cross-laminated timber (CLT) and concrete.
Lumber 4's ground floor, connected to the stair and elevator core, follows the adjacent roadway with a curved design, while the upper floors extend outward, supported by large angled timber beams. Inside, the workspace is characterized by high ceilings, ample windows, and a blend of private meeting spaces and communal areas separated by wood and glass partitions. A double-height atrium on the third and fourth floors features a wooden staircase and a central light fixture.
"Over time, the paint under the shadow will weather, leading to a changing facade with lighter and darker curved sections."
The exterior showcases a checkerboard pattern on the office floors created by glazed openings and curved panels of green-painted wood. The curved ground floor incorporates full-height windows framed in green-painted wood. Internally, the building's wood structure is revealed, with white pigmented spruce panels adorning the walls and ceilings, and exposed wood wool acoustic panels. Ducts are also exposed, painted in a pale beige shade to complement the wooden surfaces.
