Atrium Ljungberg Urban Development Company Plans to Build a Fully Wooden City in Stockholm, Construction to Begin in 2025.
Design of a corner of the wooden city. (Photo: Atrium Ljungberg).
Atrium Ljungberg’s ambitious project utilizes wood to address the environmental challenges faced by Swedish cities. With the wooden city project, the company aims to redefine urban living through sustainability, innovation, and aesthetics. According to the project, the first buildings will be installed in 2027, Interesting Engineering reports.
Spanning over 250,000m2, the city will feature 7,000 offices and 2,000 residential units in Sickla. Workspaces and living areas will be interspersed with shops and boutiques. Wood produces less carbon emissions than steel and concrete, thereby causing less environmental pollution. The type of wood used in the project is fire-resistant mass timber. According to the developer, engineered wood forms a protective layer on the surface, helping to maintain much of its structural integrity, contributing to safer buildings.
Skyscrapers account for nearly 40% of global CO2 emissions. The New European Bauhaus initiative launched by the European Commission in 2020 promotes the goal of carbon neutrality and reducing dependence on fossil fuels through living spaces and experiences. The wooden city project also offers numerous other environmental benefits. Atrium Ljungberg emphasizes the importance of workspaces, as inner Stockholm is currently lacking in office space. The project focuses on self-generating, storing, and sharing energy.
According to Atrium Ljungberg, the city will feature many nature-based characteristics designed to evoke a forest-like atmosphere. “We aim to create an urban environment inspired by the tranquility of wooded areas. The architecture will integrate many natural elements, such as green roofs for better insulation and large windows to capture light,” a company representative stated.
