Apartment building Maihofstrasse 8, Luzern

The project 

The new building on Maihofstrasse with its seven storeys is located below the high-rise limit. Nevertheless, measures must be taken for combustible facade envelopes from three storeys upwards so that a fire does not spread over more than two storeys. At present, there are still no basics (e.g. from Lignum) on the state of the art for shingle facades that specify the construction principles for fire protection. The measures must therefore be derived from proven construction principles of similar timber facades as well as from past experience, for example fires on shingled buildings or fire tests.

The construction method 

The first replacement building in an inner-city location in pure timber construction was erected within 4 weeks. The building is supported by the central core and the fire walls, the street and courtyard facades are designed as flexible skeleton structures. There are three 2.5 room flats on each of the five floors, the top ones being duplexes.

The challenge 

Shingle facades are particularly aesthetic when they envelop the entire building without being interrupted by aprons and fire bars. It then remained to be assessed whether a fire would spread outside at an unacceptably fast rate or "self-climbing". Fire tests show that the shingle facade is safe.