BRIGHT CAVE FOR CLIMBING AND SOCIAL ACTIVITIES

PhotograPher Eirik Evjen object Climbing centre architect Snøhetta structural engingeer (wood) Degree of Freedom

skien, norway Climbing is an increasingly popular sport, both on outdoor rockfaces and indoor climbing walls. In the Norwegian town of Skien, a new climbing centre measuring 1,500 square metres has been erected around a framework of CLT supports like giant roof trusses. The architects believe that wood is the natural material to use for sports facilities, due to its breathability and the pleasant indoor climate that it creates. They were also able to prefabricate much of the building, and the lightweight timber does not require deep foundations like many other materials.

The climbing centre is inspired by the shape of a cave, where the roof and the timber supports merge into a single entity. It is unusual for a climbing gym to have much glazing, but here the window – the mouth of the cave – occupies a large section of one end. The flow of natural light is intended to increase the sense of airiness and make the climbers feel closer to nature.« w| snohetta.com

• The lightweight material has great advantages when building in an urban environment and has been used here as an example of how to develop small urban plots within existing developments.

• The highest climbing wall ascends 15 metres, and there are also facilities for bouldering – climbing at a lower height without a safety harness.

Träskruv SW-WZ är en delgängad strukturell träskruv tillgänglig i en rad olika dimensioner och utvecklad för tung träkonstruktion. Överallt där det ställs höga krav på lastkapacitet tillsammans med en ytbehandling för utomhusbruk är SW-WZ IMPREG+ det optimala valet.