PROJECT REPORT: COMMERCIAL BUILDINGS 27
CLT fl oor build-ups conventionally rely on a cast-in coating of cementitious screed to protect the timber, and ensure acoustic and fi re performance. Instead, Paradise features lightweight cementitious boards laid on top of the fl oors, which, thanks also to novel connection details, can be easily taken up in future.
The disassembly strategy extends to the cladding, says Richardson: “The ceramic is dry fi t, it is also hard wearing and self-cleaning, due to proximity to the railway system, helping minimise maintenance.” The tiles are manufactured to last 100 years. The general move away from adhesives, to enable a demountable structure, also contributed to efforts to eliminate all VOCs from the building, helping support an anticipated WELL Gold accreditation.
The prevalence of non-standard
details, alongside extensive use of timber throughout the building, demanded the
construction of a full-scale mock-up for fi re testing to ensure everything was compliant with building regs and would function as intended. “Signifi cant testing was needed to demonstrate that the timber will ‘self- extinguish,’ as part of the fi re strategy,” says Richardson, “We built a mock-up of a one bedroom studio over two fl oors, including the glulam columns and all the connection details, then monitored it as it was burnt.” While most of the structure performed as anticipated, some of the connection jointing was adjusted to ease installation and to eliminate a small gap that occurred due to the tight tolerances.
According to the architect, researching, procuring and carrying out the tests was a “very costly exercise,” but the project was fortunate to have fi nancial backing from Japanese logging and timber processing company Sumitomo Forestry, which became interested in the project during
“Signifi cant testing was needed to demonstrate that the timber will ‘self- extinguish’ as part of the fi re strategy”
ADF FEBRUARY 2026
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