Brief report of the field trip to Finch Buildings on 26 November 2024

Jurrian and Cynthia from Finch Buildings warmly welcomed us to this time an in-service wood building - high-rise flat. As it is a small flat, we did not have to walk much, but we could taste the atmosphere in a finished wood building. The presentation therefore took place at the kitchen table.

The building consists of a concrete plinth, timber construction modules (3.5m wide) with a width of 3.6m on top and a pair of custom-built penthouses. The modules themselves are demountable and again have a base of CLT (floors and columns and walls) and the facades of timber frame construction. A double floor is also used here in connection with noise requirements.

They mainly work for housing associations because they are more progressive and know how to find subsidies. However, it does not have to be more expensive than traditional construction, provided it is repetitive enough. This building consisted of 22 free sector houses. Finch Buildings works as a liaison between the factories and the main contractors. However, they sit down with the client early in the process.

For this project, they were therefore able to give the client back around EUR 3000 per dwelling through the CO2 storage certificates. Regarding sustainability, it was further pointed out that Wageningen University has calculated that there is enough sustainable wood available in Europe to supply the entire housing construction in Europe.

Incidentally, the name Finch Buildings refers to the variously adapted finches of the Galapagos Islands as also described by Charles Darwin.