A new architectural landmark has been created with the completion of the „World of Volvo” in Gothenburg. The experience and interaction centre is Scandinavia's largest wooden structure and meets the high standards of LEED Gold certification. Lindner Scandinavia was responsible for the façade and roof construction as well as numerous interior services for this project.
Experience Center and Meeting Place for Everyone
Inspired by the Swedish concept of "Allemansrätten" – the right of the public to roam freely in nature – the open design of "World of Volvo" invites visitors and customers to immerse themselves in the world of the car manufacturer. This idea is deeply rooted in Sweden, from individuals to companies like Volvo. Inside the circular building, three central tree trunks with a spiral staircase and meeting rooms form the centrepiece, symbolising traditional meeting places of the past when people gathered under trees in clearings to talk and connect.
Breathtaking Wooden Building Envelope
To minimise the environmental impact of the building, natural materials have been used in the construction of the World of Volvo experience centre. The entire building envelope consists of curved wooden beams, specially developed by Lindner Scandinavia for the main and pavilion facades and the roof structure. In addition, a Lindner reveal system was adapted to a pure timber product. The timber construction was realised in cooperation with the Austrian partner Wiehag GmbH, who produced the glulam beams and steel structures. Stora Enso, which manufactures wood panels in both Sweden and Austria, supplied approximately 6,000 m3 of glulam beams. The largest beams in the centre of the facade structure are 35 metres long, 1.8 metres high and weigh 15 tonnes. They were transported from Austria to Gothenburg on a special heavy-duty lorry, which could only enter the city centre between 2 am and 5 am due to local restrictions.
Sustainable – Inside and Out
To continue the sustainable approach inside the building, timber construction was also used: Lindner installed 3,000 m² of wood acoustic panels between the main columns and wall cladding. The design of the panels was complex because the spaces between the vertical columns were unique for each subdivision in each tree, and the interior of Hub C was further complicated by stairs, railings and undersides. The 3,000 m² were therefore divided into 2,873 panels, many of which were unique. Today, these elements have a distinctive aesthetic and provide optimal acoustics in the experience centre. Lindner was also responsible for a curved spiral staircase serving as a mezzanine floor, including handrails, as well as 500 m2 of simple wooden ceiling panels. The entire project was designed in 3D to check all installations and connections and to generate IFC files. The steel structures were designed in Tekla, with the fabrication drawings representing the final product.
