The CubeHouse
WELL-gold for indoor climate and sustainability
The Visser & Smit Bouw | Hanab Installation Technology consortium completed the final piece of the Mahlerkwartier jigsaw on behalf of property developer G&S& – The CubeHouse, a forward-thinking office building designed to inspire, connect and accelerate the working world of tomorrow. The eleven-floor building, covering approximately 16,300 m², stood out for its high sustainability ambitions, a partially timber main structural frame and green roof gardens on different levels.
Focus on WELL-gold for indoor climate and sustainability
Upon completion, The CubeHouse was certified to WELL-gold standard and achieved a BREEAM rating of Excellent. The publicly accessible roof garden enhances biodiversity and offers employees and visitors a green oasis in the heart of the Zuidas. The ground floor offers a vibrant space for meeting, collaboration and innovation.
Technical precision in timber construction
With 3,500 m³ of timber used in the structure, this project demanded unprecedented accuracy. Every opening for pipelines and cables was modelled in advance using BIM and approved by the structural engineer. Hanab employed innovative techniques, such as acoustically decoupled floors, assembly using wood screws and vibration-free suspension of ventilation ducts. Virtual construction really paid off, giving rise to a shorter construction time and fewer errors. The building has become a hybrid high-rise structure, with only the basement and ground floor made of concrete; all storeys above are made of timber.
Smart and future-proof
The smart building concept has made The CubeHouse fully future-fit. Sensors in the ceilings measure temperature, CO2 and humidity and are equipped for functions such as asset tracking and flexible workspace management. Each storey has its own energy meter, and 80 per cent of the energy is generated by solar panels on the roof and façade. The building is also ‘rainproof’ and can cope with peak rainfall of up to 60 mm per hour.
About The Cubehouse
Water and energy
Hanab installed a grey water system for toilet flushing and roof gardens, as well as waterless urinals – resulting in a 40 per cent reduction in drinking water consumption. The building is now connected to the seasonal thermal energy storage system at Zuidas. Despite challenges caused by grid congestion, Hanab worked with Essent to find a solution, allowing the building to handed over fully operational.
Innovation and collaboration
The project required close collaboration from day one. ‘You can’t improvise when you're working with timber construction,’ explained Hanab’s project team. Everything was calculated, modelled and coordinated with the structural engineer in advance. This approach not only resulted in an efficient construction process but provided a blueprint for future urban timber construction. Through the project, Hanab proved that craftsmanship, connectedness and innovation make all the difference.
Technical highlights
- Precision in timber construction: All openings modelled and approved in advance in BIM.
- Wood assembly: Use of wood screws instead of plugs or anchors.
- Smart building: Smart sensors for climate control and future asset tracking.
- Energy: 80 per cent generated via solar panels, with energy meters on each floor.
- Water saving: Grey water system and waterless urinals (40 per cent less drinking water).
- Climate systems: Connection to seasonal thermal energy storage, TSA units and air handling units on the roof.
- Fire safety: Dual sprinkler system and fire-retardant timber.
- Grid congestion solution: collaboration with Essent to ensure sufficient connection capacity despite limited grid capacity.
