Dezeen Magazine

Modular facade of Green Solution House 2.0 by 3XN

3XN creates CLT-framed hotel on Danish island

Timber provides almost all the building fabric of Green Solution House 2.0, a hotel on the Danish island of Bornholm completed by architecture studio 3XN.

Located in the town of Rønne, the modular building consists of a structural frame of cross-laminated timber (CLT), an exterior of timber boards and a layer of wood fibre insulation.

Modular facade of Green Solution House 2.0 by 3XN
Green Solution House 2.0 has a modular CLT frame

The design was developed by 3XN with its sister studio GXN, which specialises in circular architecture, and is intended as a model for sustainable construction.

As well as specifying natural materials, the design team planned the hotel so that it could be built quickly and efficiently, with minimal waste.

Side view of timber-framed hotel by 3XN
Timber clads the exterior above a layer of wood fibre insulation

Its CLT frame was designed as a kit of parts and manufactured off-site. Material offcuts were carefully calculated and then used to create bespoke furniture elements within the building.

The building also incorporates granite surfaces made using waste material from local quarries.

Balcony of Green Solution House 2.0 by 3XN
The structure was designed as a kit of parts and built off-site

"The widespread use of timber is both good for the climate and gives a particularly warm atmosphere," said Lasse Lind, partner at GXN and project lead for Green Solution House 2.0.

"The building itself is an expression of the hotel’s ambition to make green solutions an attractive element for guests."

Staircase and atrium of 3XN-designed hotel in Denmark
Hotel rooms sit on either side of a central atrium and staircase

Green Solution House 2.0 is an extension of Hotel GSH, also designed by 3XN, which opened in 2015.

The three-storey building contains 22 single bedrooms, one double bedroom and two dedicated meeting rooms.

Its interior is organised around a linear atrium, sandwiched between two rows of rooms on the ground and first floors.

A generous staircase rises up through its centre, leading up to a terrace and spa on the uppermost floor.

Bedroom in Green Solution House 2.0 by 3XN
CLT offcuts were used to create bespoke furniture

A sheltered balcony or terrace fronts each room, helping to naturally shade floor-to-ceiling glazing while also providing guests with private outdoor space.

Inside the rooms, the CLT structure is left exposed to create a warm cabin-like feel.

View from balcony of Denmark hotel
Each room has its own balcony or terrace

Modularity was key to minimising waste in Green Solution House 2.0.

The building is formed of repeating box-like modules, arranged in a staggered formation to capture as much natural daylight as possible.

This standardised approach meant that offcuts were of the same size and dimensions, making it easier to utilise them for multiple furniture elements.

Top floor of Green Solution House 2.0 by 3XN
A spa is located on the uppermost level

Timber is a recurring material in 3XN projects, with recent examples including the Klimatorium climate centre, also in Denmark, and the planned extension to the Ecole Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne in Switzerland.

The extensive use of the material for Green Solution House 2.0 has led to the project being named a 2022 winner of Årets Byggeri, a prestigious architectural award in Denmark. Hotel GSH received the same award in 2015.

Wooden facade of Denmark hotel by 3XN
The facade is staggered to maximise natural daylighting

"We are very proud to receive this award, which focuses on the impact that architecture can have on society," said Lind.

"As an office, we seek to inspire through our projects, and we hope the Green Solution House 2.0 will inspire people to build with biogenic materials, use local and upcycled resources, and make holistic sustainability the main design driver."

Facade of Green Solution House 2.0 by 3XN
Green Solution House 2.0 forms part of Hotel GSH in Rønne

The building also incorporates rooftop solar panels and water recycling to reduce its energy footprint.

The studio expects the building to have a very low carbon footprint across its lifespan.

The photography is by Adam Mørk.

More images

Site plan
Site plan
Ground floor plan
Ground floor plan
First floor plan
First floor plan
Second floor plan
Second floor plan
Roof plan
Roof plan
Concept diagram
Concept diagram
Ground floor layout diagram
Ground floor layout diagram
First floor layout diagram
First floor layout diagram
Modular facade of Green Solution House 2.0 by 3XN
Modular facade of Green Solution House 2.0 by 3XN
Modular facade of Green Solution House 2.0 by 3XN
CLT structure of Green Solution House 2.0 by 3XN
View through trees of Green Solution House 2.0 by 3XN
Balconies of Green Solution House 2.0 by 3XN
Balustrade of Green Solution House 2.0 by 3XN
Green Solution House 2.0 by 3XN
Green roof of Green Solution House 2.0 by 3XN
Wood surfaces in Green Solution House 2.0 by 3XN
CLT furniture in Green Solution House 2.0 by 3XN
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