An innovative building solution that uses the space above existing ground level car parks in built-up areas to provide affordable housing has been launched by Guildford Timber Frame.
A high performance timber frame structure, called Palafito, is used to build the apartments on small plots in built-up areas.
Managing director Malcolm Graham-Wood said: “An area of around 650-700m2 can be used to construct a five-storey Palafito apartment building containing 40 flats.”
The apartments can be built on a platform formed from structural steel and concrete, which is supported above the car park area by columns made of the same material. Once the platform is in place, the precision factory-manufactured timber frame system can be craned into place in as little as six weeks.
