In Almere, the Xylino project stands as a striking example of industrial timber construction. The five-storey building contains 103 homes and is made up of 436 three-dimensional timber modules. These modules are built from laminated veneer lumber (LVL), a strong and dimensionally stable material well suited to load-bearing structures in modular construction.
Modular approach speeds up construction
The project's strength lies in factory-based production. The modules arrive largely finished and are quickly stacked and connected on site. This keeps on-site construction time short and reduces disruption to the surrounding area. For the construction sector, this is significant, as prefabricated modular building offers a response to labour shortages and the pressure to deliver homes more quickly.
Variety despite standardisation
Although modular construction is often associated with uniformity, Xylino proves otherwise. The building offers as many as 20 different home types, allowing for a varied resident mix. The timber façade is carefully designed from an architectural standpoint, so the building is visually convincing and avoids the look of repetitive stacked units.
Low environmental impact
Sustainability plays a central role. The project achieves an Environmental Performance of Buildings (MPG) score of 0.479, a low figure that underscores its limited environmental footprint. Using timber as the primary material contributes to this: it stores CO₂ and generally requires less energy to produce than many conventional building materials.
Xylino demonstrates that fast assembly, design freedom and low environmental impact can go hand in hand. For developers and builders seeking scalable, sustainable housing, it serves as a concrete reference project that shows the potential of modular timber construction in practice.