In Bondelia Garden in Gjøvik, state-of-the-art homes that harmonize with nature will be built. Local building material suppliers, such as Hunton, play a crucial role in this project.

A couple of kilometers south of Gjøvik city center, with a beautiful view of water and land, lies Bondelia Garden. The residential area will consist of low-rise buildings, townhouses, and atrium houses, as well as large communal areas including guest apartments, outdoor kitchens, fitness parks, and green, car-free zones.

The developer and builder is Bondelia Utvikling AS, and the architect is Nordic Office of Architecture. The construction work is being carried out by Rotstigen AS, with locally employed carpenters and collaboration with local subcontractors. The estimated start of construction is autumn 2020, with the houses expected to be completed just over a year after construction begins.

Opening up to nature

Among the upcoming homes are around a dozen atrium houses. Each of these will be 156 square meters, with an atrium extending over a 70 square meter large and sheltered outdoor oasis. The construction and layout of the houses ensure that the private outdoor area naturally becomes part of the everyday living spaces.

Torger Wendelbo is a Senior Architect at Nordic Office of Architecture and is behind the design of the houses. He explains that wood is the project’s most important building material.

“Bondelia Garden will be built with a forward-looking vision, ensuring that the buildings truly last. We prefer breathable constructions and good indoor environments, and we see that this has health benefits for the residents. Therefore, we build with as many natural materials as possible – and that’s why we are happy to have Hunton on board,” says Wendelbo.

For the atrium houses, Hunton assists with complete deliveries of wood-based building materials, which is advantageous for both the architect and the developer. The atrium houses will receive the Hunton Construction Package with Hunton Nativo® Wood Fiber Insulation, the wind barrier Hunton Vindtett Plus™, and Hunton Underlay™.

Wood from the Inside and Out

The project follows a holistic sustainability approach, where trees play an important role.

“From the large, old oak trees outside, we continue the focus on wood inside the houses, where we build with wood all the way behind walls and ceilings,” explains Wendelbo.

Pine and oak are recurring themes in both the exterior and interior. Exterior walls, roof construction, and interior walls are insulated with Nativo® Wood Fiber Insulation, and Vindtett Plus™ in the walls and Hunton Underlay™ in the roof protect the homes from wind. All three products are made from wood fiber from Norwegian spruce forests.

Locally Sourced Building Materials from Innlandet

In line with renewable, natural materials that remain healthy and robust far into the future, locally sourced materials are an important aspect for both the developer and the architect.

“Hunton’s production of wood fiber insulation takes place here in Gjøvik – just a few kilometers from Bondelia Garden. When the insulation is made from wood fiber from nearby forests in Innlandet, it is as locally sourced as we can get,” says Wendelbo.

In addition to Hunton’s wood fiber-based materials, as many deliveries as possible come from local suppliers. For example, large windows from the Gjøvik company Natre ensure that the atrium houses receive plenty of light and fantastic views over Mjøsa, Neslandet, and Hedmarken.

“Building in such an environmentally friendly way with locally sourced, sustainable materials ensures that the house constructions will not leave behind plastic or special waste in the future,” says Wendelbo.

“Bondelia Garden is completely in line with our values. We are very happy to be part of such an exciting and forward-looking housing project,” concludes Hunton’s sales manager, Odd-Vidar Andresen.