House by Urban Splash held a traditional tree topping out ceremony at the top of its modular homes at Mansion House apartments in Manchester
House by Urban Splash has reignited the ancient tradition of ‘topping out’ at the top of its Mansion House apartments in celebration of the completion of the main structure of its groundbreaking sustainable housing concept.
The event took place on 10 March at New Islington Marina, Manchester and the topping out ceremony encompassed the age-old tradition of placing a tree on the building and toasting the success with a beer.
Offsite techniques
The new waterside apartments which overlook New Islington Marina have been created offsite in a factory in Bilbao where each building is created as a series of cross-laminated timber (CLT) panels. As a much more sustainable material than traditional options like steel and concrete, the panels have been transported to the UK and assembled on-site in Manchester, by a small specialised team and Manchester construction partners Artez.
As well as using modern methods of construction, keeping waste to a minimum and ensuring accuracy, the CLT gives the homes a unique look. The exposed CLT forms the main structure as well as the internal walls and ceilings, whilst providing a highly rated insulation performance throughout the year.
From its beginnings in Northern Spain, where the Radiata pine is grown in sustainable forests with PEFC certification, the CLT wood has its own passport which advises which area and year it comes from.
Environmentally innovative modular homes
Speaking about why it’s tradition to place a tree on the building Jonathan Falkingham at Urban Splash explained: “It’s long been a construction convention to place a tree on the roof of a new building, followed by a celebratory beer or two and we’re happy we’ve brought this back to Manchester!
“The tree is symbolic of the incredible design, construction, people and materials that have been used to create these exciting modular homes.”
Falkingham added: “The Mansion House apartments boast incredible dual-aspect views, including over the Marina and New Islington’s Cotton Field Park.
“As with other House by Urban Splash homes, the environmentally innovative homes give customers the choice to create the space they desire, with nine flexible apartment options on offer.”
