Finnish architects' attitudes towards multi-storey timber-residential buildings

Abstract

Purpose

The paper aims to understand Finnish architects' attitudes towards the use of timber as a structural material in multi-storey (over two--storeys high) residential construction.

Design/methodology/approach

The study was conducted through a literature survey mainly including international peer-reviewed journals and similar research projects. Furthermore, the literature survey informed the generation of the web-based survey questionnaire design to gather information on architects' perceptions, attitudes and interest in the use of wood in multi-storey (over two-storeys high) residential buildings.

Findings

The paper's findings are as follows: (1) respondents perceived the most important advantages of wood as a lightweight, local and ecological material; (2) wood construction (compared to concrete) included perceived concerns about it being more costly and needing more complex engineering and (3) respondents had a favourable overall attitude towards the use of wood particularly in low-rise residential construction, whilst their perception of tall housing, including timber ones, was mostly negative.

Originality/value

No studies have evaluated the use of wood in tall residential buildings and architects' perceptions in Finland.

Citation

Ilgın, H.E., Karjalainen, M. and Pelsmakers, S. (2024), "Finnish architects' attitudes towards multi-storey timber-residential buildings", International Journal of Building Pathology and Adaptation, Vol. 42 No. 3, pp. 352-368. https://doi.org/10.1108/IJBPA-04-2021-0059