Fagpressenytt

This qualitative study addresses how architects and residents employ, experience and value wooden building materials in housing projects, arguing that buildings that are loved last longer and thus contribute to both ecological and social sustainability. Qualitative aspects tend to be underrepresented in the common argumentation for an increased use of wooden construction materials and in prevailing life cycle analyses. In addition, professional views dominate the discussion, while the users' expectations and experiences receive little attention. This thesis aims to foster a more holistic approach to sustainability.
An overview of material-related architectural theory traces generalized approaches to designing with timber. The contextualized realities of recent multi-apartment housing projects in Norway and Central Europe are investigated through semistructured qualitative interviews with seven internationally recognized timber architects and 27 residents, contrasting the experts' intentions with the users' perceptions. Photographs taken during the interviews supplement the written accounts.
Three ‘timber tales' evolve around ways of engaging with the properties, perc