How should wood building be applied in an urban environment?

Urban planners deliberating the appropriateness of wood in the city

Abstract

The present paper is based on thematic interviews that were used to study the views of seven urban planning professionals, particularly about the appropriateness of urban wood building, the means of adapting buildings to urban environment, and the relation between wood buildings and their surroundings. The interviews took place during the period 2019–2020. Cities, consisting of individual buildings and entire housing areas, have an important role in facilitating wooden infill construction. Contemporary wood construction is based on industrial wood products different from traditional materials. Furthermore, height in residential construction has increased. The interviews suggest three primary cases: wood buildings that contrast with surrounding buildings, wood buildings consistent with their environment, and entire areas with characteristic new wooden construction. Wooden facades are particularly important in urban wood building. Regarding wooden facades, the results were compared with research literature about wooden facades.