CIRCULAR WOOD CONSTRUCTION - EXPECTATIONS, EXPERIENCES AND ACCEPTANCE AMONG USERS, ARCHITECTS AND INDUSTRY REPRESENTATIVES

Abstract

Circularity approaches aim at keeping resources "in loop" as long as possible, both resulting in a more efficient use of resources and in avoiding waste production. A prolonged and repeated use of wood-based construction materials enhances their function as carbon sinks and as replacements of more harmful materials. Aiming to systematize circularity measures within the building sector, this paper proposes four different fields ofambition as consecutive focus areas during the life cycle of wooden building materials. The first one of these ambitions, prolonging a building's life span, depends not only on the construction's robustness and maintenance or the layout's adaptability, but also on the building's overall "lovability" and acceptance. This renders the user perspective an important part of understanding building performance and architectural quality. Based on interviews and focus groups from 2016 and 2017, insights have been gained about the experiences, expectations, preferences and values tied to wooden materials both among users and architects and how these impact the acceptance and choice of materials. Substantiated by new data collected in 2022 with architects and wood industry representatives, this paper discusses the expectations, experiences and acceptance of re-used and recycled wooden materials among different stakeholders, and how these may affect all four circularity ambitions. Results suggest that language, together with professional background, experience and responsibility inform the acceptance of re-used and recycled wood both in a short-term and in a long-term perspective; they need to be taken into account when aiming for advancing circular wood construction. The user adds an important perspective on circular wood construction that is not covered by industry representatives.