Wood in sustainable construction - a material perspective: Learning from vernacular architecture

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dc.contributorAalto-yliopistofi
dc.contributorAalto Universityen
dc.contributor.advisorWinter, Stefan, Prof., Technical University of Munich, Germany
dc.contributor.authorTakano, Atsushi
dc.contributor.departmentPuunjalostustekniikan laitosfi
dc.contributor.departmentDepartment of Forest Products Technologyen
dc.contributor.labWood Material Technology / Wood Architectureen
dc.contributor.labPuun materiaalitekniikka / Puuarkkitehtuurifi
dc.contributor.schoolKemian tekniikan korkeakoulufi
dc.contributor.schoolSchool of Chemical Technologyen
dc.contributor.supervisorHughes, Mark, Prof., Aalto University, Department of Forest Products Technology, Finland
dc.date.accessioned2015-07-25T09:00:51Z
dc.date.available2015-07-25T09:00:51Z
dc.date.dateaccepted2015-06-23
dc.date.defence2015-09-04
dc.date.issued2015
dc.description.abstractTraditionally, vernacular buildings were constructed based upon a deep understanding of the surroundings and the features of locally sourced materials. This wisdom led to a rational building composition and appropriate material selection, which ensured adequate living conditions and proper building life cycle, without any advanced technologies. In the discussion about reducing the environmental impacts of a building, there should be useful ideas to be taken from traditional solutions for the further development of modern buildings. A life cycle perspective is nowadays becoming more significant for comprehensive building analysis as the distribution of the environmental impacts over a building life cycle change. In such a context, building material selection is an important factor. Wood products have lately attracted attention as promising construction materials due to their unique environmental properties. This study investigated the optimal use and development of wood products in sustainable construction in comparison to other building materials, based on life cycle assessment method. With regard to learning from vernacular buildings, a holistic analysis of wood in construction was carried out. In this dissertation, first the methodological issues relating to the fair assessment of wood products and wood construction based on the current normative standards and assessment data were discussed. Secondly, wood in sustainable construction was discussed according to ten principles in terms of appropriate building material selection over the building life cycle. This study demonstrated that there are both strengths and weakness to the use of wood in sustainable construction. In this sense, the importance of diverse perspectives to building materials has been highlighted. It was also discussed that wood may contribute to the environment more positively when it is used more. A reduction in consumption (e.g. energy) and emissions (e.g. CO2) has thus far been the principle behind mitigating environmental impacts. In this context, for instance, a CLT (Cross laminated timber) framed building would not be preferable since it requires a large amount of wood, resulting in high embodied energy. However, on the other hand, that gives significant environmental benefits (e.g. energy recovery) to the building. In this case, by optimising the weaknesses (high embodied energy) and maximising the strengths (environmental benefits), the greater use of wood may improve the environmental profile of a building. This would be a paradigm shift from the current approach to the environmental problems. In that sense, wood seems to have significant potential. It would be important to consider a specific approach and use for wood in construction based upon the proper understanding of their characteristics as practiced in traditional buildings.en
dc.format.extent72 + app. 66
dc.format.mimetypeapplication/pdfen
dc.identifier.isbn978-952-60-6294-5 (electronic)
dc.identifier.isbn978-952-60-6293-8 (printed)
dc.identifier.issn1799-4942 (electronic)
dc.identifier.issn1799-4934 (printed)
dc.identifier.issn1799-4934 (ISSN-L)
dc.identifier.urihttps://aaltodoc.aalto.fi/handle/123456789/17249
dc.identifier.urnURN:ISBN:978-952-60-6294-5
dc.language.isoenen
dc.opnWallbaum, Holger, Prof., Chalmers University of Technology, Sweden
dc.publisherAalto Universityen
dc.publisherAalto-yliopistofi
dc.relation.haspart[Publication 1]: Takano A, Winter S, Hughes M, Linkosalmi L. 2014. Comparison of life cycle assessment databases: A case study on building assessment. Building and Environment 79: 20-30. DOI:10.1016/j.buildenv.2014.04.025
dc.relation.haspart[Publication 2]: Takano A, Hafner A, Linkosalmi L, Ott S, Hughes M, Winter S. 2015. Life cycle assessment of wood construction according to the normative standards. European Journal of Wood and Wood Products 73: 299-312. DOI:10.1007/s00107-015-0890-4
dc.relation.haspart[Publication 3]: Takano A, Hughes M, Winter S. 2014. A multidisciplinary approach to sustainable building material selection: A case study in a Finnish context. Building and Environment 82: 526-535. DOI:10.1016/j.buildenv.2014.09.026
dc.relation.haspart[Publication 4]: Takano A, Sudip SK, Kuittinen M, Alanne K, Hughes M, Winter S. 2015. The effect of material selection on life cycle energy balance: A case study on a hypothetical building model in Finland. Building and Environment 89: 192-202. DOI:10.1016/j.buildenv.2015.03.001
dc.relation.haspart[Publication 5]: Takano A, Pittau F, Hafner A, Ott S, Hughes M, De Angelis E. 2014. Greenhouse gas emission from construction stage of wooden buildings. International Wood Products Journal 5 (4): 217-223. DOI: 10.1179/2042645314Y.0000000077
dc.relation.ispartofseriesAalto University publication series DOCTORAL DISSERTATIONSen
dc.relation.ispartofseries97/2015
dc.revOstermeyer, York, Assistant Prof., Chalmers University of Technology, Sweden
dc.revThormark, Catarina, Associate Prof., Malmö University, Sweden
dc.revWittstock, Bastian, Dr., thinkstep AG, Senior Consultant, Germany
dc.subject.keywordlife cycle asessmenten
dc.subject.keywordwooden
dc.subject.keywordsustainabilityen
dc.subject.keywordvernacular architectureen
dc.subject.otherArchitectureen
dc.subject.otherPaper Technologyen
dc.titleWood in sustainable construction - a material perspective: Learning from vernacular architectureen
dc.typeG5 Artikkeliväitöskirjafi
dc.type.dcmitypetexten
dc.type.ontasotDoctoral dissertation (article-based)en
dc.type.ontasotVäitöskirja (artikkeli)fi
local.aalto.archiveyes
local.aalto.digiauthask
local.aalto.digifolderAalto_64877
local.aalto.formfolder2015_07_24_klo_14_34
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