KEY ASPECTS FOR ECONOMIC FEASIBILITY OF IMPLEMENTING DESIGN FOR STRUCTURAL ADAPTATION IN THE AUSTRALIAN TIMBER INDUSTRY
Paper i proceeding, 2025

The global increase in timber usage is generally interpreted as a response to tackle the construction industry's major contribution to greenhouse gas emissions. Meanwhile, there is a growing concern that the expected future demand for timber cannot be met while maintaining sustainable forestry. Efforts to maximize the resource efficiency and service lives of timber products are therefore highly relevant, both to preserve biodiversity and to prolong carbon storage. One such strategy in development is to invest in a timber structure's ability to be locally repaired or adapted to changed user demands - to Design for Structural Adaptation. Yet, stakeholders are uncertain regarding the economic feasibility of such an investment. This study addresses this by investigating which factors are key in determining the economic feasibility of designing for structural adaptation in an Australian multi-residential light-frame timber building. A cost-benefit analysis is performed to compare a structurally adaptable building to a business-as-usual alternative, where the uncertainty of future adaptation needs is considered in the model. The results provide valuable insights for future efforts to implement adaptable timber design, as key aspects for economic feasibility are identified.

Structural Adaptability

Circular economy

Cost-benefit analysis

Service life extension

Design for Adaptation

Författare

Vera Öberg

Chalmers, Arkitektur och samhällsbyggnadsteknik, Konstruktionsteknik

Robert Jockwer

Chalmers, Arkitektur och samhällsbyggnadsteknik, Konstruktionsteknik

Technische Universität Dresden

Yutaka Goto

Chalmers, Arkitektur och samhällsbyggnadsteknik, Byggnadsteknologi

Mohammad al-Emrani

Chalmers, Arkitektur och samhällsbyggnadsteknik, Konstruktionsteknik

Proceedings from the 14th World Conference on Timber Engineering Advancing Timber for the Future Built Environment Wcte 2025

5240-5249
9798331320898 (ISBN)

14th World Conference on Timber Engineering, WCTE 2025
Brisbane, Australia,

Design for Adaption för resurseffektiva träkonstruktioner

Formas (Dnr:2021-02499), 2021-12-01 -- 2026-11-30.

Ämneskategorier (SSIF 2025)

Husbyggnad

DOI

10.52202/080513-0644

Mer information

Senast uppdaterat

2025-07-21