Apartment Building In Wood And Its Significance For The Well-Being Of The Living Environment  

The shortage of housing increases the demand for apartment buildings, while pressing climate change forces the construction sector to reduce its carbon footprint. In this context, solid wood and engineered wood products have been shown to be a more sustainable alternative to traditional building materials. The present study investigates how living in wooden high-rise apartments impacts the wellbeing of its occupants. Nine people currently living in high-rise wooden buildings were interviewed using semi-structured interviews. The data was processed using a qualitative content analysis. The residents expressed having a “clear conscience” regarding their choice of housing and were proud to contribute to sustainability from an ecological perspective. In addition, the majority of the participants linked exposed wood in the indoor and outdoor living environment to feelings of comfort and wellbeing. In general, the touch of wood was perceived as softer, warmer and more alive than other materials such as stone. The conclusion points towards the outdoor and indoor environment of wooden high-rise buildings having a positive effect on the wellbeing of its residents.