Wooden Extra Stories in Concrete Block of Flats in Finland as an Ecologically Sensitive Engineering Solution

Abstract

This chapter examined the various stages and benefits of wooden extra stories from the perspective of Finnish housing and real estate companies through interviews with professionals involved in these projects. Key findings highlighted are as follows: (1) in the feasibility study, project planning primarily focuses on property condition and potential improvement targets as well as other considerations, for example, compliance with current regulations and parking arrangements; (2) in the project planning, application of extra stories is thoroughly examined, and construction costs, profits, and the sale of building rights are discussed; (3) in implementation planning, issues related to building rights, city plan change, and conditions of the company that manages the property play an important role; and (4) during construction, frequent information updates are made to residents regarding the site arrangements and the construction program. Wooden extra floor construction, which requires commitment, investment, and cooperation among the interested parties, has great potential in construction technology, contracting mechanisms, and ecological engineering solutions. It is believed that this chapter will increase the dissemination of wooden extra stories, thus contributing to the greater use of more sustainable materials in renovation projects and the ecologically sensitive engineering approaches to meet the challenges arising from climate change.

Wooden Additional Floor in Finland

“…Similarly, highlights of the study by Karjalainen et al [125] were (a) the feasibility study emphasized the property's condition and potential targets for improvement, as well as relevant codes and regulations in force; (b) construction cost, profit, and sales of building rights were among the issues that were frequently discussed during the project planning phase; (c) building rights, changes in the city plan, and conditions of the company managing the property were reported as significant issues during the implementation planning phase, and (d) regular and frequent updating of building occupants on the progress of the construction process was the backbone of the construction phase.…”

“…The construction of a wooden additional floor can be divided into four main stages [29,125]: (i) The feasibility phase, (ii) project planning, (iii) implementation planning, and (iv) construction. During the feasibility phase, construction professionals and real estate sectors are contacted, and construction conditions of additional floors are evaluated.…”

“…Effective flow of information between residents and stakeholders and the appointment of a representative of the housing or real estate firm to join site meeting organizations and discuss suitable schedules for the construction process are important considerations at this stage. The construction of a wooden additional floor can be divided into four main s [29,125]: (i) The feasibility phase, (ii) project planning, (iii) implementation planning (iv) construction. During the feasibility phase, construction professionals and real sectors are contacted, and construction conditions of additional floors are evaluate the project planning stage, the project conditions, course, and scope of the project a termined.…”

“…Especially with regard to construction technology, the use of prefabricated wooden elements, e.g., volumetric modular elements, can make construction faster and reduce construction-related disturbances, which is a major problem for building occupants, contributing to the diffusion of addi-tional floor construction, as in Finland. For example, the experience and expertise gained in these projects, which have become widespread in the last ten years in the Tampere region of Finland, paved the way for further improvement in contract and technical-based issues [29,125].…”

Wood Preservation Practices and Future Outlook: Perspectives of Experts from Finland

“…The purpose of the interviews was to gather new information and new insights into wood preservation processes that have the potential to drive trends in wood construction and wood preservation products. In this study, semi-structured interviews were employed as the ideal approach for data collection, as the practice allows for interactions of the interviewer and participant, and different perspectives inspire the creation of new topics beyond those originally explored [59,60]. The interview themes and questions were formed largely based on the trends observed in the literature review.…”