A Comparison between Architects' and Residents' Perceived Living Quality in Wooden Multifamily Houses in Sweden

Abstract

Abstract There is currently great interest in the production of wooden multifamily houses in Sweden, due to increased environmental concern combined with a demand for modern building solutions. The focus in industry and academia alike has been dominated by new innovative building solutions along with increased industrialization of the building process, aiming to improve the overall building quality and the profitability for the involved actors. However, little attention has been paid to what the residents perceive as living quality. Understanding residents' perceived living quality—compared with architects' perceptions—allows the possibility of adjusting the modern building solution of wooden multifamily houses in order to meet residents' actual expectations and, in the long term, to increase the wood-building industries' market share. The purpose of this article is to compare how residents and architects perceive living quality and whether these stakeholders' perceptions differ regarding building type and material choice (i.e., multifamily wooden or concrete buildings). A survey was sent out to 485 respondents in Sweden to gain insight into living quality perceptions. The results revealed discrepancies in what is perceived to be important in new housing development, although neither group was willing to pay more to live in a wooden building compared with a concrete building.