Wooden Houses Research Articles

Technical State, Renovation Need and Performance of Renovation Solutions of Estonian Wooden Log Houses

The wooden log house serves as a prevalent architectural archetype in rural regions of several Nordic and Baltic countries. To ensure the long-lasting nature of these buildings, proper maintenance is imperative. However, in order to meet the evolving expectations of residents and minimize the environmental impact, a deep renovation is currently required. To successfully achieve the goals of this renovation wave and effectively address the personal needs of the homeowners, it is crucial to develop systemic renovation solutions that can be offered through a digital renovation passport. Consequently, the purpose of this study is to identify common damages, renovation requirements, and evaluate current renovation practices. The findings will serve as a crucial resource for the development of a digital renovation passport. In our study, we utilize rural wooden log houses (comprising 208 houses, 4 years of data) as our research subject. The building elements that are most in need of renovation are the external walls, roofs, and foundations, which require renovation in 77%, 63%, and 63% of the buildings, respectively. The primary cause of damage to the vulnerable structures is excessive moisture. Additionally, decay in the foundation can be attributed to factors such as erosion of mortar, frost, insufficient plinth height, inadequate foundation depth, and inadequate moisture protection. Recommendations provided by consultants primarily focus on restoring and preserving the dwellings' original architectural appearance. As a result, they are deemed insufficient in terms of improving energy performance and indoor climate. This lack of comprehensive consultation is concerning as it fails to consider the potential for cost efficiency, minimizing disruption to occupants, and achieving a comprehensive end result. The absence of recommendations for enhancing indoor climate, energy efficiency, general living quality, and reducing the building's carbon footprint performance the necessity for such renovation solutions and the importance of educating professionals and homeowners. The study's novelty lies in the establishment of statistical probabilities for damages and their causes, as well as the assessment of renovation and maintenance needs and the quality of existing recommendations. Results are scaled to the Estonian building stock, showing the renovation need on national scale. The findings can be incorporated into the digital renovation passport, along with specific renovation goals related to a given house.

Comparing the Socio-Economic Lives of Fishermen and Onion Farmers in West Sumatra

This research aims to compare the socio-economic life of fishing communities with shallot farming communities. Research on fishing communities was carried out in 2023 in Nagari Sasak, West Pasaman Regency, and research on the lives of shallot farmers was carried out in Nagari Lolo, Solok Regency. This research was analyzed using socio-economic theory. The main components of socio-economic position include measures of wealth, measures of power, measures of honor, and measures of knowledge. This research uses a qualitative approach with a descriptive research type. The informants were selected using purposive sampling with a total of 30 informants (15 informants from the fishing community and 15 from the shallot farming community). Data collection was carried out using in-depth interviews, observation, and documentation. The results of this research can be concluded that: (1) Fishermen's income is uncertain and the sea is the only source of income, while shallot farmers have other sources of income, such as rice fields, bananas, and others (2) The living conditions of fishing communities are more in tiny wooden houses with cement floors, while many shallot farmers already have permanent houses with ceramic floors (3) The education level of fishing communities is generally middle school and high school, while many shallot farmers already have children with graduate degrees.

Diversity of Wood Plants and Its Utilization as a Learning Source

This study aimed to determine the types of wood that used in the manufacture of a wooden house with knock down system and its benefits as a learning resource. The wooden house of knock down model is a potential local culture of the South Sumatra region which adapts the shape of the traditional house model in South Sumatra. The method was a qualitative descriptive method with data collection techniques through literature studies and interviews. The results showed that there were four types of wood used in the manufacture of disassembled wooden houses namely, Kulim (Scorodocarpus torneensis Becc.), Merawan (Hopea mengarawan Miq.), Meranti Payo (Shorea palembanica Miq.), and Seru or puspa (Schima wallichii (D.C.) Korth). The results of the study could be used as an alternative learning resources to facilitate students in studying and understanding biodiversity material in class X SMA/MA.

Concept and Life Cycle Assessment of a Tiny House Made from Root Section Structures of a Decommissioned Large-Scale Wind Turbine Blade as a Repurposed Application

With the green energy transition, the wind industry has grown rapidly in recent decades. Wind turbine blades (WTBs) are primarily manufactured from glass fibers and thermoset matrix composites. Considering their lifetime from 20 to 25 years, significant amounts of wind turbine components will eventually enter the global waste stream. Currently, recycling is not sufficiently optimized and commercially available. Other strategies, such as repurpose, are becoming relevant to divert components from waste streams. This research explores a pathway to sustainable repurposing of decommissioned WTBs. The concept of a tiny house constructed from the root section of a 5 MW/61.5 m WTB is presented (“5 MW house”). The deformations and stresses of the repurposed composite structures were investigated using a finite element analysis based on the three load cases, defined by (1) a combination of snow load and payload, (2) a combination of wind load and payload, and (3) a thermal stress analysis of a critical temperature distribution of the 5 MW house. Furthermore, a life cycle assessment (LCA) was conducted to evaluate the environmental impacts of the proposed concept. The numerical analysis results showed that the 5 MW house can withstand the applied loads, and that the deformations are within acceptable limits. A reduction of up to 97% in environmental impacts for most impact categories was calculated, compared to a wooden tiny house, whereas climate change, ozone depletion, and eutrophication potential were up to 3.7 times higher, mainly due to the weight and composition of the 5 MW house. The authors believe that the proposed concept may be a high-volume repurposed solution for large-scale WTB root sections.

Which factors influence consumers’ selection of wood as a building material for houses?

Construction and use of buildings is one of the highest users of global energy (34%) and one of the highest contributors to greenhouse gas emissions (37%). Using wood instead of carbon-intensive materials such as bricks reduces a building's embodied energy and is a more eco-friendly alternative. Since the quota of newly built wooden houses in Germany is still relatively low, gaining insights into the perspective of consumers is crucial. This study aims to investigate factors from a consumer perspective that influence the selection of wood as the primary building material for residential houses. Therefore, an online survey was conducted in Germany to gather data from individuals ( N = 510) who either bought or built a house in the last 5 years. By conducting a logistic regression, we have identified six influencing factors for the selection of wood. Positive views on wood's eco-friendliness and emphasis on renewable materials are key factors in choosing wood. Higher age and living in rural areas also increase the likelihood of selecting wood, while concerns about value stability and durability have negative effects. We conclude that increasing information activities, raising awareness about wood's ecological benefits, and dispelling prejudices can significantly impact its selection as a preferred building material.

Усадьба Высокое графов Д. Н. и А. Г. Шереметевых. По документам Российского государственного исторического архива

The article presents the results of the research on the history of the Vysokoe Estate in the Smolensk province (currently located in the village of Vysokoe in the Novodugino district of the Smolensk region) based on documents from the Russian State Historical Archive, which houses the personal archive of Count Alexander Dmitrievich Sheremet’ev (1859–1931). In comparison to the well-studied Kuskovo and Ostankino estates near Moscow, as well as the famous Fountain House in St. Petersburg, the Vysokoe Estate remains a relatively understudied property of the Sheremet’evs. Thanks to archival documents it became possible to reconstruct the history of the acquisition of this Estate by the representatives of the renowned Sheremet’ev family and the creation of a unique architectural complex in Vysokoe. The majority of archival documents are introduced into scholarly circulation for the first time. From the materials of Count A. D. Sheremet’ev's archive (Russian State Historical Archive, fond 1118), who inherited Vysokoe after his mother's death and continued to develop the Estate, it is known that the property of the Sheremet’ev Counts became theirs in 1857 after the marriage of Count Dmitry Nikolaevich Sheremet’ev (1803–1871) to the Smolensk noblewoman Alexandra Grigorievna Mel’nikova (1825–1874). The latter inherited only a part of the Estate and fully bought it from her mother and sisters after the wedding. At the behest of Countess A. G. Sheremet’eva, architect N. L. Benois designed about 20 stone buildings, including the main estate house ("Palace"), the Church of the Tikhvin Mother of God, and various service buildings. The execution of the work in Vysokoe was supervised by his assistant R. K. Mueller, who later became the architect of the Countess's wooden house. The archive contains the designs of many buildings, correspondence between N. L. Benois and R. K. Mueller with the Main Office of the Sheremet’ev Counts in St. Petersburg, texts of contracts between N. L. Benois and foreign and domestic craftsmen involved in the finishing, and suppliers of interior items. The documents provide valuable information about the client's involvement in the details of the work, allowing us to assess various stages of project implementation, and indicating the Countess's special attention to the arrangement and decoration of the main estate house and the church. For example, marble slabs for the Palace" terrace were ordered from Italian sculptor A. Triscorni, and icons for the church were commissioned from the academician of painting A. G. Goravskii. A significant part of the planned work was carried out in the early 1870s, and after the death of Countess A. G. Sheremet’eva in 1874, Vysokoe was inherited by her only son, A. D. Sheremet’ev. The surviving building designs, supplemented by various administrative documents, currently represent not only scholarly but also practical interest, associated with the commencement of work on the restoration of the remarkable architectural complex of the former Sheremet’ev Estate.

Initial stiffness estimation method for wooden house considering non‐structural elements using design information and microtremor measurement

AbstractIn this paper, a previously proposed method for story stiffness estimation of steel residential house is extended to estimate story stiffness of wooden residential houses considering non‐structural walls based on the available design information, that is, story weights, wall type, wall length, and wall opening type. Microtremor measurement data of several newly constructed buildings are used to determine unknown model parameters of stiffness estimation function, which minimize the estimation error of eigen frequency. The proposed method can simultaneously estimate the standard stiffness of wall element common to the same specification and the effects of wall opening and wall shape. The validity of the proposed method is examined by using measured actual microtremor records and drawing information of wall types and wall lengths of 19 wooden residential houses.

Increasing the energy efficiency of wooden house construction

Individual housing construction in the Krasnoyarsk Territory is actively developing. Rising housing prices in multi-storey buildings, increasing building density, and socio-demographic factors are increasing the popularity of individual construction. Technologies for such construction imply the widespread use of available local building materials, in particular wood. During the study, the designs of private houses in the settlement - the regional center of the Krasnoyarsk Territory - were analyzed. It was found that 90% of the sample examined were houses built from timber. Using simulation modeling methods, the actual thermal resistance of the enclosing structure made of timber with a cross-section of 0.15×0.15 m was determined. The calculated value was compared with the standard resistance indicator of the enclosing structure, taking into account energy saving standards. The Elcut solid modeling system was used in the work. The required heat flow power to maintain stationary heat transfer conditions was determined. It has been established that the design enclosing structure does not provide the required thermal resistance taking into account energy saving standards. It is necessary to consider a multilayer enclosing structure and increase the design resistance by insulating the outer surface of the wall with heat-insulating materials.

Accuracy Validation of Individual Damage Estimation for Wooden Houses and Road Blockage Distribution Estimation Using Basic Survey of City Planning in the 2016 Kumamoto Earthquake

Accuracy Validation of Individual Damage Estimation for Wooden Houses and Road Blockage Distribution Estimation Using Basic Survey of City Planning in the 2016 Kumamoto Earthquake

Research on the actual state of shrinking of the high-density wooden housing area in Tokyo

Research on the actual state of shrinking of the high-density wooden housing area in Tokyo

Результаты контроля радона в жилых домах вблизи разработки Шкурлатовского месторождения гранита

The presence of acting granite quarrying near the residential area may cause increase in indoor radon concentration. The paper presents results of estimating the level of radiation and carcinogenic danger for residents living near the acting Shkurlatov granite deposit. To assess average annual equivalent equilibrium volume activity (EEVA), Bq/m3, and the average annual individual effective radiation doses from radon isotopes presented in the indoor air, mSv/year, the data of the unified system for individual doses monitoring from 2017 through 2022 were used. Results of voluntary in-situ examination and 42 measures of radon volume activity in 17 residential buildings the closest to the granite quarry, were carried out in 2023. The above measures were used for calculation of EEVA of radon isotopes (Bq/m3) and the average annual individual effective radiation dose to the residents inhalated indoor radon (mSv/year). According to the data on radon monitoring in the dwellings situated near the Shkurlatov granite deposit the EEVA in wooden houses varied from 9.2 to 35.5 Bq/m3, EEVA in stone houses varied from 9.4 to 41.4 Bq/m3, average values are 21.22.0 and 21.91.8. The quoted values do not differ from the monitoring data in the Pavlovsk district of the Voronezh Region. Statistic data on malignant neoplasms incidence from 2017 through 2022 were investigated. As for the incidence of trachea, bronchus and lung cancer, no statistically significant difference between average multiyear cancer incidence in the area close to the Shkurlatov granite deposit in Pavlovsk district, Voronezh region, and in the more favorable district. The comparison was based on annual radiation doses due to radon isotopes inhalation. The results of the study suggest that radon at the registered indoor concentration does not affect cancer incidence among people living near the Shkurlatov granite deposit.

Exploitation of IR statistical results as a guidance for the multi-technique study of synthetic and natural iron-based pigments

Ochres are natural deposits particularly enriched in iron oxides and hydroxides giving them their typical colours spanning from bright red to yellow or brown. For this reason, they have been widely exploited over millennia for artistic purposes, becoming among the most known pigments.A series of 16 iron-based powder pigments including both commercial and natural ochres was investigated. Specifically, natural materials came from the Røros (Norway) district, where they were historically extensively used for painting the wooden houses’ facades.The set of samples was studied by applying a multi-analytical approach involving colorimetry, X-ray fluorescence, infrared spectroscopy in multiple spectral ranges and configurations, Raman spectroscopy, and X-ray diffraction. The potentiality of coupling infrared spectroscopy with Principal Component Analysis (PCA) in characterising and discriminating iron-based pigments represents an innovative approach to guide the interpretation of results obtained by applying a variety of analytical techniques, thanks to the identified clusters. This allowed, in turn, for depicting an extremely consistent description of the samples and specifically of those used in the conservation intervention of the UNESCO World Heritage site of Røros (Norway) and whose composition has never been studied before.

Научное обоснование использования древесины осины в деревянных клееных конструкциях

One of the promising materials for construction are wooden glued structures. According to the current regulatory documents, for the production of such structures coniferous wood is usually used, the reserves of which in industrially developed areas have significantly decreased over the last decades. At the same time, in a number of regions of Russia there is a significant raw material reserve of aspen wood, which has been successfully used in the construction of buildings and structures for many centuries. Its physical and mechanical characteristics differ from pine wood from 3.2 to 18.6 %. Therefore, it can be considered as an alternative source of raw materials for wooden house construction enterprises. To assess the degree influence of the combination of coniferous and aspen wood on the strength of the glue joint, as one of the main indicators of the quality of wooden glued structures, a set of theoretical and experimental studies was carried out. Maximum tangential and normal stresses of glue joint in pine and aspen blanks, which are significantly higher than those of solid wood, were determined by calculation. The values of shear strength in glued pine and aspen lamellas (4.46–8.06 MPa), obtained during the experiments at the 1st stage of research, were close to the strength of solid wood. At the 2nd stage the method of dispersion analysis was used, the results confirmed the assumption that when gluing lamellas up to 20 mm thick, the difference in the strength of the glue joint of structures made of pine and structures made of pine and aspen is insignificant. The obtained data serve as a basis for further work on diversification of raw material resources in the production of wooden glued structures due to the involvement of low-demand aspen wood in processing. For citation: Titunin A.A., Gevorgyan M.S., Fedotov A.A., Vakhnina T.N., Susoeva I.V. Scientific Substantiation of Aspen Wood Use in Wooden Glued Structures. Lesnoy Zhurnal = Russian Forestry Journal, 2023, no. 6, pp. 149–161. (In Russ.). https://doi.org/10.37482/0536-1036-2023-6-149-161

The urbanism and geography in green regions of Europe

This article refers to Hallstatt in Austria and Ioannina in Greece. The goals analyze the two locations that have similarities in geometric shape, digital elevation model (DEM), and geomorphology. Firstly, Hallsatt’s advances were more technical than aesthetic. There is a general tendency towards extravagance and baroque and Greco-Oriental influences. Secondly, Ioannina is a mountainous city located around Lake Pamvotis. The geometry develops parallel to the lake. The city experiences many cultures. The ancient city had an urban planning that characterized the Ottoman Empire. In the old part, there is the castle, old stone streets, wooden houses, and the house of the Greek Muslim Ali Pasha. The author obtains numerous aerial photographs using Google Earth software. The photographs were received dynamically for all the perimeters of the regions. In short, the cartographer has between 15 and 20 photographs. The next step is to align the photographs in Zephyr photogrammetry software. Configuring resolutions, distance, camera locations, contrast, and brightness is essential. The final products are the 3D texture, 3D model, and orthophotos from Hallstatt and Ioannina. Digital products are suitable for measuring areas, circumferences, and heights. Furthermore, digital products represent a digital archiving practice: conservation and visualization are crucial factors today as they share, represent, promote, and document urban planning, historical memory, and the natural environment.

Evaluation of Safer House Roof Frame Models Using Coconut Wood Material

The use of coconut wood is considered an environmentally friendly alternative because coconut wood comes from people's plantations without destroying forests. Another problem in the wooden house industry is knowing that the method of making roof frames is not yet a safe standard. The objectives of this research are: 1) Provide information about how to obtain conventional wood and coconut wood materials. 2) Explain how to select the quality and type of wood. 3) Explain that coconut wood can be used as a roof frame. 4) Explain the technical obstacles to roof trusses using coconut wood. 5) Explain the model for making a roof frame based on the basic requirements for a safer house. The method used in this research is descriptive qualitative through qualitative data analysis. The results of the roof frame model for the Woloan house do not meet the requirements for a house that is safer from earthquakes

АРХІТЕКТУРНІ ОСОБЛИВОСТІ МАЛОПОВЕРХОВОЇ ТИПОВОЇ ЖИТЛОВОЇ ЗАБУДОВИ 1939-1955-Х РОКІВ

Architectural features of typical low-rise residential buildings in the period 1939-1955 in ukraine are considered. It was noted that it was at this time that the mass construction of housing for the population in Ukraine was actively developing during industrialization, consolidation of villages (creation of «agricultural towns») and post-war reconstruction. Such typical housing was characteristic of many cities and towns during these years and reflected the spirit and needs of the time. After the war, the main emphasis was placed on the restoration of damaged buildings and on the construction of temporary wooden housing facilities for industrial workers. However, already in the mid-1950s, the construction of low-rise residential complexes developed, which was financed by industrial enterprises and other organizations. A study of archival materials on this topic was conducted, the architectural style, materials, constructions of buildings of that period were considered. Examples of existing residential buildings of the 1940s to the 1950s in Lviv and the Lviv region are presented. The planning of typical housing after the Second World War in Ukraine was based on several general principles aimed at restoring the housing stock, providing comfortable conditions for residents and rational use of available resources. The importance of modernizing such buildings in order to improve their functionality and energy efficiency was noted. Useful in this matter is the use of foreign practice, where extensive experience in the reconstruction of existing buildings built according to standard projects has been accumulated. Especially important for Ukraine are the methods and principles of renewal of urban residential buildings, which were developed in the countries of Eastern Europe, there are state reconstruction programs that provide for the allocation of state subsidies and special credit terms for their implementation.

Surface temperature variation among traditional and modern residential forms in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia: Implications for land use planning

Addis Ababa, a rapidly urbanizing city in Ethiopia, has witnessed a significant transformation in residential forms, with modern housing becoming increasingly prevalent alongside traditional Mud and Wood houses. Despite the widespread belief that modern housings improve the living conditions of residents in African cities, the influence of these residential forms on parameters of livability, here surface temperature, remains understudied. This study aims to determine the change in surface temperature across time and explore the differences in surface temperature between traditional and modern residential forms in Addis Ababa. This research utilizes data on residential forms and remotely sensed surface temperature data to investigate spatio-temporal changes in surface temperature. The analysis involves the use of Welch t-tests to examine the changes over time and Kruskal-Wallis test to compare temperature variations among different residential forms. The findings reveal a significant temperature increase of 2.2 °C in Addis Ababa, with modern residential forms exhibiting the highest surface temperature both in 2006 and 2016. However, when looking at change in surface temperature between 2006 and 2016, traditional residential forms are getting rapidly hotter than their modern counterparts. We concluded that the current boost in modern residential forms exacerbated the surface temperature in the city. To address the issue of increasing surface temperature, land use planning strategies are proposed, including the implementation of well-designed and large-scale infill developments with ample green spaces, the establishment and enforcement of green space ordinances, and halting the regularization of informal settlements.

Mitigating product data management challenges in the wooden single-family house industry

The housing industry faces challenges in product data management, resulting in negative effects on productivity, efficiency, and quality. The purpose of the study presented in this paper is to elaborate on requirements and functions of a support system to mitigate challenges with product data management in the wooden single-family house industry. As a support system, a pilot product lifecycle management (PLM) system was developed with functions to fulfill the requirements. The support system was installed and tested in a real-world setting, a wooden single-family house company, Company T. The paper contributes with the insights that a PLM system for industrialized house building can be developed, fulfilling the requirements in this specific industry. The functions developed were perceived to have value and could, for Company T, mitigate their challenges with product data management. The support system facilitate integration between the pilot PLM system, the building information modeling tool and the enterprise resource planning system at Company T. Based on the study carried out, the paper concludes that a PLM system is feasible, and that it might be a way to mitigate challenges with product data management in the wooden single-family house industry.

Mitigating product data management challenges in the wooden single-family house industry (REDIRECT)

The housing industry faces challenges in product data management, resulting in negative effects on productivity, efficiency, and quality. The purpose of the study presented in this paper is to elaborate on requirements and functions of a support system to mitigate challenges with product data management in the wooden single-family house industry. As a support system, a pilot product lifecycle management (PLM) system was developed with functions to fulfill the requirements. The support system was installed and tested in a real-world setting, a wooden single-family house company, Company T. The paper contributes with the insights that a PLM system for industrialized house building can be developed, fulfilling the requirements in this specific industry. The functions developed were perceived to have value and could, for Company T, mitigate their challenges with product data management. The support system facilitate integration between the pilot PLM system, the building information modeling tool and the enterprise resource planning system at Company T. Based on the study carried out, the paper concludes that a PLM system is feasible, and that it might be a way to mitigate challenges with product data management in the wooden single-family house industry.

Prediction of Particulate Matter (PM) Concentration of Wooden Houses in the Highlands by Two Statistical Modelling Methods

Wooden houses can potentially contain high levels of Particulate Matter (PM), which can cause lung disease in residents. Wooden houses have advantages in terms of maintaining the sustainability of building materials. Building design needs to pay attention to PM predictions in residential homes to avoid sick building syndrome. This study aimed to investigate and find predictive models for PM 10, PM2.5, and PM1.0 in wooden houses based on PM content in outdoor spaces. The study used quantitative methods by measuring PM10, PM2.5, and PM1.0 indoors and outdoors in wooden houses in Wonosobo Regency. The number of samples is 100 wooden houses. Measurements were carried out for one full day for each residential house. Data recording is done every 15 minutes—prediction model development using linear regression test and structural equation modeling (SEM). The results obtained three equations based on PM10, PM2.5, and PM1.0. PM10indoor = 53.202 + 0.406 PM10outdoor; PM2.5indoor = 36.865 + 0.373 PM2.5outdoor; PM1.0indoor = 34.143 + 0.194 PM1.0outdoor. The difference with the results from SEM is PM10indoor = 52.89 + 0.41 PM10outdoor, PM2.5indoor = 38.31 + 0.37 PM2.5outdoor, PM1.0indoor = 26.58 + 0.19.PM1.0outdoor. There is no significant difference in the prediction results, so it can be concluded that the Prediction Model is valid. The implications of this research can provide input for improving the standard of PM content in wooden houses. The study results become input for the government in monitoring PM content in simple houses.