Thomas, R H (2013) An innovative timber construction system: building affordable housing using homegrown Welsh softwood. PhD thesis, Cardiff University, UK.
Abstract
This thesis tests an approach to delivering affordable housing for rural Wales, through the design and development of a system of homegrown, re-engineered timber components for self build. Recent studies and policy have demonstrated an acute shortage of affordable housing in rural Wales. Consequently, the Welsh Assembly Government has committed to deliver an additional 6,500 homes in the period 2007 - 11. However, there remains significant concern regarding the long term, sustainable delivery of affordable rural housing. This dissertation proposes a solution to this need, based on the readily available resource of homegrown softwood. Sitka Spruce has become the primary production crop of the Welsh woodlands. It is rarely used in the construction industry due to its propensity to distort and instead is utilised in low value industries, including low grade carcassing timber. It is proposed that through an innovative and radical approach, homegrown timber resources can offer a high quality, locally sourced and sustainable modern method of construction. In this study, a system of engineered homegrown timber components is designed, prototyped and tested as a self build construction solution for affordable housing in the diverse physical, social and economic context of rural Wales. Design led studies, including a ‘Pattern Book' of house types, and realised prototypical constructions are used to inform and interrogate the proposed components and construction methodology. The primary objective of these investigations is to examine the applicability and appropriateness for self build construction. Finally, through the construction of a whole house prototype, a system of homegrown timber components and an approach to its assembly is proposed. Although limitations remain with this proposal, it has been possible to demonstrate that there is significant opportunity for an innovative, self build construction system using homegrown timber resources, to offer an efficient and sustainable solution for affordable housing in rural Wales.
| Item Type: | Thesis (Doctoral) |
|---|---|
| Uncontrolled Keywords: | affordable housing; components; government; homes; policy; self build; timber |
| Index terms: | prototype, crop, proposal, self-build, Wales, construction system, methodology, rural housing, timber construction, design and development, dissertation, construction industry, affordable housing, investigation |
| Subjects: | research methods, design process, land management, Geography, building construction, research dissemination and communication, construction type, project planning, construction integration, design practice, industry analysis, data collection methods, modelling and simulation |
| Topics: | Research Practice, Business Strategy, Construction Technology, Design Practice, Project Management, Geographical Context, Engineering Principles, Sustainability |
| Descriptive scope: | 4 PCTA |
N.B. Descriptive scope is a count of how many of the five facets of empirical research are indicated by the words used in title, abstract and keywords. It is not intended as a judgement on the research; merely a count of the kind of word we would expect to indicate Phenomenon, Concepts, Theoretical framing, Empirical techniques, Analytical techniques. If all five are present, then a code of “5 PCTEA” will indicate this. If you feel the coding for this record is questionable, we welcome discussion around the terms we matched or the way we categorized them. The facet you would expect may not be coded, or a facet may be coded inappropriately. This can also bear on a larger question, of which facets should be treated as defining in construction management research. Please get in touch, and we will look at it. More details here