University of Natural Resources
and Applied Life Sciences Vienna
Department of Economics
and Social Sciences
1
Innovation trends in timber
construction in Austria: figures
and case studiesGerhard Weiss
University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences,
Vienna (BOKU) and
European Forest Institute – Central East European
Regional Office (EFICEEC)
Material from: M. Kollar (2014): Innovation processes in energy
efficient timber construction in Austria (Master Thesis); Teischinger
et al. (2011): Holzbauanteil in Österreich (zuschnitt/proHolz Austria);
proHolz information material/interview.
University of Natural Resources
and Applied Life Sciences Vienna
Department of Economics
and Social Sciences
2
Innovation in construction sector
Construction sector in Austria:
• important economic factor with long history and tradition;
• complex system industry: interlinked cooperation activities;
• construction product = complex product system; (Winch 1998, Nord 2011)
• currently undergoing various changes and challenges.
Timber construction:
• most firms are SMEs, family owned;
• new market opportunities (energy efficiency, climate effects, etc.);
• high innovation activity and strong development in Austria.
University of Natural Resources
and Applied Life Sciences Vienna
Department of Economics
and Social Sciences
3
Trends in wood construction in Austria
Current upcoming trends:
• Lamited/cross-laminated timber panels
• Hybrid construction systems (with building core in fortified concrete)
and hybrid elements (concrete/wood slabs)
• Renovations, adaptations and extensions of existing buildings
• Multi-family/multi-storey buildings
Ongoing but well-established trends:
• Prefabricated elements
• Industrial/commercial buildings
• Community purpose buildings
• Single homes in traditional and in modern design
• Low-energy or passive house standard
University of Natural Resources
and Applied Life Sciences Vienna
Department of Economics
and Social Sciences
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Examples in wood
construction in Austria
“Culture power station” Thalgau, Salzburg.
© Photo: K. Hoerbst, Austrian State Award for
Architecture and Sustainability
“Moxy Hotel, Airport Vienna” Wien.
© Photo: moxy/Holzistgenial
© Stefan Öhlinger/OÖ Holzbaupreis (2)
University of Natural Resources
and Applied Life Sciences Vienna
Department of Economics
and Social Sciences
5
Examples in wood
construction in Austria
“Culture power station” Thalgau, Salzburg.
© Photo: K. Hoerbst, Austrian State Award for
Architecture and Sustainability
“Moxy Hotel, Airport Vienna” Wien.
© Photo: moxy/Holzistgenial
© WIEHAG
University of Natural Resources
and Applied Life Sciences Vienna
Department of Economics
and Social Sciences
6
Examples in wood
construction in Austria
“Culture power station” Thalgau, Salzburg.
© Photo: K. Hoerbst, Austrian State Award for
Architecture and Sustainability
“Moxy Hotel, Airport Vienna” Wien.
© Photo: moxy/Holzistgenial
© Kaufmann Bausysteme/Holzistgenial
© x-architekten © giwog
© Bruno Klomfar/proHolz
University of Natural Resources
and Applied Life Sciences Vienna
Department of Economics
and Social Sciences
7
Development of wood construction in
Austria
20 years of wood construction revival in Austria:
• started in province of Vorarlberg (west Austria) with a strong tradition
and strong networking of small carpenters, builders, architects, etc.
• diffused to whole of Austria.
Support:
• Provincial wood cluster organisations, university chairs, research
platforms, wood construction academy,
• proHolz Austria (public relations organisations with campaigns, advisory
services, magazine “zuschnitt”, wood construction awards, courses and
seminars, events, lobbying activities, etc.),
• Adapted building regulations (multi-storey, fire standards, etc.).
University of Natural Resources
and Applied Life Sciences Vienna
Department of Economics
and Social Sciences
8
Development of wood construction in
Austria
Specific activities:
• Wood construction awards of the provinces (usually in cooperation with
proHolz) e.g. http://www.proholz-noe.at/holzbaupreis-noe/
• zuschnitt magazine http://www.proholz.at/zuschnitt/ausgabe/67/
• list of projects (Austria and international)
http://www.proholz.at/architektur/kat/wohnbauten/
• Online information service http://www.infoholz.at/
• dataholz.com (HFA): Catalogue of reviewed timber building components for
thermal, acoustic, fire performance requirements and ecological drivers; detailed
technical descriptions of building materials for professionals
http://www.dataholz.com/en/index.html
University of Natural Resources
and Applied Life Sciences Vienna
Department of Economics
and Social Sciences
9
Development of wood construction in
Austria
• http://www.dataholz.com/en/index.html
University of Natural Resources
and Applied Life Sciences Vienna
Department of Economics
and Social Sciences
10
Rise of wood construction shares in
Austria within 10 years(Teischinger et al. 2011/proHolz)
• number of wood buildings in Austria rose between 1998 and 2008 from
25 to 39% (use area rose from 14 to 24%).
Buildings
2008
2003
1998
Area
2008
2003
1998
University of Natural Resources
and Applied Life Sciences Vienna
Department of Economics
and Social Sciences
11
Rise of wood construction shares in
Austria within 10 years(Teischinger et al. 2011/proHolz)
• Residential buildings: share of 77% out of all wooden buildings;
similar share of wooden buildings out of all buildings;
most cases are renovations/annexes, only 2% are multi-family!
• Vienna: smaller share, smaller growth, smaller share in use area.
• Multi-family buildings: rise from 1 to 13% (4% in use area);
those are 98% attached appartments, only 2% multi-storey.
Highest potential in urban areas and multi-family/multi-storey buildings.
University of Natural Resources
and Applied Life Sciences Vienna
Department of Economics
and Social Sciences
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Rise…. (graphs)
• Wood buildings in Austria from 25 to
39% (use area rose from 14 to 24%).
• Vienna: smaller share, smaller growth,
smaller share in use area.
• Multi-family buildings: from 1 to 13%
(4% in use area).
University of Natural Resources
and Applied Life Sciences Vienna
Department of Economics
and Social Sciences
13
10 year trends in wood construction
Wood construction trends in Austria:
• Strong trend, but focused on smaller buildings.
• Large share (65%) of low energy houses (<50 kWh/m2a).
• Large share built with prefabricated elements.
• Strong research and innovation activity with public programmes,
university and industry.
• Innovative solutions emerge for multi-storey residential buildings.
• Hybrid solutions (hybrid slabs; concrete core and wooden structure).
University of Natural Resources
and Applied Life Sciences Vienna
Department of Economics
and Social Sciences
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Current project: HoHo Vienna
HoHo (Holz-Hochhaus/Wooden skyscraper), Vienna, Austria
• “world largest wooden hybrid building
• Carrier: Woschitz Group
• 24 storeys, 84 m height
• Mixed use
• In new urban development area
University of Natural Resources
and Applied Life Sciences Vienna
Department of Economics
and Social Sciences
15
HoHo in “Seestadt Aspern”© D.I. Dr. Richard Woschitz
HoHo (Holz-Hochhaus/Wooden skyscraper), Vienna, Austria
• “world largest wooden hybrid building
• Carrier: Woschitz Group
• 24 storeys, 84 m height
• Mixed use
• In new urban development area
University of Natural Resources
and Applied Life Sciences Vienna
Department of Economics
and Social Sciences
16
HoHo in “Seestadt Aspern”© D.I. Dr. Richard Woschitz
HoHo (Holz-Hochhaus/Wooden skyscraper), Vienna, Austria
• “world largest wooden hybrid building
• Carrier: Woschitz Group
• 24 storeys, 84 m height
• Mixed use
• In new urban development area
University of Natural Resources
and Applied Life Sciences Vienna
Department of Economics
and Social Sciences
17
HoHo in “Seestadt Aspern”© D.I. Dr. Richard Woschitz
HoHo (Holz-Hochhaus/Wooden skyscraper), Vienna, Austria
• “world largest wooden hybrid building
• Carrier: Woschitz Group
• 24 storeys, 84 m height
• Mixed use
• In new urban development area
University of Natural Resources
and Applied Life Sciences Vienna
Department of Economics
and Social Sciences
18
HoHo in “Seestadt Aspern”© D.I. Dr. Richard Woschitz
HoHo (Holz-Hochhaus/Wooden skyscraper), Vienna, Austria
• “world largest wooden hybrid building
• Carrier: Woschitz Group
• 24 storeys, 84 m height
• Mixed use
• In new urban development area
University of Natural Resources
and Applied Life Sciences Vienna
Department of Economics
and Social Sciences
Two show case examples from Vorarlberg
(western Austria)(Kollar, 2014)
Community centre St.Gerold Life Cycle Tower One
• Municipality (building promoter)
• Cukrowicz Nachbaur ZT (architect)
Photo: © Cukrowicz Nachbaur ZT
• Rhomberg Group (building promoter;
large construction company)
• Kaufmann ZT (architect)
Photo: © Kaufmann ZT
University of Natural Resources
and Applied Life Sciences Vienna
Department of Economics
and Social Sciences
Community centre St.Gerold
Photos: © Cukrowicz Nachbaur ZT
University of Natural Resources
and Applied Life Sciences Vienna
Department of Economics
and Social Sciences
Life Cycle Tower One
Photos: © Kaufmann ZT
University of Natural Resources
and Applied Life Sciences Vienna
Department of Economics
and Social Sciences
Community centre St.Gerold
• Public building, 2009
• First 4-storey timber
construction in Vorarlberg
• Highly innovative• Product
• Process
• Organizational
• Institutional
• Passive House Standard
• Used as multi-purpose centre
Life Cycle Tower One
Commercial building, 2012
First 8-storey timber-hybrid
building in Vorarlberg
Highly innovative Product
Process
Organizational
Institutional
Passive House Standard
Used as office space
Pho
tos:
© C
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achb
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T/K
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ann
ZT
University of Natural Resources
and Applied Life Sciences Vienna
Department of Economics
and Social Sciences
Findings:
complex information flows
University of Natural Resources
and Applied Life Sciences Vienna
Department of Economics
and Social Sciences
Innovation analysis
Most important actors
• Architect and building promoter
Cooperation process
• Persistent & unrestricted interaction &
information exchange
Fostering factors
• Intensive cooperation
• Old tradition and craftsmanship,
experience and building culture
• Clustering of experts & regional
cooperation models
• Common fundamental idea
• Aim to open up new markets
Impeding factors
• Increased organizational effort
• Image, knowledge, prejudices
Trends and challenges
• Sustainable constructions
• Larger construction companies
• Consideration of the entire life cycle
• Prefabrication
• Multi-storey building
Need for action
• Binding standardization
• Increased inclusion of legal institutions
• Break up of occupation barriers
• Elimination of prejudices
University of Natural Resources
and Applied Life Sciences Vienna
Department of Economics
and Social Sciences
Overall conclusions
• Innovation factors for use of wood (in m-s. residential buildings):
• Role of actors: building promoters (municipalities and/or
residential building developers!), building companies,
architects, costumers (!)
• Role of institutional system: policies and regulations, city
planners (!), advisory systems and promotion, research, …
University of Natural Resources
and Applied Life Sciences Vienna
Department of Economics
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Many thanks for
your attention!
www.boku.ac.at
www.eficeec.efi.int
Photo: © Vorarlberger Holzbaukunst