Browsing by Author "Nurminen, Jonne"

The thesis explores students' perceptions towards wood as construction and interior material. Wood construction plays an important role in the development of bioeconomy. Today, various construction methods and materials have been developed for wood, which in turn has generated new opportunities for urban construction of multistory buildings. Nowadays, the building regulations have become less strict and many wood construction pilot projects have been built through out Finland. To research students’ perceptions towards wooden constructions helps to understand what they as future home buyers prefer.                     The study employs quantitative research methods. An electronic survey was sent out to the residents of student housing operating in the Helsinki metropolitan area. A total number of 531 students responded to the survey. The results suggest that higher level of knowledge about wooden multistory buildings, childhood experience of living in wooden building as well as growing up in rural areas have a positive effect on the willingness to live in a wooden multistory building. Different purchasing habits also have influence on the attitudes towards wooden multistory buildings. Eco-ethical consumers have more positive perception of wooden multistory buildings than non eco-ethical consumers. However, their positive attitude does not lead to an increase in the willingness to pay extra. Respondents who consider themselves to be sensible consumers have high positive attitude and are willing to pay slightly higher rent for an apartment that is in a wooden construct. Wooden multistory buildings are recognized as eco-friendly more frequently by consumers who identify themselves as eco-ethical, sensible and hedonistic. The same view does not apply to consumers with loose consumption habits.