Development of mid-rise Residential Timber-based Architecture – Barriers and Opportunities in Kosovo

This research explores the progress and the state of the art of timber-based architecture, focusing on residential construction industry towards a sustainable urban and economical development. Residential construction in Kosovo is an important sector, due to its large share as a result of post-conflict rapid growth of urban settlements. Mid-storey timber-based residential buildings are the prime focus of this dissertation, with the aim to identify main barriers that limit the increase of timber use in residential construction industry, hence the opportunities for sustainable development in Kosovo. Theoretical part addresses multi-storey timber development, main building systems and methods, the acknowledged advantages as well as perceived technical disadvantages such as fire safety, acoustics and thermal properties. The following chapter provides an overview on Kosovo background with the aim to better understanding of the local context of the research topic. It is divided into four main sections: the first section presents the actual situation in historical, geographical, demographical, economy and spatial development perspective; the second section elaborates the wood-based residential architecture in Kosovo. Several categorized buildings are explained and evaluated based on the building technology and architectural features; the last two sections discuss the present state of Kosovo forestry as local potential, and wood industry. Methodology approved to achieve the objectives of this research is based on mixed methods, integrating both quantitative and qualitative approaches. Surveys were conducted to the chosen communities - architects and civil engineers as professionals, and random inhabitants with no engineering background, which have provided a comprehensible view on their role and perception towards the use of timber in residential sector in the context of Kosovo, and its main attributes. Afterwards, semi-structured interviews enabled a further and deeper qualitatively analysis of the revealed findings. The sample has targeted the wood industry, residential construction companies - the business sector, architects, engineers and forestry governmental institutions. The discussed findings have enabled to conceptualize the topics under the study, which have been categorized, consequently generalized the conclusion. The main barriers and motivation revealed have enabled to establish a strategic model for the identified key actors to address the issues, hence acknowledge opportunities for future sustainable timber-based mid-rise residential construction in Kosovo.