AFFORDABLE HOUSING: EXPLORING MASS TIMBER IN HAWAII AS AN ALTERNATIVE BUILDING MATERIAL
Date
2024
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Abstract
There is a shortage of affordable housing here in Hawaii, exacerbated by the globalclimate crisis impacting our island. This research will explore rethinking traditional construction
methods and materials into an innovative solution to these crises. Mass timber, a sustainable
material, is an innovative technology gaining popularity globally due to its renewable yet
cost-competitive nature. However, there are many hindrances to deploying it here in Hawaii as a
mainstream construction method. It is essential to investigate solutions to some of these issues
such as termites, sourcing materials, and code requirements to justify bringing it here. This
dissertation is broken up into a research section that explores existing precedents and provisions
and a design section that proposes new contributions to these typologies.
Many hindrances to creating meaningful, affordable housing developments here in
Hawaii are based upon an invasive profit-based development cycle that the architecture and
construction industries currently follow. Suppose we look at neo-indigenous solutions to
construction through mass timber and decarbonize our buildings and construction methods. In
that case, we can significantly decrease a building’s footprint, while providing support to these
demographics in need.
The underlying essence of this research showcases the versatility, and applicability of
mass timber both as a competitive alternative building material and as a soon-to-be viable option
here in Hawaii. Alongside the optimistic hope for a paradigm shift, this design and research
showcase the potential real-world applications of the material that should be utilized in future
mass timber projects here in Hawaii. This will benefit the island both as a means for housing
developments to help solve the local housing crisis and as a way to combat climate change and
sea level rise.
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Architecture, Affordable Housing, De-carbonized, Embodied Carbon, Mass Timber, Sustainable Harvesting, Thermally Modified Timber
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177 pages
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