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© 2025 by the authors. Licensee MDPI, Basel, Switzerland. This article is an open access article distributed under the terms and conditions of the Creative Commons Attribution (CC BY) license (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/). Notwithstanding the ProQuest Terms and Conditions, you may use this content in accordance with the terms of the License.

Abstract

As a renewable and carbon-storing raw material, wood is playing an increasingly important role in the transformation of the construction sector towards a circular economy (CE). However, extant scientific studies have largely analyzed its technical, environmental, and social aspects in isolation from one another. The present article provides a problem-oriented and conceptual narrative overview, integrating these three dimensions from a design perspective. The objective of this study is not to provide a systematic review of the extant literature, but rather to structure existing knowledge by categorizing topics as follows: well-recognized, moderately developed, and niche. This approach enables the identification of gaps and links relevant to architectural practice. A qualitative thematic approach was adopted, underpinned by a comprehensive analysis of peer-reviewed articles sourced from the Scopus and Web of Science databases. This approach was further enriched by the incorporation of a select array of highly cited sources, serving to substantiate the study’s findings and provide a comprehensive overview of the pertinent literature. The review identified four research areas with high potential but low recognition: digital tracking of the life cycle of wooden elements, upcycling of low-quality wood, development of innovative wood-based materials, and socio-cultural acceptance of CE-based architecture. These subjects are currently marginal in the field of research, despite their significant implications for design strategies, adaptive resource use, and the development of interdisciplinary tools. The article posits the necessity of integrating materials science, digital technologies and architectural theory as a prerequisite for the scalable development of circular wood construction. The proposed classification provides a conceptual framework to support further research and guide innovation in the built environment.

Details

Title
Circular Wood Construction in a Sustainable Built Environment: A Thematic Review of Gaps and Emerging Topics
Author
Starzyk Agnieszka 1   VIAFID ORCID Logo  ; Marchwiński Janusz 2   VIAFID ORCID Logo  ; Milošević Vuk 3   VIAFID ORCID Logo 

 Department of Architecture, Institute of Civil Engineering, Warsaw University of Life Sciences, 02-787 Warsaw, Poland; [email protected] 
 Faculty of Architecture, University of Technology and Arts in Applied Sciences, 00-792 Warsaw, Poland; [email protected] 
 Faculty of Civil Engineering and Architecture, University of Niš, 18000 Niš, Serbia 
First page
7333
Publication year
2025
Publication date
2025
Publisher
MDPI AG
e-ISSN
20711050
Source type
Scholarly Journal
Language of publication
English
ProQuest document ID
3244064050
Copyright
© 2025 by the authors. Licensee MDPI, Basel, Switzerland. This article is an open access article distributed under the terms and conditions of the Creative Commons Attribution (CC BY) license (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/). Notwithstanding the ProQuest Terms and Conditions, you may use this content in accordance with the terms of the License.