Regional Pathways to Multistorey Timber Construction Across Europe: A Comparative Analysis of Belgium, Austria, and Norway

Abstract

Multistorey timber construction (MTC) is widely promoted for lowering embodied carbon, yet its uptake across Europe remains uneven. This study asks which drivers and barriers shape mid-rise wood buildings and how they differ across regions and stakeholders. We combine a structured literature review with a survey of 116 construction professionals across three deliberately contrasted national construction contexts. Belgium as an emerging market, Austria with a growing timber culture, and Norway as a mature policy-driven setting advancing timber. Respondents rated 31 literature-derived factors and 16 strategies. Across all contexts, respondents converge on a shared core: timber was perceived positively when it offered predictable project value, especially construction speed, image/marketing value, sustainability, and user-related benefits. Conversely, obstacles clustered around economic, technical, and legal uncertainty—especially building cost, fire performance, acoustics, conventional procurement, and path dependency. Country patterns suggest different priorities: Belgium may require increased ecosystem readiness, Austria standardisation and clearer regulatory interpretation, and Norway continued political support and market legitimacy. Stakeholder patterns further suggest differentiated support needs across architects, engineers, contractors, clients, suppliers, and verifiers. These findings explore MTC challenges and opportunities as contextual policy and industry priorities for empowering low-carbon construction and the circular economy transition in the built environment.