Work

Modular and Industrialized Timber Housing in Europe: A Review of the Potentials of Local Poplar Wood Through the VICHO Project Framework

Year: 2026

Type: article

Abstract: Housing industrialization and modularization have gained traction as responses to two pressing challenges in the construction sector: the chronic shortage of affordable housing and the substantial environmental footprint of conventional building methods. Yet prevailing modular housing models in Europe remain constrained by dependence on global supply chains, production concentrated in large industrial operators, and insufficient adaptation to local material and territorial conditions. This article presents a state-of-the-art review of modular timber housing in Europe, examining technological typologies, market structures, and national regulatory frameworks. The methodology integrates a systematic literature and market review, a comparative country analysis, and an embedded case study. Findings indicate that the viability of modular timber housing depends not only on material performance but on its embeddedness in coherent industrial systems, business strategies, and regulatory contexts. Against this backdrop, the VICHO project is introduced as a case study exploring an open, proximity-based industrialization model that valorizes local poplar timber in southern Europe, in alignment with circular bioeconomy principles and the New European Bauhaus.

Source: Sustainability

DOI: 10.3390/su18083875

Authors: Jaime Vergara-Muñoz, Adelaida Martín Martín, Ignacio de Teresa Fernández-Casas, Roser Martínez-Ramos e Iruela, Miguel Martínez-Monedero

Institution: Universidad de Granada

Language: English

Topic: BIM and Construction Integration

Subfield: Building and Construction

Field: Engineering

Domain: Physical Sciences

SDGs: Industry, innovation and infrastructure, Sustainable cities and communities, Responsible consumption and production

Open Access status: gold

Estimated APC paid: $2,896