Transition to timber construction: project level socio-technical processes interpreted through a TIS framework perspective

In recent years, the use of timber as a sustainable construction material has gained increasing attention driven by environmental policy incentives and growing demand for low-carbon alternatives. The idea of separate approaches to the social and technical systems upon transitioning towards timber could no longer suffice for the complex construction sector. We therefore investigate, (1) what are the socio-technical dynamics driving the transition to timber building projects? and (2) how can the transition to timber be facilitated within the complex and multifaceted residential construction industry from a Technological Innovation System (TIS) framework perspective? The socio-technical dynamics identified following the analysis of 17 semi-structured interviews in the Netherlands are leadership, standardization, product-based construction, stakeholder alignment, and business case viability. Theoretically, we argue that the timber transition requires a comprehensive approach across production systems and service delivery. Practically, this research identifies enabling processes that can support learning and legitimacy in timber construction projects.