Conflicting sociotechnical imaginaries of the future built environment: An analysis of current discourses on timber construction in France and Germany

Abstract

Building with timber promises many things at the same time: sustainability, economic efficiency, as well as innovative forms and building processes. However, it is disputable to what extent, and under which conditions, timber construction can be considered sustainable. The societal discourse in Germany and France is shaped by four competing visions that favor either 1. a positive CO₂ balance, 2. a particularly time- and cost-efficient construction process, 3. the use of regional resources, or 4. the creation of uniquely designed buildings as the guiding principle of future timber construction. The construction industry is one of the biggest sources of greenhouse gas emissions. In view of resource scarcity, climate change, and rapid global population growth, the industry faces the urgent challenge of a sustainable transition. The renaissance of timber as a renewable, carbon-neutral construction material could pave the way for more sustainable modes of building. Taking France and Germany as examples, and based on a sociological discourse analysis, this paper reveals four different and conflicting sociotechnical imaginaries of the future built environment. The four imaginaries show specific characteristics depending on the respective national, political, and cultural contexts. Moreover, they include partially incompatible objectives and compete for discursive hegemony, and thus implementation. Scrutinizing the four competing visions and their approach to conflicts and scarcities raises profound questions about their political, technological, ecological, and social implications.