Housing Market and Opportunities for Wood Frame Housing in Korea

우리나라의 주택시장구조(住宅市長構造)와 목조주택개발(木造住宅開發)

To investigate opportunities for wood frame housing and to activate wood frame house construction, trends of construction activities. preference about housing, and building codes related to wood frame housing were discussed. And two models of wood frame house were developed and construction cost was analyzed to compare with comparative masonry houses. The results obtained were as follows: 1. While 77.8% of people prefer single-family houses, majority of people(74.9%), ironically, possess multi-family houses such as apartments Wood work cost was ratio of 4% of total building cost. while wood material cost accounted merely for 11 % out of total building material cost. 2. Building code was not major barrier to residential house at height under 13m. The building code regulated major structural member and family boder wall of multi-family house to be built with fire retardant material. 3. The proper wood frame house was analyzed of town house or villa type locating in suburban of big city with hot ondol system for the upper middle class. 4 There was no difference in construction cost between western style wood frame house and comparable masonry house, but construction cost for Korean style wood frame house is 27% higher than that of comparable masonry house. It was necessary to reduce materials and cost down by prefabrication technique for both style of wood frame house.