Abstract
In Poland, residential architecture is dominated by so-called improved traditional technology. However, other technologies are used in different parts of the world, and they can be successfully adopted on the Polish construction market. The research described in this paper focuses on the influence of the type of structural system and thermal insulation material on the thickness of the envelope, typically for residential buildings, and consequently on the footprint or usable area of the building and its functionality. The study focused on three types of external wall systems: a two-layer masonry wall with rigid thermal insulation, a CLT wall with thermal insulation and a timber-frame wall with thermal insulation material. There were over twenty market-available thermal insulation materials chosen for the research. Our findings, although they apply to only a fragment of the subject matter, demonstrate the degree to which the type of structural system and insulation material can affect a building’s floor area, functionality and comfort of use..