Japan: Wood – from tradition to innovation

In a minimalist note with a solid structure, traditional Japanese houses are built on a single level and on a wooden structure, combining materials that bring the man closer to nature. At the same time, the materials used have increased efficiency in case of earthquakes or typhoons: pillars, wood beams, rice straw mats (tatami) and sliding panels (fusuma) that separate the spaces of the room.

Japan is located on the edge of the so-called the Ring of Fire - a seismic and volcanic activity center located largely on the edges of the Pacific tectonic plate. The Ring of Fire is spread over an area of 40,000 km and concentrates 62% of the currently active volcanoes (350 out of 600, of which 57 active only in Japan), being activated from the seismic point of view and therefore, in the regions, there are frequent earthquakes.

Given these conditions, Japan prefers to use as much wood as possible in constructions, which, once incorporated into structures, offers much greater strength than other building materials. So wood is a material of choice not only in the construction of traditional houses. In 2010, in Japan, is adopted the Act for Promotion of Use of Wood in Public Buildings and therefore, the use of wood in constructions becomes a country policy that encourages innovations.

Innovations in timber

Given the excellent qualities of wood, one of the largest companies in Japan, announced in early 2018 that it would build the tallest wooden structure in Japan. The project, called W350, marks the 350th anniversary of the Sumitomo group, and is a 350 m high building that will accommodate commercial spaces, offices, a hotel, residential areas, and wide balconies with greenery and a roof with garden. The 70-storey impressive skyscraper will be built of a combination of steel and timber, of which 90% is timber. The approximate need for timber is 185,000 cubic meters.

Wood – the material of the future

No doubt, wood is the material of the future, the only material that comes from a renewable resource. Engineers and architects bring innovations in the use of timber in constructions, delivering impressive, durable projects, encompassing new assembly methods and spectacular design. Some examples by Shigheru Ban Architects: [1], [2], [3].