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JAPANESE WOOD PRODUCTS COMPANY Sumitomo Forestry has some (hopefully) solid plans to commemorate its 350th anniversary in 2041.
To be precise, the 70-storey building will use 185,000 cubic meters of timber, which will cost the company around JPY600 billion (US$5.6 billion), twice the amount of a conventional high-rise building.
“The aim is to create an environmentally-friendly and timber-utilizing cities where they become forests through increased use of wooden architecture for high-rise buildings,” Sumitomo Forestry said in a press release, adding that the cost would come down as timber becomes a more frequently used material.
Source: Sumitomo Forestry.
Forests cover approximately two-thirds (68.5 percent) of Japan’s land area. However, the self-supply rate for domestically-produced timber is only at around 30 percent, and Japan’s forests are at risk due to insufficient maintenance.
“It is crucial to use these trees and replant them after harvesting to encourage sustainability of forests,” the company said.
W350 will feature greenery heavily, with foliage connecting from the ground to the top floors, offering “a view of biodiversity in an urban setting”. The building plans also show balconies that continue around all four sides of the building, giving a space “in which people can enjoy fresh outside air, rich natural elements and sunshine filtering through foliage”.
On the inside, the structure is of pure wood, producing a calm space that exudes warmth and tranquility.
Source: Sumitomo Forestry.
Will the building be able to withstand Japan’s high rates of seismic activity?
According to Reuters, a tremor occurs in Japan at least once every five minutes and each year, there are up to 2,000 quakes that can be felt by people. While that should be a cause for caution, Sumitomo Forestry ensured that earthquakes have been taken into consideration and there’s a plan in place.
The internal framework of the building will use a braced tube structure “to prevent deformation of the building due to lateral forces such as earthquakes or wind.”
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 solid plans to commemorate its 350th anniversary in 2041.To be precise, the 70-storey building will use 185,000 cubic meters of timber, which will cost the company around JPY600 billion (US$5.6 billion),… "Pin It")
Source: travelwireasia.com