japanese developer sumitomo forest has joined forces with architectural designers nikken sekkei, announcing plans for the world’s tallest wooden skyscraper. the 1,148-foot (350 metre) skyscraper is set to be completed by 2041 and is located in central tokyo.
UPDATE: this project was shortlisted in the ‘experimental – future project’ category at the 2018 world architecture festival.
all images courtesy of sumitomo
the timber skyscraper forms part of the W350 project, a mixed use environmentally friendly development whose completion will mark sumitomo‘s 350th anniversary. the concept has been prepared by sumitomo’s tsukuba research institute which the company hopes will help ‘transform the city into a forest’.
the plan will see 70 storeys comprising of steel and timber covering 6,500 square meters and 455,000 square meters in floor space. 6.5 million cubic feet of wood will be required to realise the braced tube structure designed in collaboration with architectural designers nikken sekkei. braced tubing summarises a structural system strengthened by inserting elements into the incorporated framework to prevent any damage caused by conditions brought on by earthquakes or just simply wind.
renderings of the W350 project show timber buildings covered in greenery that according to sumitomo will be built to withstand earthquakes and fires – with what resistance and for how long is not yet public knowledge. the completed tower will house shops, offices, a hotel and residential units, whilst sketches show balconies wrapped around the entire facade.
once completed the building will not only outstrip abeno harukas in osaka, which currently holds the crown as japan’s tallest building it will be the tallest timber tower in the world. in doing so the company hopes that the project will popularize timber architecture and help jumpstart a revitalization of the forestry industry in rural areas and interest in reforestation.
architecture in japan (559 articles)
kazuya morita builds wooden lattice frame structure for archive library in kyoto
masatoshi hirai architects completes family house with kitchen garden in japan
nendo's timber-grid tokyo building tops out with a sky forest terrace
matsuokasatoshitamurayuki builds courtyard house with pleated floor plan outside of tokyo
masatoshi hirai architects combines living and working in slender timber building in tokyo
takeshi hosaka's love2 house is a 19 sqm concrete hut for a couple in tokyo
skyscraper architecture and design (160 articles)
world's tallest hybrid wood tower by perkins+will is soon to rise above vancouver
david adjaye's residential skyscraper tops out in new york
ODD architects designs sunflower-inspired tower with arched facades and 'mini forests'
world architecture festival 2018 (51 articles)
tezuka architects forms an array of round timber structures for 'muku nursery' in japan
designboom interviews mecanoo's francine houben at the 2018 world architecture festival
designboom interviews li xiaodong at the 2018 world architecture festival
architecture news
urbach tower is a 14-meter-tall landmark built from self-shaping wood
#architecture
the shape change in the wood is driven only by its characteristic shrinking during a decrease of moisture content.
the shape change in the wood is driven only by its characteristic shrinking during a decrease of moisture content.
experimental house concept by atelier FCJZ lets light pass through its façade
#architecture
the structure seeks to embrace the natural world, while ensuring that the dwelling maintains the privacy required by domestic life.
the structure seeks to embrace the natural world, while ensuring that the dwelling maintains the privacy required by domestic life.
santos bolivar architects scatters rammed-earth hotel across mexican landscape
#architecture
rather than housing its services and living spaces within the same volume, the santos bolivar santulan hotel divides each program between five structures.
rather than housing its services and living spaces within the same volume, the santos bolivar santulan hotel divides each program between five structures.
the concrete façades of LAN's student residences in paris relay stories of greek mythology
#architecture
the project is based on a simple idea: densifying the edge of the plot to create a park at the center.
the project is based on a simple idea: densifying the edge of the plot to create a park at the center.
Also, will be the tallest “No Smoking Allowed” tower.
Termites? Dry Rot? Mold? Paint and or Surface Refinishing? My single family home has maintenance requirements, but can’t imagine the maintenance costs on this baby!!! God bless the owner of this thing after fifty years of rain; snow, sleet, sun, wind, when all that exposed lumber begins to deteriorate! Look, it’s enough trouble keeping wooden patio furniture protected from the elements and looking good, hope they have a huge “sinking fund” for this one, and imagine the cost of fire insurance!!! Psychologically speaking, I can’t imagine being in wood building on the upper floors with a fire below. Bad idea overall in my opinion.
This is going to be mostly steel with engineered lumber to cover the steel components giving you a wood look but to get this hight just using lumber alone would extremely expensive and not practical
To the designer’s credit, we can look back at that nearly 400′ tower in Germany, built in the late 1930’s, that’s still going strong. Experts say it’s got at least 20 more years. That kind of life expectancy on any project would please most investors. But…that tower doesn’t have hundreds of people living and working in it. It’s still in excellent shape due to constant maintenance…and it’s just a framework. Sure, it’s still going to be more steel than wood, but as others have mentioned, maintenance will be a nightmare on this one, and who wants to be in a penthouse, watching flames climbing up the veneer?