Japan builds world's tallest wooden skyscraper
Japanese engineers have revealed plans to build a 350-meter-tall wooden skyscraper in Tokyo, due to be completed in 2041.
The 350-meter-high wooden tower containing shops, residences, offices and a hotel will become the tallest building in Japan when it opens in 2041, according toTelegraphLocated in the heart of Tokyo, the $5.9 billion project will transform the Japanese capital into an eco-friendly city, turning it into a forest.
The building was designed by Tokyo-based architectural firm Nikken Sikkei. Construction was undertaken by Sumitomo Forestry, one of Japan's largest business conglomerates.
The project is named W350 after the height of the building. The type of wood used to build the structure has not been revealed. The tower has 70 floors above ground, built from a combination of wood and steel. More than 0.2 million cubic meters of wood accounts for 90% of the construction materials. According to the drawings of Nikken Sekkei, the tubular structure can withstand strong winds as well as the frequent earthquakes in Japan.
In addition to offices, shops and residences, the completed tower will feature a rooftop garden, balconies covered in plants, and open interior spaces filled with natural light. Brock Commons Tallwood House, a 53-meter-tall student housing building that opened last fall on the University of British Columbia campus in Vancouver, Canada, holds the record for the world's tallest wooden building.
The building is 76% wood, which saves 2,800 tons of carbon dioxide emissions compared to similar steel and concrete structures. However, before construction on the W350 project began, Sumitomo Forestry had to overcome Japan’s fire regulations. Although wood has been used for generations to build homes, Japan has largely banned its use in construction due to its flammability.
