Cross-laminated timber buildings unveiled in Tokyo

TOKYO (The Japan News/ANN) - Three wooden buildings made of cross-laminated timber (CLT) were unveiled in the Harumi district of Chuo Ward, Tokyo, in a preview event as part of a Mitsubishi Estate Co. project to promote the usage of sustainable architectural materials as well as domestic timber. The area will open on Saturday and is located close to the Athletes’ Village for the 2020 Tokyo Olympics and Paralympics.

Three wooden buildings made of cross-laminated timber (CLT) were unveiled in the Harumi district of Chuo Ward, Tokyo, in a preview event as part of a Mitsubishi Estate Co. project to promote the usage of sustainable architectural materials as well as domestic timber. The area will open on Saturday and is located close to the Athletes’ Village for the 2020 Tokyo Olympics and Paralympics.

 CLT is created in panels by layering wood with the grain at perpendicular angles to increase structural integrity. The buildings’ designs were supervised by Kengo Kuma, who designed the new National Stadium.

 The CLT panels used for these buildings were recently created from about 680 cubic meters of timber in total and produced in Maniwa, Okayama Prefecture. The three buildings consist of a main “pavilion building” and two two-story “indoor exhibition buildings.” 

 Parallelogram CLT panels were assembled to form the pavilion building, which can host various indoor events.

 The indoor exhibition buildings house a cafe and spaces to play with wooden toys or shadow puppets using a touch screen and sensors.

 Kuma said in the preview event, “I hope the area will be one of the highlights of Tokyo during the Games.”

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