Updated by "Forest Circular Economy" Editorial Board on May 14, 2025, 12:38 PM JST
Editorial Board, Forest Circular Economy
Forestcircularity-editor
We aim to realize "Vision 2050: Japan Shines, Forest Circular Economy" promoted by the Platinum Forest Industry Initiative. We will disseminate ideas and initiatives to promote biomass chemistry, realize wooden cities, and encourage innovation in the forestry industry in order to fully utilize forest resources to decarbonize, strengthen economic security, and create local communities.
Terrajima Architects, which has been working on a number of high earthquake-resistant wooden houses, started a full-scale "wooden building construction business" in May. The company will present new possibilities for wood construction in medium- and large-scale buildings, drawing on its accumulated knowledge of residential construction.
The company's SE (Safety Engineering) earthquake-resistant construction method is a high-performance wooden construction method that combines structural glued laminated timber and specialized hardware. Unlike conventional wood construction, structural calculations are performed for each individual building to achieve both a high level of earthquake resistance comparable to that of steel construction and a high degree of design flexibility. The strength balance of the entire building can be designed with a high degree of precision, which enables the realization of large spaces and large openings while maintaining design freedom as well as safety.
This construction method enables Terrajima Architects to build medium to large-sized buildings with up to five stories of earthquake resistance, even though they are made of wood, and the company's goal is to "achieve the ideal company building in wood. The ability to accommodate narrow lots in urban areas makes it a realistic option for sole proprietors and small- and medium-sized businesses.
The construction of wooden buildings in urban areas has a multifaceted advantage in terms of reducing environmental impact, recycling forest resources through the use of local timber, and carbon fixation. Through this initiative, Terrajima Architects aims to contribute from an environmental perspective as well.
Wood construction is also key to sustainable urban design in terms of restoring warmth and natural textures to the urban architectural landscape. Its advantages as an environmentally friendly architecture, such as improved energy-saving performance, are also noteworthy.
Terrajima Architects pursues the quality of wooden buildings in terms of both design and structure, utilizing the strength of its integrated design and construction system. We propose a new form of wooden architecture that emphasizes a balance between design, durability, and sustainability, and not just a cost-oriented construction method.
