Updated by "Forest Circular Economy" Editorial Board on May 24, 2025, 10:00 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 woody and lumbery communities, and encourage innovation in the forestry industry in order to fully utilize forest resources to decarbonize the economy, strengthen economic security, and create local communities.
Construction of the Caption by Hyatt Kabuto-cho Tokyo, an urban hotel underway in Nihonbashi Kabuto-cho, Tokyo, is scheduled to be completed on June 30. The 12-story, 195-room hotel will feature a steel-frame main structure and a "hybrid wooden structure," with some of the pillars and beams on the third through 12th floors made of wood, and is attracting attention as an advanced example of wooden construction in urban and non-residential areas.
This building was constructed as part of the Nihonbashi Kabutocho and Kayabacho redevelopment project promoted by Heiwa Real Estate, which required high fire resistance and structural safety in its design and construction. While the use of wood brings a natural texture and warmth to the space, the building was designed to be highly fire-resistant in accordance with the Building Standard Law to accommodate its use as a hotel for unspecified number of people.
The wooden pillars on the 3rd to 8th floors are designed not to bear long-term loads, allowing the wooden structural members to be exposed; the wooden pillars on the 9th to 12th floors are fireproofed for one hour, and some of the beams on the 3rd to 12th floors are also fireproofed for one or two hours. The exterior design of the building allows the wooden parts to be seen through the glass, making the hybrid wooden structure recognizable from both distant and near views.
The Japan Wooden Fire-Resistant Building Association, which cooperated in the project, will hold a seminar on July 1 and 2 to introduce these design techniques and structural innovations to the industry. The association is working to promote wooden construction in non-residential and urban areas by providing technical support for the design of fire-resistant structures and developing a certification system, and considers this project a "leading model" for the promotion of wooden construction in the future. At the seminar, those involved in the design, construction, and certification will take the stage and provide detailed explanations of the technical issues and solutions for urban wood construction.
This project has been selected by the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism for its "2022 Sustainable Building Leadership Project (Wooden Leadership Type)," and is attracting attention from the perspective of harmony with the urban landscape, reduction of environmental impact, and utilization of locally produced timber. The Japan Wooden Fire-Resistant Buildings Association (JWBA) believes that the increased use of wood in urban, non-residential, and high-rise buildings will contribute to the recycling of forest resources and the realization of a decarbonized society.
Caption by Hyatt Kabuto-cho Tokyo" Building Outline
Builder: Heiwa Real Estate Co.
Design: Mitsubishi Jisho Sekkei Inc. (Timber and fireproofing advisor: Shelter Inc.)
Construction: Obayashi Corporation
Interior design: Mitchell and Eads
Wood processing and construction: Shelter Co.
Use: Accommodation (195 guest rooms)
Local District: Fire Protection District, Commercial District
Structure: Steel construction, partly wood construction (basement: reinforced concrete construction, partly steel-framed reinforced concrete construction)
Site area: 1,093.59 square meters
Building area: 864.76 square meters
Total floor area: 9,977.66 square meters
Number of floors: 12 above ground, 1 basement level
Construction period: April 19, 2023 - June 30, 2025
Opening: Fall 2025 (planned)
