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Living in more relaxed and sociable city

Japan and Asian countries have wooden building tradition, allowing people to live in more ‘nature’ environment. Nature beauty and landscapes are often motivation foreign tourists decide their destination.

Edouard Tripkovic Katayama

Edouard Tripkovic Katayama Advisory Consultant

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Europe is known for long and rich history influencing world by many moral, sociological, technological, philosophical and industrial trends. Empires and kingdoms left palaces, castles and other monuments built mostly by stone. On the other hand, Japan and Asian countries have wooden building tradition, allowing people to live in more ‘nature’ environment. Architects have important influence on society creating environment we are living in, providing an expression of human civilization at a fixed point in time, leaving monuments for study by future generations. Probably most important construction method happened with arrival of concrete, putting aside stone and wood and becoming most used construction material. Recently, 3D concrete is making a new entry in construction market.

Concrete gave possibility to build higher buildings with better temperature and sound isolation, securing better against fire. However, with important environmental changes in past decade and life standard increase, people are more Earth prevention conscious and look for healthier life conditions. New constructions are designed by environment kind materials bringing/making nature closer to our everyday life. Since 1990s, driven by sustainability architecture, wooden constructions using Cross Laminated Timber (CLT) started to be used in Switzerland, Austria and Germany, followed by Canada and other countries. Last year, first CLT hotel in USA, Candlewood Suites building was erected in 10 days. Another project, 300 meters CLT skyscraper in London, Oakwood Tower project was announced and it is expected coming years will witness increase of eco-friendly wooden constructions in the world.

Japan is famous as one of most developed construction country in the world, recognized also by technology securing several hundred meters high buildings from earthquakes and building speed. Once Japanese regulations for high wooden constructions are fixed, we can be sure Japan will prove how fast wooden skyscrapers can be built, creating.

Nature beauty and landscapes are often motivation foreign tourists decide their destination. Japanese regions are well known for diversity of natural heritage. CLT hotel or accommodation facility would bring several benefits to city: “Eco conscious” image, shorter construction time, more pleasing, relaxed, sociable urban experience and most valuable, giving tourists’ opportunity to stay in natural, eco environment, offering full nature experience.

Tsumagojuku

Source: Lendlease, Daily Mail