Japan company to build world’s tallest wooden skyscraper

Japanese company Sumitomo Forestry plans to build the world’s tallest wooden skyscraper to mark its 350th anniversary in 2041.

Called the W350, the 350-metre-tall tower will be made up of 10 per cent steel, said the company in a news release. The rest will comprise 185,000 cubic metres of timber.

The “braced tube structure” will have diagonal steel vibration-control braces to “prevent deformation of the building due to lateral forces such as earthquakes and wind”, according to the news release.

The 70-storey building may house offices, shops and hotels, as well as about 8,000 homes. There will also be balconies and greenery on every level.

“The interior structure is made of a pure wood, producing a calm space that exudes the warmth and gentleness of wood,” said Sumitomo.

Construction of the W350 is expected to cost 600 billion yen (S$7.4 billion) – almost double that of a conventional high-rise building.

Sumitomo said the aim of the W350 – designed in collaboration with Nikken Sekkei – is to “create environmentally friendly and timber-utilising cities that become forests through increased use of wooden architecture”.

“The devastation of domestic forests due to insufficient maintenance is becoming a problem. Increased timber demand will promote replanting and contribute to the revitalisation of forestry,” the company added.