A Japan-based engineering firm, Kozo Keikaku Kunkyusho, has developed an innovative earthquake-resistant wall. The structure is made using a checkered block pattern constructed with 'CLT wood. Each timber panel is cross-laminated, organized in a checkered pattern, and then secured using steel plates and drift pins. The result is a ventilated, protective, and aesthetically appealing design that can endure the disruption from an earthquake.
Kozo Keikaku Kunkyusho architects have partnered with design firm Kengo Kuma & Associates to create a children's kindergarten using this earthquake-resistant wall. The future Heisei Gakuen Himawai Kindergarten will feature a two-storied structure whose facade is made of an earthquake-resistant 'CLT wall and surrounded by a garden.
The engineering firm plans to continue developing its seismic wall designs by incorporating elements of steel and reinforced concrete.
Image Credit: <a rel='nofollow' href='https://www.designboom.com/architecture/wooden-panel-earthquake-resistant-wall-clt-checkered-block-wall-kozo-keikaku-kunkyusho-kengo-kuma-09-20-2021/'>designboom</a>, <a rel='nofollow' href='https://www.designboom.com/architecture/wooden-panel-earthquake-resistant-wall-clt-checkered-block-wall-kozo-keikaku-kunkyusho-kengo-kuma-09-20-2021/'>designboom</a>
Why This Trend Is Growing
- Earthquake-resistant Wood Structures
- Innovative wood structures can be engineered to resist earthquakes, paving way for safe, sustainable buildings with lower construction costs.
- Cross-laminated Timber (CLT) Reinforcement
- Cross-laminated timber (CLT) can be reinforced with steel and concrete to create durable, disaster-resistant structures that also offer improved aesthetics and indoor air quality.
- Collaborations for Sustainable Design
- Partnerships between engineering and design firms can lead to innovations, such as earthquake-resistant timber walls, that promote sustainability, safety, and creativity in building design.
Industries Being Reshaped
- Construction
- The construction industry can incorporate earthquake-resistant wood structures using cross-laminated timber (CLT) to provide safer and cost-effective building solutions to customers.
- Architecture
- Architects can work with engineering firms to create innovative designs using earthquake-resistant materials like cross-laminated timber (CLT), steel, and concrete, for sustainable and safe building projects.
- Wood Products
- Manufacturers of cross-laminated timber (CLT) and other wood products can leverage its benefits, such as improved indoor air quality and sustainability, to develop new markets and applications for wood products in construction.
