The article, “Will Pure Wooden High-Rise Building Be a Game Changer for Decarbonisation, Obayashi Corporation’s Challenge” by (Clark and Duan, 2023), examines how Obayashi Corporation employs wooden construction to create competitive buildings with a smaller carbon footprint.
The Port Plus, Obayashi Yokohama Training Centre, use cross laminated timber (CLT) and laminated veneer lumber (LVL) as key structural elements. What sets Port Plus apart from similar buildings is the implementation of rigid cross joints, which binds columns and beams using glued in rods (GIR) and a Japanese carpentry technique known as Nuki (Port Plus, n.d.). In this method, joinery detail connections involve sliding one piece of wood into place on another.
Another feature of Port Plus is the use of "O･Mega Wood", which offers fire resistance and earthquake protection comparable to traditional buildings that are made of concrete and steel (Obayashi, 2016). In an earthquake-prone country like Japan, wooden construction can be a comparable alternative to the conventional building materials.
The adoption of all-wood construction is a step towards achieving Japan's environmental goals. According to Clark and Duan (2023), monetary subsidies provided for the construction of Port Plus highlight the Japanese government's 2050 net zero emissions target (Statement by Prime Minister's Office).
Thesis Statement:
While the article presents a strong case of using wood as an alternative, the absence of a thorough exploration into whether wood is genuinely environmentally friendly or contributes to deforestation undermines the essence of "Nuki technique".
(182 words)
Citation:
Clarke, A. (2023). Will Pure Wooden High-Rise Buildings Be a Game Changer for Decarbonization, Obayashi Corporation's Challenge. Will pure wooden skyscrapers be a game changer for decarbonization, Obayashi's challenge - Bloomberg
OY Project (n.d.). Port Plus (oyproject.com)
Obayashi Corporation. (2016). Low-Cost, Long-Span Fire-Resistant Wood Construction Technology: O･Mega Wood (FR). Low-Cost, Long-Span Fire-Resistant Wood Construction Technology: O･Mega Wood (FR) | Appendix | OBAYASHI CHRONICLE 130 English
Kishida, F. (2023). Statement by Prime Minister Fumio Kishida at COP28 World Climate Action Summit. Statement by Prime Minister KISHIDA Fumio at COP28 World Climate Action Summit (Speeches and Statements <br>by the Prime Minister) | Prime Minister's Office of Japan (kantei.go.jp)
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Second draft:
Added in APA citation
Corrected in text citation
Edited and provided more explanation regarding features of construction method
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