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.
Earthquake-Resistant Timber Walls
Kozo Keikaku Kunkyusho's Seismic Wall Uses a Checkered Pattern
Trend Themes
1. Earthquake-resistant Wood Structures - Innovative wood structures can be engineered to resist earthquakes, paving way for safe, sustainable buildings with lower construction costs.
2. 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.
3. 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.
Industry Implications
1. 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.
2. 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.
3. 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.