Structure made of one tree -Digital assistance to put natural shape wood in practical use

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Description

This work considers issues related to Japan's forests, including the imbalance between the supply from the forestry industry and the demand from the construction industry and other sectors, as well as the residual woods resulting from non-standardized lumber and other forestry operations. This work has facilitated the use of non-standard, naturally shaped trees as structural elements in a logging area where processing methods are limited, which could be a promising avenue for further exploration.

Story

My interest in the utilization of forest resources in mountainous areas was triggered by a fieldwork visit to a forest in Nagano. There, I witnessed the current situation where small-diameter trees and bent trees, which are difficult to value economically, are not maintained and left unattended. I began to think about how to give new value to these trees, use them as resources, and use the funds to create forests for the next generation.
Later, when I visited sawmills and woodworks in Gifu, I heard from local people that they were disappointed to hear that their beloved, magnificent horse chestnut trees had suddenly been cut down. I was deeply impressed by their words that there were better ways to use the trees, even if they were left as they were or cut down.
Through this experience, I came up with the idea of creating a form from a single tree instead of using multiple trees. I realized that by considering the design before felling the tree, we could use the material more efficiently and use better sawing methods. Thus, I decided to develop a system that would allow us to utilize small-diameter and bent trees as structural material and modify the design before felling.

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Judge’s Comments

Anni Korkman

Programme Director of Luovi Productions, Helsinki Design Week

New Perspective

"Structure made of one tree -Digital assistance to put natural shape wood in practical use" is a brilliant and thought-provoking speculation that offers a fresh perspective on material-, raw material-, and form-driven design.