The vast majority of timber in Oaska’s Grand Ring, the world’s largest wooden architectural structure ever assembled, will be dismantled and converted into housing as part of plans to help Ishikawa communities rebuild following the 2024 New Year’s earthquake.
“We want to carry on the expo’s legacy and make it a symbol of our recovery,” according to a Suzu city official who spoke to Japan Times overnight about plans for the Expo site following the end of the six-month exhibition. Wood Central understands that about 50,000 square metres of timber used in “the monumental ring” will be used in recovery efforts, with 200 metres (of the original 2-kilometre loop) to remain on the grounds as part of plans to preserve the Expo 2025 site.
Earlier this year, Wood Central revealed that the architect behind the Grand Ring, Sou Fujimoto, described the project as “a symbol of our times,” tapping into Japan’s rich history of wooden architecture, which dates back hundreds of years: “However, we haven’t fully harnessed these natural materials to their greatest potential. (As a result) I have blended traditional design principles with cutting-edge tech to create the largest wooden structure.”
And with Japan leading the world in developing building standards that can withstand earthquakes, about 70% of Japanese cedar and hinoki wood was combined with much stronger European red cedar and reinforced steel to make the giant wooden ring fully quake-resistant.
In total, the ring measures approximately 615 meters in inner diameter, 675 meters in outer diameter, 30 meters in width, and 12 meters in height, utilising traditional Nuki joints – a building system commonly found in Japanese shrines and temples. “Inside, massive wooden beams hold up the sloped roof, which doubles as the skywalk, protecting thousands of visitors from the weather,” according to Andrew Dunn, the CEO of the Australian-based Timber Development Association, who described the ring as a playground for timber engineers. “From the highest point, you can take in the complete circular form of the structure, with pavilions from around the world gathered both inside and outside the ring.”
- To learn more about the Grand Ring, which in March was awarded as the world record as the world’s largest wooden architectural structure by the Gusiness Book of Records, click here for Wood Central’s special feature. And to learn why engineers are now developing new shock absorbers that will help buildings bounce back faster from quakes, click here for Wood Central’s special feature.
