Vertical Wooden Ornamentation

VERTICAL WOODEN O R N A M E N TAT I O N

P A

A FRAMEWORK OF

P R E S

A N

F U T

P O T E N

S T

S E N T

N D

U R E

T I A L S

I N TA L L W O O D E N B U I L D I N G S

Huge thank you to Matthew Jull and Matthew Slaats for providing and assisting this amazing course.

This class has been a huge help in identifying my thesis.

Thank you, Matthew Jull for providing such encouraging words every Monday.

Thank you, Matthew Slaats for helping me with the travel proposal for the RAMSA Travel Fellowship.

2021 University of Virginia School of Architecture

by Pete Paueksakon M. Arch Candidate 2023 ARCH 7100 Design Research

F R A M E W O R K

PG. 9-20

INTRODUCTION

TRADITION THROUGH INTERVENTION wood

process of wood ornamentation

wood structural ornamentation ornamentation PG. 21-40

THE PAST

TRADITION IN PAGODAS pagoda shape

pagoda structure

pagoda ornamental system palsangjeon pagoda yakushi-ji pagoda PG. 41-64

THE PRESENT

WOOD AND MODERN TECHNOLOGY engineered wood

process of engineered wood pagoda ornamental system

present techno-wood joinery

timber tower research by SOM

wood fabrication, Urbach Tower

interview of Takuro Mori and Akihisa Kitamori PG. 65-72

THE FUTURE

WHERE THE TALL WOOD TRADITION IS FORGOTTEN oakland timber tower hybrid timber tower

tokyo timber tower project PG. 73-83

THE PROPOSAL

TRADITION THROUGH INTERVENTION

5| ARCH 7100 DESIGN RESEARCH ASSIGNMENT 02 THINK CLOUD

WOOD ORNAMENTATION AND FUTURE HIGH RISE IMPLICATIONS Description: I am intrested in the ornamentation of pagoda structures and design. Since these types of tall buildings have

Research Question Updated:How did these tall wooden structures manage to stand against the test of time?

manage to stand against the test of time. It made me questioned to why has there not been tall structures in modern

How are these wood structures more sustainable?

times that demonstates structural elegance the pagoda. Recently, there is a trend in the built environment of tall wooden

What significance does ornamentation provide to buildings besides beauty?

skyscrapers due to technological advantages of CLT and environmental analysis. Perhaps, by looking towards the past of

Does structural ornamentation provides honesty to the building?

these wooden structures, a new perspective with high-rise vernacular verticality design may arise.

How can we adapt and redefine “tall” from these types of structures, through fabrication?

HANDCRAFT

WOOD USE IN TRADITIONAL ARCHITECTURE

STRUCTURE EXPRESSION

THE FUNCTION OF ORNAMENTATION

PAST

LOCAL MATERIALITY

EARTHQUAKE RESISTENCE

VERNACULAR DESIGN

LONGEVITY

“IDENTITIY”

“CLIMATE”

CHANGE IN TECHNOLOGICAL USE OF WOOD IN ARCHITECTURE

PRESENT

MODERN WOOD BUILDINGS

CLT TECHNOLOGY

HIGH-RISE DESIGN

FUTURE

DEEP-ANALYSIS, MORE FLEXIBILITY

WOOD FABRICATION

SUSTRAINABILITY DESIGN KENGO KUMA PROJECTS

SOM “TIMBER TOWER”

TOKYO “CLT FUTURE”

WOOD TOWERS PROPOSAL

BUILDINGS GENERATE 40 % OF ANNUAL GLOBAL GHG EMISSIONS

ARCH7100 DESIGN RESEARCH | ASSIGNMENT 3 | PETE PAUEKSAKON

PRECEDENT STUDY 2

SPRING BREAK

PRECEDENT STUDY 1

BOOK DRAFT

LECTURAL

N/A

ARCH 7100 DESIGN RESEARCH ASSIGNMENT 03 SCHEDULE

REVIEW

BOOK STRUCTURE DRAFT

AARANGE

|6

PRECEDENT STUDY 3

1

8

15

22

29

Mon

Mon

Mon

Mon

Mon

MARCH

ORNAMENTATION ANALYSIS

DESIGN IDEA

PROPOSAL

STRUCTURE ANALYSIS

DESK CRIT, GROUP TALK

DESK CRIT, GROUP TALK

CLT STUDY

1

DESK CRIT, GROUP TALK

BOOK FRAME AND CASE STUDY

FEEDBACK

5

12

19

26

30

Mon

Mon

Mon

Mon

APRIL

1

BOOK COMPOSITION

DESIGN POTENTIAL

FINALIZATION

BOOK SUBMISSION

DESK CRIT, GROUP TALK

DESK CRIT, GROUP TALK

STRUCTURAL AND ORNAMENTATION ANALYSIS

2

9

16

Mon

Mon

Mon

MAY

FINALIZATION OF MATERIAL

Intro Cover

Lectural Review

About

Contents Chapters of Topic

Title

Abstract

WOOD VERTICAL ORNAMENTATION

The Why?

Sub Title

Research Method

Past, Present, Future Potentials

Object and Scope

Precedent Analysis

Structure Analysis

CLT

Design Proposal

Part 1

Part 2

Part 3

Part 4

Part 5

Research Position

Understand the Past

How it functions?

Usability and Techniques

What are the potentials?

Wood Benefactors in Tall Buildings

Past pagodas

Structural Systems

Benefits

New Typology of Towers

7| ARCH 7100 DESIGN RESEARCH ASSIGNMENT 04 TRAVEL RESEARCH

TRAIL OF THE NOKI-GUMI

A PILGRIMAGE OF MODULAR-ORNAMENTED SYSTEMS ACROSS THE EAST SEA In “The Function of Ornament”, Fashid Moussavi indicates, “The role of ornamentation has allowed people to engage and remain convergent with

Airfares

these tall wooden structures stand by their innovative interconnected

Bus Passes

culture.” Across the East sea, Korean and Japanese Pagodas share a common

convergence for landmarks celebrating Buddhist identity. For centuries, ornament system capable of structure survival and aesthetics. The truss

and lever system is a primary example of this technology where it operates

a series of modular cantilever eaves (Noki-Gumi) which braces the dress

members and roof rafters to overall support the Pagoda frame. (Fig. 1&2) This traditional integration of vertical structural ornamentation presents an elegance for cultural longevity, a monument of permanence expression.

However, in this globalization world of rapid industrialism, modernized

Train Passes

Budget

Ferry Pass

Bike Rentals

Food ($30/Day)

Lodging ($80/Day) Admission Fee

$ 3500 $ 400 $ 100 $ 200 $ 100

$ 1100 $ 2800

BEG

$ 200

Contingency & Misc $ 500 Total

Seoul

$ 8900

Cheo

Daeje

simplification has made the traditions of constructing delicate architectural

systems commonly less utilized. The past conventions of expressing articulated structural systems have preeminent potentials for the built

environment to be filled with cultural renditions and identity across time. Wood presently is at the intersection of industrialized material advancements through active technological evolutions in fabrication,

additive manufacturing and automation capabilities in sustainable tree

regrowth programs. This progression has contributed to the rise of CrossLaminated Timber technologies allowing the built-wood environment

MIDPOINT

(Figure.1) Truss Action

Jeju Island

flexible capabilities of strength, stability, and rigidity, generating buildings scales beyond the average material functions. Yet, Cross-Laminated

Timber buildings presently share the same implicativeness of repetitive

proliferation, especially the commonly “Tall Wooden Buildings” as seen in

SOM’s Timber Tower proposal and Nikken Sekkei’s Tokyo Timber Tower project. These tall monumental masses have limitless potential to adapt

novel opportunities from past traditional wood techniques as seen in

structural ornamented innovations of Pagodas over thirteen centuries ago.

The travel proposal investigates vertical ornamented structural systems

of Korean and Japanese wooden pagodas across the East sea. My studies

will incorporate interviews with professionals who have studied these

Ferry

(Figure.2) Lever Action

Structural Ornamentation

Bus

Train Temples

Traditional Kore 1.

temples while composing an archive using photography, 3D scanning, sketching, sectional studies, and diagramming of ornamented systems in their respective vernacular regions. By beginning in Seoul and concluding

in Tokyo, the Noki-Gumi pilgrimage includes traveling by ferry to Islands, bullet trains to central regions, bus or car to city outskirts, and biking or

walking to designated historic temples throughout the southern regions of Korea, Jeju Island, and Japan. At the travel outcome, my research will be

a series of architectural explorations of structural expression and analysis of classifying each of these wooden pagodas to their unique ornamental

Korean Ornamented System

Botapsa, Cheonju

Japanese Ornamented System

Golden Pagoda, Cheonju

functionality. While additionally constructing diagrams highlighting the

2.

internal anatomical composition beyond its systems and materiality to interpret traditional woodworking inventions. Purely, this investigation

will perform as the catalyst manifestations for my Master of Architecture thesis where I will produce a speculative verticality wood project by

combining interventions between cross-laminated timber technologies and traditional applications of modular-ornamented structural systems.

His

|8 ARCH 7100 DESIGN RESEARCH ASSIGNMENT 04 TRAVEL RESEARCH

RAMSA 2021 Travel Fellowship Research Proposal

E A C H

Days 01-03 Seoul

D A Y

Cheonju Daejeon

GIN

onju

eon

2 hrs

Boeun

2 hrs

O N E

Days 04-09

M U S T

R E A C H

Days 10-13 Gyeongiu

Jeju Island

Busan

Boeun

T E M P L E

Days 14-17

O R

Days 18-22 Fukoka

Yamaguchi

S H R I N E

A S

Days 23-28 Osaka Kyoto

Hiroshima

Nara

A

W A Y P O I N T

Days 29-32 Shizuoka

Minamitsuru

Days 33-35 Tokyo

East Sea

Gyeongju 35 mins

Busan 12 hrs

2 hrs

Fukoka

5 hrs

1 hr

Hiroshima

Yamaguchi

2 hrs

Osaka

Kyoto Nara

3 hrs

Minamitsuru

FINALE

2 hrs

Shizuoka

1 hr

Tokyo

storic Region

ean Ornamented Pagoda Structures 3.

Beopjusa, Boeun

Guinsa, Boeun

4.

5.

Traditional Japanese Ornamented Pagoda Structures 7.

Hwangnyongsa, Gyeongju

Rurikoji, Yamaguchi

Yakcheonsa, Jeju Island

Miyajima, Hiroshima

6.

8.

9.

Shintennoji, Osaka

Kofukuji, Nara

10.

11.

Chureito, Minamitsuru

12.

Asakusa Sensoji, Tokyo

9|

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INTRODUCTION TRADITION THROUGH INVENTION

in this globalization world of rapid industrialism, modernized simplification

has made the traditions of constructing delicate architectural systems

commonly less utilized. The past conventions of expressing articulated

structural systems have preeminent potentials for the built environment to

be filled with cultural renditions and identity across time. Wood presently is at the intersection of industrialized material advancements through active technological evolutions in fabrication, additive manufacturing and automation

capabilities in sustainable tree regrowth programs. This progression has contributed to the rise of Cross-Laminated Timber technologies allowing the

built-wood environment flexible capabilities of strength, stability, and rigidity,

generating buildings scales beyond the average material functions. Yet, Cross-

Laminated Timber buildings presently share the same implicativeness of repetitive proliferation, especially the commonly “Tall Wooden Buildings”

as seen in SOM’s Timber Tower proposal and Nikken Sekkei’s Tokyo Timber Tower project. These tall monumental masses have limitless potential to adapt novel opportunities from past traditional wood techniques as seen in structural ornamented innovations of Pagodas over thirteen centuries ago.

11 |

Fig 1. Flame

Fig 2. Tree

Fig 3. Traditional wood structure

Fig 4. Engineer wood structure

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wood In light of environmental challenges architecture is facing, wood is no longer

regarded as outmoded, nostalgic, and rooted in the past, but increasingly recognized as one of the most promising building materials for the future.

Wood is a porous and fibrous structural tissue found in the stems and roots

of trees and other woody plants. It has been used for thousands of years for both fuel and as a construction material. It is an organic material, a natural

composite of cellulose fibers which are strong in tension and embedded in a matrix that resists compression. A perfect natural material.

Historically wooden architecture has been misunderstood. Far from being an inferior building material wood is simply a different one. Wood served as a

blueprint for many of the world’s major architectural traditions. The range

and influence of wooden architecture can be seen through an overview of its primary historical traditions.

In the East, Wooden architecture is utilize within Japan and Korea significantly

in their theological affinity with structures of worship and their carpentry craftsmanship tradition of making tall built structures.

13 |

Fig 5. From raw materials to wood product Diagram by Swedish Wood

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process of wood Lumber is a generic term that applies to various lengths of wood used as

construction materials. Pieces of lumber are cut lengthwise from the trunks

of trees and are characterized by having generally rectangular or square cross sections, as opposed to poles or pilings, which have round cross sections.

Lumber mills turn trees into manufactured wood products. Throughout the

process, the moisture content (MC) of the wood is an important factor for producer and end user alike.

Head Rig: The primary saw cuts the tree into sawn pieces or boards.

Edging: Removes irregular edges and defects from sawn pieces or boards.

Trimming: The trimmer squares off the ends of lumber into uniform pieces.

Rough Lumber Sorting: Pieces are separated based on dimension and final

product production, whether the finished piece will be unseasoned (known as “green”) or dry.

Stickering: Lumber destined for kiln drying production is stacked with

spacers (known as stickers) that allow air to circulate within the stack (green product skips this stage and the next).

Drying: Kiln drying wood speeds up the natural evaporation of the wood’s MC in a controlled environment.

Planing: Smoothes the wood’s surfaces and ensures that each piece has a uniform width and thickness.

Grading: Assigns a “grade” to each piece of lumber that indicates its quality level, based on a variety of characteristics, including its MC.

Overall, this process transform from raw materials to a wood product applicable to be a material use in the built environment.

Source:

Sales Manager for Wagner Meters, Ron Smith. “Wood Production: Manufacturing

& Kiln Drying.” Wagner Meters, 13 May 2020, www.wagnermeters.com/forest-products/ industry-info/wood-manufacturing-kiln-drying/.

15 |

Fig 6. Column on Elefterie Church, Bucharest, Romania

Fig 7. Chiang Rai’s White Temple, Thailand

Fig 8. Pagoda wood structure

Fig 9. Facade of National Museum of African American History and Culture

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ornamentation From the Function of Ornament by Farshid Moussavi

“Architecture needs mechanisms that allow it to become connected to culture.

It achieves this by continually capturing the forces that shape society as

material to work with. Architecture’s materiality is therefore a composite one, made up of visible as well as invisible forces. Progress in architecture occurs through new concepts by which it becomes connected with this material, and it manifests itself in new aesthetic compositions and affects. It is these new affects that allow us to constantly engage with the city in new ways.”

“The aesthetic composition of buildings has been explored in various ways

in history. In the twentieth century, Modernism used transparency to achieve a “direct” representation of architectural elements of space, structure and program. But recent history contributed to making the use of literal

transparency obso-lete, prompting a discussion on the expression of buildings.

Postmodernism used décor, and Deconstructivism used the geometry of collage, as styles in place of transparency. But style cannot easily adjust to changes in culture.”

“Architecture progresses through new concepts that connect with these forces, manifesting itself in new aesthetic compositions and affects. Ornament is the

by-product of this process, through which architectural material is organized to transmit unique affects.”

Source: Moussavi, Farshid, and Michael Kubo. The Function of Ornament. Actar, 2020.

17 |

Fig 10. Japanese structural ornament system

Fig 11. Korean structural ornament system

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wood structural ornamentation In “The Function of Ornament”, Fashid Moussavi indicates, “The role of ornamentation has allowed people to engage and remain convergent with

culture.” Across the East sea, Korean and Japanese Pagodas share a common

convergence for landmarks celebrating Buddhist identity. For centuries, these tall wooden structures stand by their innovative interconnected ornament

system capable of structure survival and aesthetics. The truss and lever

system is a primary example of this technology where it operates a series of modular cantilever eaves (Noki-Gumi) which braces the dress members and

roof rafters to overall support the Pagoda frame. This traditional integration of vertical structural ornamentation presents an elegance for cultural longevity, a monument of permanence expression across time.

Japanese and Korean craftsmanship have sought to take advantage of these

ornamented traits. Not only do they work with wood’s inherent grain by

strategically orienting structural members to create strong connections and

counteract structure, but they also use lumber’s original circumstances to their functional use and aesthetics as an ornamental structure that is integrated.

19 |

Fig 12. An exhibit displaying the various native tree species used in

Japanese wood construction. (At Takenaka Carpentry Tools Museum) Photo by Blaine Brownell

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Fig 13. A view of showing a full-scale structural detail of the Yakushiji Temple in Nara, Japan. (At Takenaka Carpentry Tools Museum) Photo by Blaine Brownell

21 |

Botapsa, Cheonju

2.

Beopjusa, Boeun

4.

Hwangnyongsa, Gyeongju 6.

Golden Pagoda, Cheonju

Guinsa, Boeun

Yakcheonsa, Jeju Island

Rurikoji, Yamaguchi

Shintennoji, Osaka

Chureito, Minamitsuru

Miyajima, Hiroshima

8.

Kofukuji, Nara

10.

12.

Asakusa Sensoji, Tokyo

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THE PAST TRADITION IN PAGODAS

There are intersections of past wooden systems which can be implemented to the present . The tradition of structural wooden systems is a novel opportunity.

The pagoda structure derives from that of the stupa, a hemispherical, domed, commemorative monument first constructed in ancient India. Initially, these structures symbolized sacred mountains, and they were used to house relics

or remains of saints and kings. Stupas evolved into several distinct forms in various parts of Asia. The finial, the decorative crowning ornament of the

stupa, likely has roots in Hinduism, which predates Buddhism, in the symbols of yoni and lingam. Its design gradually became more elongated and cylindrical until the stupa’s upper portion took on an attenuated tower-like appearance.

In Japan and Korea, for example, the five-story pagoda is common, with each story representing one of the five elements: earth, water, fire, wind, and

void (sky, heaven). The finial is also divided into five parts. The shape of the stories varies; they can be circular, square, or polygonal. Each story in an East Asian pagoda has its own prominent projecting bracketed roof line, and the

whole structure is capped by a mast and disks. In general, the pagoda form is

intended primarily as a monument, and often it has very little usable interior space. craftsmanship tradition of making tall built structures.

Source: Britannica, The Editors of Encyclopaedia. “Pagoda”. Encyclopedia Britannica, Invalid Date, https://www.britannica.com/technology/pagoda. Accessed 4 May 2021.

23 |

Fig 14. (Left to Right, Above to Below) Sectional Drawings of Miyoohin, Hohryuji, Yakushiji, Daigoji, Pagodas

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pagoda shape From the Structural Mechanism and Morphology of Timber Towers in Japan

“The attractiveness of Japanese timber towers exists in their height and

its perpendicular directivity, representing the spiritual stretching out of their tips into the sky.”

“The one and most important morphological factor in the construction of

pagodas is the very deep projecting span of eaves. According to the plan, of the

square area that covers the edges of the eaves of a story the proportion of the main body is less than 1/4. The remaining space is what is referred

to as projection of eaves (noki-no-de). This is a kind of architecture where such deep carvings create the unique exterior space not seen elsewhere in the world. What is more important is the technical design that constructs

this projection of eaves. This is mainly done by cross assembling blocks (masu), and arms (hijiki) and the use of rafters (taruki). Of all, the most important thing is that these are not simply decorations, but the most constructive design based on the statics of the way the eaves are held.”

Source:

Masaru Abe & Mamoru Kawaguchi (2002) Structural Mechanism andMorphology of

Timber Towers in Japan, Journal of Asian Architecture and Building Engineering,1:2, 25-32, DOI: 10.3130/jaabe.1.2_25

25 |

Fig 15. Sectional and Plan drawings indicating the structural systems of Horyu-ji Temple

Drawing from NIPPONIA database

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pagoda structure “Key Facts of Eastern Pagodas” by Neil Judet Valencia -The structure of Pagodas are usually Square in plan.

-Floor area is determined by Ken(Japanese modular system)

-Each level has twelve pillars with a heart pillar on the center.

-The square shape symbolizes the earth.

-The center column is considered the “axle of the world” .

-The spire on top of the structure represents Buddha as master of the universe.

-The reason why a large number of pagodas have five tiers is that each tier has a particular elemental meaning in Buddhism.

-Each of its levels, ascending, is slightly smaller than the last, resulting in a pyramid-like structure that is topped by a spire.

-Structure of Japanese pagodas are typically constructed from wood with interlocking beams and posts and a central column.

-The roofs have wide overhangs, with clay tiles.

-Pagodas are extremely sturdy and are designed to absorb the movements of the earth, making them resistant to earthquakes and typhoons

Source:

Caloy, Flobz. “Japanese Pagoda.” SlideShare, www.slideshare.net/FlobzCaloy/

japanese-pagoda.

27 |

Fig 16. Ornamental Intergenerational Structural Systems within Pagodas

Diagrams by Masaru Abe & Mamoru Kawaguchi

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pagoda ornamental system The integrational ornamental structural systems of Pagodas include; .

Eaves, Bracket Support (a. Sumisonae, b. Hirazonae, c. Nakazonae_)

“The deep projection of eaves is one of the most important factor

contributing to the aesthetics of the Japanese wooden pagoda. The Japanese structural method for these huge of the projection of eaves, was investigated statically, and it was found to have unique characteristics

compared to that of western architectural technology. It is an interesting

fact that since ancient times Japanese consistently used “beam action” when dealing with structure and hardly ever used “arch action” most commonly used in European arches and truss structures.”

The roofs of Pagoda are supported by each layer originally with the main rafter and second rafter became supported by true rafter (no-daruki, but

hidden rafter), which increased the gradient of the roofs making it more efficient for rain to run down the roofs.

The pagoda ornamental system is a structural system within a system that is fully integrated together in one consistent structure.

Source:

Masaru Abe & Mamoru Kawaguchi (2002) Structural Mechanism andMorphology of

Timber Towers in Japan, Journal of Asian Architecture and Building Engineering,1:2, 25-32, DOI: 10.3130/jaabe.1.2_25

29 |

Fig 17. Sectional drawing of the Beopjusa Temple

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Palsangjeon Pagoda Boeun,South Korea

“Beopjusa one of Korea’s oldest and greatest Buddhist temples, founded in 553 C.E., has been active for more than 1400 years. The name of the temple

means “Buddha stays here.” Situated on the slopes of Songnisan (‘renouncing

the world’) mountain (within Songnisan National Park), at times during its history. Beopjusa has been home to more than 3,000 monks. Since the eighth

century, the temple has been designated as central temple for worship and teaching of the Maitreya Buddha, the Buddha of the future who will return to

save the world. In recent times, Beopjusa has become known for its 33-metertall gold statue of the Maitreya Buddha

Palsangjeon Pagoda Eight Paintings Pagoda, a large wooden pagoda, was

originally built in 553 when the temple was founded. A copy of the pagoda was built in Nara, Japan, 50 years later, and is still standing. The Palsangjeon

Hall currently at Beopjusa is a reconstruction dating from 1624 and has been preserved since that time, making it the oldest wooden pagoda in Korea.

Palsangjeon Pagoda has been designated National Treasure No. 55.”

Source:

“Beopjusa.” Wikipedia, Wikimedia Foundation, 14 Feb. 2021, en.wikipedia.org/wiki/

Beopjusa.

Jeong, Hyun-Min & Kim, Yojung & Seo, Jeong-Wook. (2016). Tree-ring Dating of The Palsangjeon Wooden Pagoda at The Beopjusa Temple in Boeun, South Korea. Journal of the Korean Wood Science and Technology. 44. 515-525. 10.5658/WOOD.2016.44.4.515.

31 |

Fig 18. A photograph of Palsangjeon Pagoda at the cornerstone Photo by ExpatandVoyage (User: Sarah)

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Fig 19. A close up of Palsangjeon Pagoda structural eaves and bracket Photo by Inven Korea

33 |

Fig 20. A close up of Palsangjeon Pagoda structural system Photo by ExpatandVoyage (User: Sarah)

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Fig 21. A super close up of Palsangjeon Pagoda ornamental features Photo by Wikipedia (User: Steve46814)

35 |

Fig 22. Sectional drawing of the Yakushi-ji Pagoda

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Yakushi-ji Pagoda Nara,Japan

“Yakushi-ji is one of the most famous imperial and ancient Buddhist temples in Japan, that was once one of the Seven Great Temples of Nanto, located in Nara.

The temple is the headquarters of the Hossō school of Japanese Buddhism.

Yakushi-ji is one of the sites that are collectively inscribed as a UNESCO World

Heritage Site, under the name of “Historic Monuments of Ancient Nara.”The main object of veneration, Yakushi Nyorai, also named “The Medicine Buddha”,

was one of the first Buddhist Deities to arrive in Japan from China in 680, and gives the temple its name.”

“Yakushi-ji’s layout is symmetrical, with two main halls and two three-story pagodas. The unique layout is also sometimes referred to as “yakushiji-style”.

Yakushi-ji is geometrically planned out as a grid to replicate the Fujiwara

capital to embody the new location. The Golden Hall rests in the middle of Yakushiji. Forward to the east and west of the golden hall are two pagodas

symmetrically placed in order to bring attention towards the golden hall. The Golden Hall in Fujiwara resembles the Golden Hall at Heijo. Preservations of 18 column foundation stones found at Fujiwara show that the distance between each column are the exact length between columns at Heijo. In addition to the similarities in column width between the two, there are also identical

staircases on each side of both temples. Discoveries of an underlying road

system at Yakushiji at Fujiwara demonstrates that the temple was constructed

around the road systems in the new capital. The East Pagoda replicated

styles at the Heijo Yakushiji, with 12 granite column foundation stones found during excavations, whereas the West Pagoda demonstrated signs of being

constructed during the early Nara period, after the capital had been moved,

due to a different style. There are few remnants of the Fujiwara Yakushiji today, where the only visible markings of the temple are past foundations and columns of the Golden Hall” Source:

McCallum, Donald F. (Donald Fredrick) (2009). The four great temples : Buddhist

archaeology, architecture, and icons of seventh-century Japan. Honolulu: University of Hawaiʻi Press. ISBN 9780824831141.

37 |

Fig 23. Close Up of Yakushi-ji Pagoda

Photo by UNESCO World Heritage Medal

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Fig 24. Close up of the brackets and eaves of the Yakushi-ji Pagoda Photo by Kansai Odyssey

39 |

Fig 25. Japanese ornamental style system Photo by Kyoto Tourism

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Fig 26. Corner Detail of Japanese Temple Photo by Osaka Tours

41 |

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THE PRESENT WOOD AND

MODERN TECHNOLOGY The technological advances and mass production in the process of wood has made the material widely more accessible than before.

“Recently, developments in mass timber technology are overcoming the

challenges of building large scale. Mass timber products such as crosslaminated timber (CLT) can be built up using small pieces of dimensional lumber and structural adhesives to achieve panels as large as 1foot thick and 40 feet long. These panels can be used as floors and shear walls with structural

sizes necessary to support a tall wooden building. Wood members of this size have an equally important characteristic; they behave like heavy timbers in

a fire and form an insulating char layer which protects underlying material.

The charring behavior is predictable and preserves a portion of the member’s

structural strength, making performance based fire design of mass timber structures possible. Mass timber has made wood a viable choice for multistory buildings as evidenced by completed projects in Europe and Australia, and many other proposed projects around the globe.”

“The structural and fire engineering advancements of mass timber have made recent multi-story wood buildings possible. However, the sustainability of

wood seems to be an equally important consideration in the resurgence of multi-story timber buildings. Wood has been shown to be more sustainable

than other materials because it generally requires less energy to produce

compared to structural steel and reinforced concrete. More importantly, wood is approximately 50% carbon by weight, a carbon sink that is the natural result

of photosynthesis. These sustainable aspects of wood make mass timber an

attractive material from which to construct the sustainable cities of the future.”

Source: Johnson, Benton, et al. “Timber Tower Research Project.” STRUCTURE Magazine, www.structuremag.org/?p=1676.

43 |

Laminated veneer lumber

Laminated strand lumber

Parallel strand lumber

I-Beams

Glue- laminated timber

Finger jointed sawnwood

Cross-laminated timber

CLT-Panels

Fig 27. Difference of Engineered wood Diagram by Lampetlumber

| 44

engineered wood “Engineered Wood also known as “man-made wood” or composite wood is a versatile alternative to hard wood. It is constructed from multiple layers of

wood called ply that have been reformed using heat, glue and pressure, each

layer runs in different directions, which makes it very stable and provide better properties than hard wood.”

“Typically, engineered wood products are made from the same hardwoods

and softwoods used to manufacture lumber. Sawmill scraps and other wood waste can be used for engineered wood composed of wood particles or fibers,

but whole logs are usually used for veneers, such as plywood, medium-density fibreboard (MDF) or particle board. Some engineered wood products, like oriented strand board (OSB), can use trees from the poplar family, a common but non-structural species.”

“Types of Engineered wood includes ; Laminated Veneer Lumber (LVL), Oriented Strand Board (OSB), Hardboard (HDF), AC Plywood, AC Plywood, I-Joists, Cross Laminated Timber, Glulam.”

Source: “What Is Engineered Wood? Advantages and Disadvantages.” Copeland, 19 Apr. 2021, mtcopeland.com/blog/what-is-engineered-wood/.

45 |

Fig 28. CLT processes

Diagram by OregonLive

Fig 29. Glulam Processes

Diagram by Swedishwood

| 46

process of engineered wood “Cross-laminated timber (CLT) is a large-scale, prefabricated, solid engineered

wood panel. Lightweight yet very strong, with superior acoustic, fire, seismic, and thermal performance, CLT is also fast and easy to install, generating almost no waste onsite. CLT offers design flexibility and low environmental

impacts. For these reasons, cross-laminated timber is proving to be a highly

advantageous alternative to conventional materials like concrete, masonry, or steel, especially in multi-family and commercial construction.”

“A CLT panel consists of several layers of kiln-dried lumber boards stacked in alternating directions, bonded with structural adhesives, and pressed to form a solid, straight, rectangular panel. CLT panels consist of an odd number

of layers (usually, three to seven,) and may be sanded or prefinished before shipping. While at the mill, CLT panels are cut to size, including door and window openings, with state-of-the art CNC (Computer Numerical Controlled)

routers, capable of making complex cuts with high precision. Finished CLT panels are exceptionally stiff, strong, and stable, handling load on all sides.”

“Glulam (laminated beams) is the natural alternative to steel or concrete. Itis a natural structural material that is economical, strong, and attractive looking.

It is made by gluing together, under pressure and heat, laminates of timber that have been accurately planed. The resulting product is strong, stable, and

corrosion proof with significant advantages over structural steel and concrete.

The material is made with wood from Scandinavian sustainable forests.

The manufacture, distribution, and treatment of Glulam, all consume less energy than any other building materials. Glulam is a long-lasting material that’s easy to work with.”

Source: “Cross-Laminated Timber (CLT).” APA, www.apawood.org/cross-laminated-timber.

“What Is Glulam.” Glulam, 12 Mar. 2015, glulambeams.co.uk/about-glulam/what-is-glulam.

47 |

Fig 30. Inner workings of ClT steel joints

Fig 31. CLT with steel bolted joints

Fig 32. Glulam connection with inner steel joints

Fig 33. Pure glulam connection by Shigeru Ban Architects

| 48

present techno wood joinery In modern timber construction, within the system of joinery it is use by mostly another material. However, in some cases, there has been attempts to make a pure wooden structure.

“Timber Joinery in Modern Construction abstract” by Demi Fang

“Timber joinery is a method of geometrically interlocking timber elements

prevalent in historic cultures around the world, including North America, Europe, and East Asia. The use of joinery as structural connections faded with the development of metallic screws and nails. Two recent developments

offer the opportunity to revive this historic timber connection type: 1) the

increasing desire to reduce embodied carbon in buildings by replacing more components with timber as a low-carbon structural material, and 2) recent digital fabrication capabilities which enable the precise milling of complex geometries as an alternative to the time- and labor-intensive handiwork required previously” Source:

Fang, Demi L. Timber Joinery in Modern Construction: Mechanical Behavior of

Wood-Wood Connections, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, 1 Jan. 1970, dspace.mit.edu/ handle/1721.1/127868.

49 |

Fig 34. Conceptual View of the Timber Tower Rendering by Skidmore, Owings & Merrill

| 50

timber tower research by SOM “The Timber Tower Research Project by Skidmore, Owings & Merrill, LLP (SOM) was publically released in June of 2013, and is available for download at SOM’s website. The goal of the research project was to develop a structural

system for tall buildings that uses mass timber as the main structural material and minimizes the embodied carbon footprint of the building. The structural

system research was applied to a prototypical building based on an existing

concrete benchmark for comparison. The concrete benchmark building is the

Dewitt-Chestnut Apartments, a 395-foot tall, 42-story building in Chicago designed by SOM and built in 1966.”

“SOM’s proposed system is the “Concrete Jointed Timber Frame”. This system relies primarily on mass timber for the main structural elements, with

supplementary reinforced concrete at the highly stressed locations of the structure: the connecting joints. This system plays to the strengths of both materials and allows the structural engineer to apply sound tall building

engineering fundamentals. The result is believed to be an efficient structure

that could compete with reinforced concrete and structural steel systems, while reducing the embodied carbon footprint of the structure by 60 to 75%.”

Source: Johnson, Benton, et al. “Timber Tower Research Project.” STRUCTURE Magazine, www.structuremag.org/?p=1676.

51 |

Fig 35. Diagram of the Timber Tower

Photos by New York Times and Skidmore, Owings & Merrill

| 52

Fig 36. Material testing of the Timber Tower core Photos by Skidmore, Owings & Merrill

53 |

Fig 37. The Urbach Tower completion

Photos by ICD/ITKE University of Stuttgart and Empa/ETH Zürich

| 54

wo o d fa b r i c a t i o n , U rb a c h Towe r

by ICD/ITKE University of Stuttgart The technological advantage of robotic capabilities such as CNC milling and 3D axis wood-cutting tools allows wood to shapes like never before.

“The Urbach Tower is a unique wood structure. The design of the tower

emerges from a new self-shaping process of the curved wood components. This pioneering development constitutes a paradigm shift in timber manufacturing from elaborate and energy-intensive mechanical forming processes that

require heavy machinery to a process where the material shapes entirely by

itself. This shape change is driven only by the wood’s characteristic shrinking during a decrease of moisture content. Components for the 14 m tall tower are designed and manufactured in a flat state and transform autonomously into the final, programmed curved shapes during industry-standard technical

drying. This opens up new and unexpected architectural possibilities for high performance and elegant structures, using a sustainable, renewable, and

locally sourced building material. The Urbach Tower constitutes the very first structure worldwide made from self-shaped, building-scale components. It not only showcases this innovative manufacturing approach and resultant

novel timber structure; it also intensifies the visitors’ spatial involvement and

landscape experience by providing a striking landmark building for the City of Urbach’s contribution to the Remstal Gartenschau 2019.”

“The curved Cross Laminated Timber (CLT) components for the tower’s structure are designed and produced as flat panels that deform autonomously into predicted curved shapes when dried.”

Source: “Urbach Tower.” Achimmenges.net, www.achimmenges.net/?p=21454.

55 |

Fig 38. A diagram workflow of wood fabrication and properties Photo by UVA Wood Proto Architecture 3.0. Ehsan Baharlou

| 56

Fig 39. Development process images of Urbach Tower

Photos by ICD/ITKE University of Stuttgart and Empa/ETH Zürich

57 |

Fig 40. (Left) Takuro Mori and (Right) Akishisa Kitamori

| 58

Interview of Takuro Mori and Akihisa Kitamori

Learning

from

Wood:

Tradition

and

in Japanese Wood Culture

Innovation

The following is an interview conducted by Anna Antropova. The research studies ancient and contemporary wood joinery techniques in Japan, and their intrinsic relationship with culture, economy, technology and education.

Source: Leake, Antropova, Anna, and Annaantropovabooks. “Learning from Wood: Tradition and Innovation in Japanese Wood Culture.” Issuu, issuu.com/annaantropovabooks/docs/bookfinal-pages-indd.

59 |

Fig 41. A close up of Founders Hall, Amida Hall Photo by Matt Cumming

| 60

61 |

Fig 42. A close up of Glue laminated posts and beam Photo at Post beam house, Japan

| 62

63 |

Fig 43. Wood model of the Kigumi structural system

Photo by The Japanese Museum of Interlocking Wooden Joints (User;Johny)

| 64

65 |

| 66

THE FUTURE W H E R E T H E TA L L WO O D T R A D I T I O N IS FORGOTTEN “THERE IS MAJOR POTENTIAL

TO UTILIZE THE TRADITIONAL SYSTEMS OF PAGODAS IN SUPER-TALL WOOD BUILDINGS INSTEAD OF THE SAME REPETITIVENESS OF OTHER MATERIALS” PETE PAUEKSAKON

“Tall buildings built using current technology and materials pose a challenge

to sustainable city development because they offer both positive and negative environmental impacts. Positive impacts include reducing urban sprawl,

promoting alternative transportation, and efficient energy use. These benefits come at the cost of emitting more carbon dioxide to produce the materials

and to construct the building. These carbon emissions are referred to as the embodied carbon footprint of a building. A tall building’s embodied carbon

footprint is significantly higher relative to low-rise buildings on a per square foot basis. This is because the structure is usually responsible for the majority

of the building’s embodied carbon footprint, and tall buildings require far more structure to support their height. The structural system chosen for a tall building can have a significant impact on the overall embodied carbon footprint of the building.”

Source: Johnson, Benton, et al. “Timber Tower Research Project.” STRUCTURE Magazine, www.structuremag.org/?p=1676.

67 |

Fig 44. Render of the Oakland Timber Tower Rendering by PLP Architecture

| 68

O a k l a n d T i m b e r Towe r by

PLP Architecture, London (????)

“The use of timber as a structural material in tall buildings is an area of emerging interest for its variety of potential benefits; the most obvious being

that it is a renewable resource, unlike prevailing construction methods which use concrete and steel. The research is also investigating other potential

benefits, such as reduced costs and improved construction timescales,

increased fire resistance, and significant reduction in the overall weight of buildings. The conceptual proposals currently being developed would create

over 1,000 new residential units in a 1 million sq ft mixed-use tower and midrise terraces in central London, integrated within the Barbican.”

“The tall timber buildings research also looks towards creating new design potentials with timber buildings, rather than simply copying the forms of

steel and concrete construction. The transition to timber construction may have a wider positive impact on urban environments and built form, and

offers opportunities not only to rethink the aesthetics of buildings, but also

the structural methodologies informing their design as well. Just as major innovations in steel, glass, concrete revolutionized buildings in the 19th and

20th centuries, creating new typologies such as Joseph Paxton’s Crystal Palace

and the Parisian arcades described by Walter Benjamin, innovations in timber construction could lead to entirely new experiences of the city in the 21st century.”

Source:

Leake, Jonathan. “Wooden London Skyscraper to Become a Greener Shard.” The

Sunday Times, The Sunday Times, 16 Jun 2019 “Oakwood Timber Tower”, www.plparchitecture.com/oakwood-timber-tower.html.

69 |

Fig 45. Street view of Timber Hybrid Tower Rendering by SHoP Architects

| 70

H yb r i d T i m b e r Towe r by

SHoP Architects, Sydney (2025) “New York City-based SHoP Architects and Australian technology company

Atlassian have unveiled plans for a 40-story tall timber and steel tower slated for a new business-technology district in Sydney, Australia. “

“The 280-foot tower will be wrapped with a diagrid steel tube and staggered glass envelope that is set to include solar panels embedded within some of the frames. The designers of the project, aim to run the building entirely on renewable energy and are projecting energy use levels at 50% below

conventional new-build projects. This loose-fitting envelope will encase a rhythmic arrangement of staggered floor plates and internal gardens that

run up the height of the tower. The building’s stepped top will also featured staggered terraces populated by trees.”

“Our collective work around the world focuses on elevating the experience of the public realm in urban environments, so we really welcome this opportunity to work with such wonderful partners to create a high-performance landmark for Sydney’s new tech district, at ground level and in the skyline,” said Bill Sharples, founding principal at SHoP, in a statement.

Source: Pacheco, Antonio. “SHoP Architects to Create World’s Tallest ‘Hybrid Timber’ Tower in Sydney.” Archinect, 21 Jun 2020

Hickman, Matt. “SHoP Reveals World’s Tallest Commercial Hybrid Timber Tower for Sydney.”

The Architect’s Newspaper, 29 June 2020,

71 |

Fig 46. Birds eye view of the Project W350 Rendering by Nikken Sekkei

| 72

PROJECT W350 by

N i k ke n S e k ke i , To k yo ( 2 0 4 1 ) “The W350 Project is a proposed wooden skyscraper in central Tokyo, Japan,

announced in 2018. The skyscraper is set to reach a height of 350 meters

with 70 floors, which upon its completion will make it the tallest wooden skyscraper, as well as Japan’s highest, over all, skyscraper. The skyscraper is set to be a mixed-used building including residential, office and retail space

The tower will be made of 90% wood and the rest being steel, steel braces will be used to enhance resistance to wind and earthquakes due to the area’s

high seismic activity. Wood was chosen since timber-based structures have proven to be very resistant to earthquakes. The project requires 185,000 cubic

meters of timber (or 6.5 million cubic feet), and plans to revitalize forestry and

timber demand in Japan. The choice of wood, aside from its aesthetics, is part

of a larger movement aiming to “change cities into forests”. Wooden structures are also easier to rebuild or replace than concrete structures if it collapses.

Two-thirds of Japan is covered by forest, making it the 2nd most tree-covered country of the OECD countries after Finland. Most of Japan’s cedars and

cypresses were planted after the Second World War and are now reaching

maturity. The skyscraper is designed by the architectural firm Nikken Sekkei,

and build by the developer Sumitomo Forestry. Its construction is estimated to cost USD 5.6 billion.”

Source: Nguyen Trung, World’s tallest wooden skyscraper planned in Tokyo, Redtoolead.com, 21 July 2019

“Japan plans world’s tallest wooden skyscraper”. Construction Climate Challenge. Copyright AB Volvo 2018. Retrieved 6 May 2020

| 74

THE PROPOSAL TRADITION THROUGH INTERVENTION

This project was a three-week design challenge of creating an expressive

pagoda tower intervention. The design approach attempts to reinvent the

pagoda typology through a cross-laminated timber lens by applying divisions of primary structural floors to support each sub-level above and utilizes an

interconnected exoskeleton framework of laminated modular construction.

The primary system features a laminate diagonal node coupling at every four corners of the tower floors to interlock the connection, thus equalizing

the forces. Standing at 850 feet, the program divides through the primary structural floors which serves as a mediator between office spaces and garden

cafes. In these spaces, the double-layered facade integrates with the shade frame and the prefabricated gabled system to encapsulate the tower within a controlled atmospheric interior environment.

75 | EXO-SKELETON ASSEMBLY

Diagrid

Structural floors

Exo-Skeleton

Planters

Double-Layer Facade

Gable Component (D) (C)

(B)

(A)

Primary Structure

Secondary Structure

Structural Floors

Program Division

LAMINATED DIAGONAL JOINT

The modularization of diagrid node allows for flexibility of intersecting expressive structural connections with the rigid framing member.

77 | FLOOR PLAN ORGANIZATIONS

(A) Lobby

(B) Office

(C) Garden Cafe

(D) Sky Garden

TIMBER STRUCTURE LAYOUT

The main core of walls are enhanced with the laminated structural system at each corner providing an open floor plan with no obstructions.

| 78 INTEGRATION SYSTEM

79 | RENDERINGS

Lobby Floor

Garden Cafe

Office Floor

Sky Garden

PROFESSIONAL WORKS | 80

81 |

work cited Sales Manager for Wagner Meters, Ron Smith. “Wood Production: Manufacturing & Kiln Drying.” Wagner Meters, 13 May 2020, www.wagnermeters.com/forest-products/industry-info/wood-manufacturing-kiln-drying/.

Moussavi, Farshid, and Michael Kubo. The Function of Ornament. Actar, 2020.

Britannica, The Editors of Encyclopaedia. “Pagoda”. Encyclopedia Britannica, Invalid Date, https://www.britannica.com/technology/ pagoda. Accessed 4 May 2021.

Masaru Abe & Mamoru Kawaguchi (2002) Structural Mechanism andMorphology of Timber Towers in Japan, Journal of Asian Architecture and Building Engineering,1:2, 25-32, DOI: 10.3130/jaabe.1.2_25 “Beopjusa.” Wikipedia, Wikimedia Foundation, 14 Feb. 2021, en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Beopjusa.

Jeong, Hyun-Min & Kim, Yojung & Seo, Jeong-Wook. (2016). Tree-ring Dating of The Palsangjeon Wooden Pagoda at The Beopjusa Temple in Boeun, South Korea. Journal of the Korean Wood Science and Technology. 44. 515-525. 10.5658/WOOD.2016.44.4.515.

McCallum, Donald F. (Donald Fredrick) (2009). The four great temples : Buddhist archaeology, architecture, and icons of seventhcentury Japan. Honolulu: University of Hawaiʻi Press. ISBN 9780824831141.

Johnson, Benton, et al. “Timber Tower Research Project.” STRUCTURE Magazine, www.structuremag.org/?p=1676.

“What Is Engineered Wood? Advantages and Disadvantages.” Copeland, 19 Apr. 2021, mtcopeland.com/blog/what-is-engineeredwood/.

“Cross-Laminated Timber (CLT).” APA, www.apawood.org/cross-laminated-timber.

“What Is Glulam.” Glulam, 12 Mar. 2015, glulambeams.co.uk/about-glulam/what-is-glulam.

Fang, Demi L. Timber Joinery in Modern Construction: Mechanical Behavior of Wood-Wood Connections, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, 1 Jan. 1970, dspace.mit.edu/handle/1721.1/127868.

Leake, Antropova, Anna, and Annaantropovabooks. “Learning from Wood: Tradition and Innovation in Japanese Wood Culture.”

Issuu, issuu.com/annaantropovabooks/docs/book-final-pages-indd.

“Urbach Tower.” Achimmenges.net, www.achimmenges.net/?p=21454.

Leake, Jonathan. “Wooden London Skyscraper to Become a Greener Shard.” The Sunday Times, The Sunday Times, 16 Jun 2019 “Oakwood Timber Tower”, www.plparchitecture.com/oakwood-timber-tower.html.

Pacheco, Antonio. “SHoP Architects to Create World’s Tallest ‘Hybrid Timber’ Tower in Sydney.” Archinect, 21 Jun 2020 Hickman, Matt. “SHoP Reveals World’s Tallest Commercial Hybrid Timber Tower for Sydney.” The Architect’s Newspaper, 29 June 2020, Nguyen Trung, World’s tallest wooden skyscraper planned in Tokyo, Redtoolead.com, 21 July 2019 “Japan plans world’s tallest wooden skyscraper”. Construction Climate Challenge. Copyright AB Volvo 2018. Retrieved 6 May 2020